The SAP Functional Consultant - Finance Processes  gor Europe is a pivotal SAP technical expert responsible for leading the development, direction, and execution of finance-related SAP initiatives, particularly focusing on innovative solutions like SAP Central Finance, SAP S/4HANA, and other digital transformation tools. This role will optimize Record to Report (R2R), General Ledger, Accounts Payable, and Revenue Accounting processes through cutting-edge SAP technologies, ensuring efficient delivery of back-office operations. The individual will collaborate with Finance Management, Shared Services, Operations, Sales, and IT teams to create a comprehensive finance platform supporting global business transformation.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Leadership in SAP’s Latest Finance Modules:

Lead the implementation of SAP Central Finance to unify financial operations, enabling real-time financial insights across multiple ERP systems.

Oversee the integration and utilization of SAP S/4HANA Finance and more transparent consolidated financial statements, aligning with global reporting requirements.

2. Project Execution in Digital Transformation:

Lead high-impact digital transformation initiatives involving SAP Finance solutions, driving a shift from traditional finance operations to real-time, insight-driven decision-making.

Oversee the configuration and implementation of Central Finance & S4 HANA  ensuring seamless integration with legacy systems and the consolidation of financial data for more effective reporting and forecasting.

3. Process Optimization and Automation:

Lead initiatives to optimize Financial Closing processes using tools like SAP Financial Closing Cockpit, ensuring faster and more accurate month-end and year-end closes.

Utilize SAP Central Finance to harmonize disparate financial systems, allowing real-time data availability and improving decision-making capabilities across finance teams.

4. Collaboration and Stakeholder Engagement:

Partner with global Finance, Shared Services, IT, and SAP technical teams to design and execute SAP Central Finance initiatives, ensuring alignment with corporate objectives and regional regulations.

Engage with senior business stakeholders to ensure that financial transformation initiatives are aligned with business strategies and address the evolving needs of the organization.

Serve as the primary liaison for SAP Central Finance projects, ensuring business needs are translated into actionable SAP solutions.

5. Innovation and Hands-On Expertise:

Leverage SAP Data Hub to integrate and analyze financial data from various SAP and non-SAP sources, driving insights for better financial decision-making.

Stay at the forefront of SAP innovations, ensuring the continuous improvement of finance systems by adopting the latest advancements in SAP Finance, Central Finance, and S/4HANA.

The person in this role can be located in one of our office locations in Europe.

Essential Duties and responsibilities

Deep expertise in SAP Central Finance, S/4HANA Finance, and other finance-related SAP modules.Experience in leading digital finance transformation projects within large, complex organizations.Proven ability to manage and implement end-to-end SAP Finance projects, with hands-on experience in configuration, implementation, and integration.Strong leadership skills with a track record of collaborating across global teams and driving transformation initiatives.Lead the design, development and execution of a comprehensive SAP STEP back-office strategy that aligns with the business’s strategic objectives to deliver a world-class customer experience across a portfolio of products, creating customer advocacy at each engagement.Bring subject matter expertise of SAP solution in projects and enhancement discussions. Directly define the SAP implementation strategy for the business, lead and implement the SAP governance framework, with a focus on improving program quality with focus on standardization & transformation.Developing and maintaining relationship with Executive staff within European TAA, as well as other Wolters Kluwer DivisionsConsults with senior and executive management and serves as a liaison to internal and external partners on department and business strategies within European TAA, as well. Developing plans, monitoring and managing internal non-technical large multifaceted projects from initiation through completionCalling and leading project meetings as required.Ensures effective communication between technical and non-technical functions.  to monitor and report on project progress as needed.Interprets requirements, identifies and communicates project scope and ensures program milestones and objectives are met.Manages projects to ensure on-time completion according to specifications and within budgeted costs.Identifying and alerting executives and project teams (directly and thru staff) to potential problems and recommends solutions to those problems.Interprets requirements, identifies, and communicates project scope and ensures program milestones and objectives are met.Manages projects to ensure on-time completion according to specifications and within budgeted costsIdentifying and alerting executives and project teams (directly and thru staff) to potential problems and recommends solutions to those problems.Develop and lead presentations for executives as needed on key programs. Lead regular staff meetings

Other Duties

Other duties include but are not limited to:

Lead regular staff meetingsManaging and administering a departmental budgetManaging vendors and contracts associated with some of the underlying projects.Other duties as may be assigned from time to time by his/her supervisor.

Job Qualifications

Education: 

BA degree/master’s degree in business operations/Strategy, Information Technology, Business Administration, or related area of study

Experience:

15 years of relevant combined work experience in operations, business intelligence or information technology with deep expertise establishing and optimizing Business functions and the related back-office systems including SAP Finance S4 HANA, Billing and Revenue Innovation management and Revenue Accounting and Reporting.Minimum 7 years of experience with SAP finance modules experience.Continuous improvement mentality that drives operational excellence, quality, and transformationExperience supporting a wide range of customers and partners, ranging from small firms to the largest enterprises in the world.

Other Knowledge: Skills, Abilities or Certifications: 

Ability to work and interact with C level executives.Excellent facilitation skills and ability to influence.Excellent organizational skills.Knowledge of new product development process.SAP Project and Program Management is must. Demonstrated leadership ability, to lead highly visible programs or initiatives across the organization.Ability to manage and prioritize multiple projects and work within tight deadlines.Ability to work closely in a team environment with other internal organizations.Excellent oral and written communication skills. Must be capable of preparing and presenting complex material to executives and senior management.Proficiency with Microsoft Office and Microsoft Project PMP certification or master’s Certificate in Project Management The ideal candidate will be knowledgeable regarding Risk and Scope management, TQM, Business Process design and engineering, multi-site project management, developing team-oriented continuous improvement environment and demonstrate ability and track record of learning.

Travel requirements

Must be able to travel up to approximately 15% to 25 % of the time including some international travel.