Senior Project Owner(US Accounting Division: AP+AR+GL+ Reporting)

Senior Project Owner (Accounting Division-AP+AR)

Overview

ARDEM Data Services is seeking a highly experienced and knowledgeable Senior Project Owner (SPO) to join our Accounting Division. This critical role requires a rare combination of deep expertise in accounting principles, a knack for designing outsourced finance solutions, and proven project management and leadership skills.

The ideal candidate will leverage their extensive accounting background to act as a subject matter expert (SME) during the sales cycle, and then lead the successful implementation and ongoing management of complex finance and accounting (F&A) outsourcing projects for our clients.

Responsibilities and Duties:

The Senior Project Owner's responsibilities are divided into such core areas:

Project Management & Client Communication-

• End-to-End Project Management: Oversee multiple, concurrent F&A outsourcing projects, ensuring they are delivered on time, within scope, and within budget.
• Client Relationship Management: Serve as the main point of contact for high-value clients, maintaining strong, consultative relationships and managing expectations throughout the project lifecycle.
• Workflow Development: Design and develop detailed workflow processes and comprehensive work instructions for the delivery team.
• Quality & Compliance: Implement rigorous Quality Assurance (QA) and auditing processes, leveraging a deep understanding of accounting standards to ensure all work product meets internal quality and client/regulatory compliance requirements.

Accounting Process Oversight-

• Supervise Accounts Payable (AP) and Accounts Receivable (AR) functions, including invoice processing, reconciliations, payment runs, aging reports, and vendor/customer query resolution.
• Review and validate accounting entries for accuracy and compliance with accounting principles (GAAP/IFRS).
• Ensure accurate and timely month-end and year-end closings.
• Oversee cash flow tracking, expense management, and accrual accounting.
• Identify discrepancies through reconciliation and initiate corrective actions

Team Management & Mentorship (The Leadership Role)-

• Team Leadership: Lead, mentor, and manage a team of Process Associates, providing clear direction, technical guidance, and performance feedback.
• Resource Optimization: Assign tasks and responsibilities to ensure the optimal and efficient utilization of team resources across all assigned projects.

Team Leadership and Quality Control-

• Lead and mentor a team of accounting analysts and process associates to ensure project excellence.
• Conduct regular performance reviews, provide structured feedback, and identify training needs.
• Review work output to maintain accuracy, consistency, and compliance with quality standards.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives for better efficiency and accuracy in accounting workflows.

Solutions Design & Sales Support (The Strategic Role)-

• Subject Matter Expertise: Act as the primary Accounting and Finance SME for the sales team, providing deep technical insights to prospective clients.
• Solution Design & Sales: Analyse complex client F&A operations (e.g., Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, General Ledger, Reporting) to design, propose, and "sell" tailored Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) and Business Process Automation (BPA) solutions.
• Process Improvement Consulting: Collaborate with internal teams and clients to perform a thorough analysis of their existing finance processes, identifying areas for efficiency gains, cost reduction, and quality improvement through ARDEM's services.
• Documentation & Presentation: Develop high-quality proposals and presentations to clearly articulate the value proposition and implementation strategy to client stakeholders.

Reporting & Analysis-

• Prepare detailed client and internal reports covering process performance, financial summaries, and SLA adherence.
• Provide analytical insights for decision-making, variance analysis, and cost optimization.
• Create dashboards and visual reports to communicate progress and highlight bottlenecks.

Required Experience, Skills, and Qualifications-

Education: Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Engineering or a closely related field.

Experience: Proven 10+ years of professional experience that includes:

• Significant experience in project management or similar delivery/consulting roles.
• Experience managing multiple client accounts in parallel
• Extensive, demonstrable knowledge of accounting principles and practices (e.g., US GAAP, internal controls).
• Experience in designing, implementing, or selling BPO/BPA solutions, particularly within the finance and accounting domain.

Core Competencies-

Financial Acumen: Ability to analyse and discuss complex financial processes with senior finance leaders.

Consultative Sales Support: Proven ability to support a sales process by serving as the technical/SME expert.

Project Management Skills: Strong grasp of project management methodologies (PMP or Six Sigma certification is a plus).

Communication: Exceptional communication skills in English, both written and verbal, for effective client and team management.

Problem-Solving: Strong analytical, root cause analysis, and corrective action skills.

ERP and Process Automation-

• Lead implementation, configuration, and optimization of ERP systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle NetSuite, Sage, QuickBooks, Microsoft Dynamics, or similar).
• Create and maintain master data, workflows, and reporting dashboards within ERP platforms.
• Collaborate with technical teams to automate recurring accounting and reporting tasks.
• Generate and analyse ERP-based reports for financial insights, KPIs, and performance reviews.
• Train team members on ERP navigation, reporting tools, and compliance practices.

Technical Requirements-

• System: Windows laptop/desktop (Intel i5 or higher, minimum 8GB RAM).
• Screen: Minimum 14 inches, Full HD resolution).
• Internet: High-speed broadband connection (100 Mbps or higher).
• Software: AnyDesk for remote connectivity