Finance Program Manager

About the job

Company Description

Job Description As a Finance Program Manager, you will play a pivotal role in ensuring the successful execution of Finance Transformation initiatives. You will work closely with cross-functional teams, including Finance, Procurement, EIT, HR, external consultancy and other relevant departments and stakeholders across the globe, to oversee program planning, execution, monitoring, and reporting. Your primary goal is to ensure effective planning and execution of assigned programs under the Transformation Portfolio, including programs that identify, pilot, and scale AI solutions (such as generative AI, machine learning, and intelligent automation) across Finance processes. This is a global role. Key Responsibilities:

- Program and Project Planning and Management: - Collaborate with stakeholders to define program/project objectives, scope, and deliverables.

- Develop comprehensive project plans, including timelines, budgets, and resource requirements.

- Prioritizing strategic initiatives within the Program. Managing interdependencies between projects. Ensuring resource capacity and availability.

- Coordinate project kick-off meetings, establish communication channels, and assign responsibilities.

- Program Governance - Define key success metrics for each program and track progress against these metrics. This provides a quantifiable way to assess and report the success of the projects and the overall transformation initiative.

- Oversee the work of assigned Project Managers under the program

- AI Implementation Program Management in Finance: - Lead end-to-end delivery of AI initiatives in Finance (e.g., forecasting and planning, close and reconciliation automation, accounts payable/receivable, audit and controls, financial reporting, and GenAI-enabled analysis), from use-case identification through pilot, deployment, and scale.

- Partner with Finance process owners, EIT, Data & Analytics, Procurement, Legal, Risk, and external vendors or consultancies to define use cases, build business cases, and prioritize the AI roadmap based on value, feasibility, and risk.

- Coordinate data readiness, model development, testing, validation, and integration activities with data science and engineering teams; manage vendor selection and third-party AI solution delivery.

- Establish AI governance within the program, including responsible AI principles, model risk management, human-in-the-loop controls, explainability, data privacy, and security requirements, aligned with internal policies and emerging regulations.

- Define and track AI-specific success metrics (e.g., efficiency gains, forecast accuracy, cycle-time reduction, cost savings, adoption rates, and realized ROI) and report benefits realization to senior management.

- Drive change management and adoption, including training, communications, and workforce enablement, so that Finance teams can effectively use and trust AI-enabled tools and processes.

- Monitor the evolving AI landscape and share lessons learned and reusable assets (playbooks, templates, and standards) across the Transformation Portfolio.

- Financial Analysis and Reporting: - Monitor project financials, including budgets, expenses, and forecasts.

- Prepare and analyze financial reports, identifying variances and recommending corrective actions.

- Ensure financial compliance and adherence to project budgets.

- Risk Management: - Identify project risks and develop mitigation strategies.

- Proactively address issues and obstacles that may impact project success.

- Maintain a risk register and update it regularly.

- Identify and manage AI-specific risks, including data quality, model bias, hallucination, explainability, third-party/vendor dependency, and cybersecurity and privacy exposure.

- Stakeholder Communication: - Maintain clear and open communication channels with project stakeholders.

- Provide regular project status updates and reports to senior management.

- Address stakeholder concerns and provide solutions as needed.

- Process Improvement: - Continuously assess and improve project management processes and methodologies.

- Identify opportunities to enhance efficiency and effectiveness in project delivery.

- Implement best practices in project management.

- Documentation and Compliance: - Ensure that all project documentation is complete and organized.

- Monitor compliance with internal policies, industry regulations, and standards.

- Assist in audit preparations and responses.

- Ensure AI solutions are documented, validated, and auditable, and that they comply with responsible AI, model risk management, and applicable regulatory requirements (e.g., EU AI Act, SOX).

Qualifications - Bachelor's degree in finance, Business Administration, or a related field (master's degree preferred).

- Project Management Professional (PMP) certification or equivalent is a plus.

- Proven experience in project management within the finance sector, including delivery of technology, automation, or AI-enabled transformation initiatives.

- Working knowledge of AI/ML, generative AI, and intelligent automation concepts and their application to Finance use cases (e.g., forecasting, reconciliation, reporting, controls), with the ability to partner effectively with data science and engineering teams.

- Understanding of AI governance, responsible AI, model risk, and data privacy considerations in a regulated finance environment.

- Experience with change management and driving adoption of new technologies, preferably using Agile or hybrid delivery methods.

- Strong financial analysis skills with the ability to interpret and communicate complex financial data.

- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

- Proficiency in project management software and financial tools.

- Ability to work collaboratively in a cross-functional team environment.

- Strong problem-solving and critical-thinking abilities.

- Attention to detail and a commitment to quality.

Additional Information Our Benefits

- Flexible working environment

- Volunteer time off

- LinkedIn Learning

- Employee-Assistance-Program (EAP) NIQ may utilize artificial intelligence (AI) tools at various stages of the recruitment process, including résumé screening, candidate assessments, interview scheduling, job matching, communication support, and certain administrative tasks that help streamline workflows. These tools are intended to improve efficiency and support fair and consistent evaluation based on job-related criteria. All use of AI is governed by NIQ’s principles of fairness, transparency, human oversight, and inclusion. Final hiring decisions are made exclusively by humans. NIQ regularly reviews its AI tools to help mitigate bias and ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations. If you have questions, require accommodations, or wish to request human review were permitted by law, please contact your local HR representative. For more information, please visit NIQ’s AI Safety Policies and Guiding Principles: https://nielseniq.com/global/en/info/niqs-ai-safety-policies/

About NIQ NIQ is the world’s leading consumer intelligence company, delivering the most complete understanding of consumer buying behavior and revealing new pathways to growth. In 2023, NIQ combined with GfK, bringing together the two industry leaders with unparalleled global reach. With a holistic retail read and the most comprehensive consumer insights—delivered with advanced analytics through state-of-the-art platforms—NIQ delivers the Full View™. NIQ is an Advent International portfolio company with operations in 100+ markets, covering more than 90% of the world’s population. For more information, visit NIQ.com Want to keep up with our latest updates? Follow us on:  LinkedIn  |  Instagram  |  Twitter  |  Facebook

Our commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion At NIQ, we are steadfast in our commitment to fostering an inclusive workplace that mirrors the rich diversity of the communities and markets we serve. We believe that embracing a wide range of perspectives drives innovation and excellence.  All employment decisions at NIQ are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, or gender identity), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws. We invite individuals who share our dedication to inclusivity and equity to join us in making a meaningful impact. To learn more about our ongoing efforts in diversity and inclusion, please visit the  https://nielseniq.com/global/en/news-center/diversity-inclusion