Global Programme Director - Finance Technology

Why we're hiring:

As part of WPPs Elevate28 strategy, we are accelerating a major Finance Technology transformation to simplify, modernise and standardise the platforms, data and processes that underpin Global Finance. This portfolio is critical to statutory reporting, management reporting, forecasting, planning, control, performance management, compliance, and executive decision-making.

The Global Programme Director - Finance Technology will shape, govern and drive WPP’s global Finance Technology transformation portfolio. This senior enterprise leadership role turns a complex, multi-year agenda into a coherent roadmap that simplifies the finance technology estate, strengthens control and resilience, and enables faster, more trusted business insight.

The role spans Finance ERP standardisation, consolidation platform replacement, enterprise performance management, revenue forecasting, analytics, finance data foundations and operating model change. It will work across Group Finance, Enterprise Technology, agencies, markets, regions and delivery partners to align priorities, secure decisions, manage trade-offs and ensure investment delivers measurable enterprise value.

This is a director-level role requiring strategic judgement, executive influence, commercial discipline and the ability to create clarity, momentum and delivery confidence across a high-profile transformation portfolio.

What you'll be doing:

• Shape and sequence the global Finance ERP roadmap, moving WPP towards fewer platforms, common templates, harmonised controls and reduced process variation
• Lead the transition from legacy consolidation tooling to a resilient enterprise performance management capability across consolidation, planning, forecasting, reporting and analytics
• Strengthen delivery confidence, investment discipline and benefits realisation across a high-value portfolio with significant executive visibility and business risk
• Define the global Finance Technology portfolio vision, investment narrative and multi-year roadmap across Finance ERP, consolidation, enterprise performance management, forecasting, analytics and finance data
• Translate finance transformation priorities into a clear, sequenced and deliverable portfolio that balances strategic value, delivery capacity, affordability, risk and business disruption
• Establish strong portfolio governance, investment controls, stage gates, assurance and executive reporting to support timely, evidence-based decisions
• Lead and orchestrate a portfolio of finance transformation programmes, ensuring clear sponsorship, ownership, outcomes, funding, delivery accountability and benefits realisation
• Manage portfolio risks, dependencies, resources, budgets, delivery confidence and executive escalations across Finance, Enterprise Technology, data, architecture, security, controls, suppliers, markets and agencies
• Build trusted relationships with senior Finance, Enterprise Technology, agency, market and regional leaders to align priorities, resolve trade-offs and maintain enterprise momentum
• Shape business cases, funding recommendations and portfolio choices using clear analysis of cost, benefit, risk, sequencing, control impact and business value
• Manage system integrators, software vendors and delivery partners against commitments, outcomes, commercial levers and performance expectations
• Lead and coach programme directors, delivery leads, PMOs and matrixed teams to raise delivery standards, strengthen transparency and build a culture of accountability.

What you'll need:

• Extensive experience leading large-scale finance technology, ERP, enterprise performance management or corporate systems transformation in a global organisation.

• Proven track record of leading multi-year transformation portfolios with significant budgets, multiple delivery partners, complex governance and senior executive sponsorship.

• Strong understanding of finance operating models and core finance capabilities, including ERP, consolidation, planning, budgeting, forecasting, reporting, analytics, controls and finance data.

• Director-level leadership presence, with the credibility to influence C-suite leaders, Finance executives, technology leaders, agencies, markets and external partners.

• Strong capability in portfolio governance, investment management, business case development, budget ownership, benefits realisation, assurance, RAID and dependency management.

• Commercially confident, with experience managing vendors, system integrators and delivery partners against commitments, outcomes and performance measures.

• Exceptional communication skills, with the ability to simplify complex finance, technology and delivery issues into clear executive insight, decisions and recommendations.

• Ability to create clarity in ambiguity, resolve competing priorities and lead matrixed teams across geographies, functions and business units.

• Strong understanding of change, adoption, business readiness, service transition, process ownership and operating model embedding.

• Resilient, commercially minded and outcome-focused, with high integrity, strong judgement and the confidence to challenge constructively when value, control or delivery confidence is at risk.

Who you are:

You're open: We are inclusive and collaborative; we encourage the free exchange of ideas; we respect and celebrate diverse views. We are open-minded: to new ideas, new partnerships, new ways of working.

You're optimistic: We believe in the power of creativity, technology and talent to create brighter futures or our people, our clients and our communities. We approach all that we do with conviction: to try the new and to seek the unexpected.

You're extraordinary: we are stronger together: through collaboration we achieve the amazing. We are creative leaders and pioneers of our industry; we provide extraordinary every day.

What we'll give you:

Passionate, inspired people – We aim to create a culture in which people can do extraordinary work.

Scale and opportunity – We offer the opportunity to create, influence and complete projects at a scale that is unparalleled in the industry.

Challenging and stimulating work – Unique work and the opportunity to join a group of creative problem solvers. Are you up for the challenge?