Senior Project Manager - Finance Programme

Dedicated to sustainable development, Arup is a collective of designers, consultants and experts working globally.

At Arup you will have the opportunity to collaborate on ambitious projects - delivering remarkable outcomes for clients and communities, and to do socially useful work that has meaning.

Arup's purpose, shared values and collaborative approach has set it apart for over 75 years, and now is your opportunity to join.

AMS is a global workforce solutions partner committed to creating inclusive, dynamic, and future-ready workplaces. We help organisations adapt, grow, and thrive in an ever-evolving world by building, shaping, and optimising diverse talent strategies.

We partner with Arup to support their contingent recruitment processes. Acting as an extension of their recruitment teams, we connect them with skilled interim and temporary professionals, fostering workplaces where everyone can contribute and succeed.

On Behalf of Arup, we are looking for a Senior Project Manager - Finance Programme for a 12-month contract based in London, hybrid (3 days per week in the office).

Purpose of the role:

This is a senior delivery leadership position within Arup's Global Finance Programme. The role is responsible for leading large-scale finance systems transformation projects from initial concept through implementation, go-live, stabilisation and benefits realisation.

The successful candidate will take end-to-end ownership of delivery, including scope, budget, schedule, governance, risk management, stakeholder engagement and business outcomes. They will work across a globally dispersed finance function, partnering with Finance, Digital Technology, Shared Services and external implementation partners.

What you'll do:

• Lead end-to-end delivery of major finance systems projects, ensuring successful outcomes across scope, budget, timelines, quality, risk and governance.
• Manage project planning, business cases, delivery strategy, resourcing, reporting and stakeholder engagement.
• Oversee system implementation activities including solution design, integrations, data migration, testing, deployment, cutover and hypercare.
• Lead cross-functional teams and manage third-party vendors, implementation partners and suppliers.
• Drive senior stakeholder alignment across Finance, Technology and business functions.
• Manage project risks, issues, dependencies, controls and delivery assurance.
• Support change management, communications, training, user adoption and operational readiness.
• Track benefits realisation and ensure smooth transition into business-as-usual support.
• Maintain PMO standards, project governance, documentation and continuous improvement of delivery practices.
• Coach and support project management and business analysis team members where required.

The skills you'll need:

• Extensive experience leading large-scale finance systems projects through the full lifecycle, from design and implementation to support and benefits realisation.
• Strong delivery background in finance platforms, system upgrades, integrations, data migration, testing, cutover and hypercare.
• Accountable for scope, budget, timelines, risks, governance, reporting and stakeholder management.
• Experience delivering finance transformation in global, complex organisations across multiple regions.
• Strong understanding of finance systems, enterprise architecture, integrations, data, security, controls and service management.
• Proven ability to manage third-party suppliers, systems integrators and implementation partners.
• Skilled in commercial management, including budgets, forecasts, contracts, change control and supplier deliverables.
• Excellent senior stakeholder engagement, influencing executives and governance boards.
• Experience leading multi-disciplinary and globally distributed teams.
• Strong project controls expertise covering planning, scheduling, risk, dependencies, governance and reporting.
• Familiarity with PMO frameworks, Microsoft Project, Power BI and project reporting tools.
• Experience managing and developing project teams.
• Holds a recognised project management qualification such as PRINCE2, PMI, APM or MSP.
• Experience with ERP, payroll, procurement, reporting, consolidation or other finance systems.
• Finance operating model transformation, process standardisation and automation experience.
• Understanding of key finance processes such as P2P, O2C, R2R and payroll.
• Knowledge of audit, financial controls, data protection and information security.
• Business Analysis experience including requirements gathering, process mapping and acceptance criteria.
• Board-level reporting, delivery assurance and advanced Excel skills.

About the client

Arup is an equal opportunity employer that actively promotes and nurtures a diverse and inclusive workforce. Guided by its values and alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, Arup creates and contributes to equitable spaces and systems, while cultivating a sense of belonging for all. Arup's internal employee networks support their inclusive culture: from race, ethnicity and cross-cultural working to gender equity and LGBTQ+ and disability inclusion - creating a space for everyone to express themselves and make a positive difference.

If you are interested in applying for this position and meet the criteria outlined above, please click the link to apply and speak to one of our Sourcing Specialists.

AMS are committed to providing all our candidates with the opportunity to perform at their best throughout the recruitment process. Please let us know if you require any additional support or reasonable adjustments during the screening process and we will work with you and Arup to identify the best solution to meet your requirements.

AMS, a Recruitment Process Outsourcing Company, may in the delivery of some of its services be deemed to operate as an Employment Agency or an Employment Business.