We are recruiting for a Developments & Projects Senior Manager to join our Finance Systems Group in London.

Department purpose
Provide high quality advice and relevant, accurate information to the decision makers in A&O, ensuring compliance with laws and regulations and delivering our service efficiently.

Role purpose
Management of the development team within the Finance Systems Group that support the on-going improvement of the Finance Systems estate.

Manage the technical software release cycle for stock and custom code, including project, task and resource planning, working closely with the Finance Programme Manager.  Ensure programme / project management best practice, documentation, governance and process is followed for Finance System technical projects.  Collaborate with IT, HR and BD systems on tasks / projects across these service delivery functions

Role and responsibilities

• Manage the development team, building a consistently high performing team whilst developing each individual.
• Implement, participate in and manage effective technical project management.
• Provide effective leadership and direction to development team members when undertaking development and project duties.
• Clearly define roles and responsibilities for all those involved in projects you manage.
• Project management or project team mentoring to ensure successful global deployment of software solutions.
• Technical project management SME for the software release cycle for stock and custom code, including task and resource planning and organising and chairing relevant project meetings.
• Manage project deadlines, embrace creative approaches to overcome obstacles and escalate quickly and effectively when required.
• Managing change effectively whilst making things happen. Influence and persuade the relevant delivery teams to meet project deadlines, whilst resolving any disputes and managing difficult messages sensitively but forcefully.
• Project risk and issues management and escalation.
• Ensure projects follow the Group Finance project management methodologies, standards and processes and work closely with the Finance Programme manager to align on delivery priorities
• Where relevant, ensure reporting into and compliance with the wider IT project approaches and portfolio management methodologies.
• Point of contact for IT and HR into the Finance Systems Group with relation to software and infrastructure projects.
• Support others members of the FSG & Global Finance Team in an advisory role and coordinate tasks across the teams and ensure best practice and process is followed
• Understanding the inter-dependencies of systems within and connected to Finance Systems to ensure wider impacts are understood and managed.
• Documentation preparation - Review- technical/functional specifications, communications, project plans etc.
• Management of the 3e Development & Controlled Testing environments, ensuring the software versions are consistently applied, the database is refreshed and up to date as necessary and that performance is reviewed to meet the deployment and testing demands.
• Group Finance point of contact for performance test reviews and recommendations.
• Build strong working relationships with other support functions, ensuring that senior counterparts are aware of our service expectations and collaborate to deliver quality solutions.
• Co-operate with other teams to ensure the successful transition of new / amended solutions into business as usual support.

Key requirements

• Strong experience in leading, managing and motivating different sized development teams.
• Proven Project Management experience with a very good track record of delivering techprojects on time and to agreed quality standards.
• Project management experience, including strong people and task management skills, in order to meet strict deadlines on small or large technical projects within a matrix management structure.
• Knowledge and experience of project management methodologies.
• Very good reporting, project planning and stakeholder management skills at all levels.
• Strong knowledge of the application development lifecycle.
• Technically competent with relevant finance/accounting knowledge and skills
• Proven in-depth understanding of financial/management information systems, experience of Elite 3e would be an advantage.
• Knowledge of business process reviews with proven experience of providing high quality documentation and an ability to standardise processes.
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills , with the ability to influence key stakeholders
• Must have a can-do attitude, be self-motivated and proactive with the ability to drive tasks and solutions to completion
• Ability to multi-task and work under pressure with excellent time management skills
• Must be expert in using, Visio, Project and highly proficient in all office applications
• Although teamwork is vital, needs to be able to work unsupervised and take initiative to get the job done.
• Ability to organise, chair and keep on track meetings with senior staff and directors.

Should you require additional support at any stage of the recruitment process due to a disability or a health condition, please do not hesitate to contact a member of our recruitment team who will work with you to provide any adjustments as required.

We are an equal opportunities recruiter and do not discriminate on the basis of race, colour, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, or any other protected characteristic.

We recognise that our people are our most valuable asset, which is reflected in the wide range of benefits that are available to our employees. Some of these benefits include: our occupational pension scheme, group income protection cover, private medical insurance, mental health resources and free apps, health and wellbeing services encompassing an onsite gym, wellbeing centre and GP service, emergency back-up care support, parental and special leave, holiday entitlement increasing with length of service, holiday trading, season ticket loans and online discounts and lifestyle management services.

We recognise the value of flexible working and embraces hybrid working, allowing our people to work from home up to 40% of their working time. We do however remain committed to working together in person for the remaining 60% of time so that we can learn, grow and succeed together.

Additional information - External

A&O Shearman is a new global industry-leading law firm, with nearly 50 offices in 29 countries worldwide. Our fluency in English law, US law, and the laws of the world’s most dynamic markets, enables us to provide unmatched insight and seamless delivery to clients. We work on challenging and important deals and disputes that have the potential to shape the future.

We offer exceptional opportunities for our people; opportunities to work for the world’s leading businesses; to transform the status quo, and to deliver your best work, helping you and your career to thrive, while delivering unparalleled outcomes for our clients.

Whether you're helping clients solve complex challenges, transforming the ways we manage our business, or ensuring the smooth-running of our operations, this is an environment where you can belong and excel. We provide first-rate training and development, we are committed to diversity, equity and inclusion and we provide support and ways of working that help you optimise your wellbeing.

What truly defines a career with us? We recruit the best and ask for the best of you. And together, we will redefine success.