Working Capital Project Lead

Job description / Role

Working capital management in the MENA region is charged with helping our partners to deliver exceptional client service whilst taking care of the firms own cash and liquidity. We are looking for an exceptional project manager to join this new team to drive adoption of best practice processes and procedures across activities including credit risk monitoring, billing, cash collections and dispute resolution.

The opportunity

This is an opportunity to join a new team and to help formulate the future of working capital management in the MENA region. We are looking for someone who has technical expertise within working capital management together with the communication skills to engage stakeholders and the intellectual curiosity to want to find out why things have gone wrong and what we can do about it.

Your key responsibilities

- Orchestrate targeted interventions triggered by working capital performance issues: for major inventory balances, where issues are leading to protracted billing lead times and/or cash collections problems initiate PPAP-level client action planning and subsequent progress chasing of engagement teams and cross-functional action owners to agreed deadlines within client action plans
- Coordinate working capital governance 'drumbeat' across region: building and executing the routine activities which highlight performance on a daily/weekly basis, triggering interventions; arranging 'worst performer calls' and follow-ups, distributing communications such as weekly bulletins, league tables
- Project manage several key working capital initiatives across MENA: for projects planned including (i) client payment terms transition into Mercury (ii) change management associated with gCollect deployment into 13 countries; and (iii) transition of activity between local, near shore and onshore teams
- Facilitate regular GCSP/Account Leader surgeries to support x-SL coordination: to build harmonization across the region, to promote shared learning and to dirve towards best possible billing and collections outcomes, ensure all service lines and subservice lines benefit from the knowledge, influence and connections of GCSPs and SL account leaders set-up and facilitate regular client-level sessions attended by PPAS and engagement teams

Requirements

Skills and attributes for success

- Project management : with experience of project managing small and large projects, across cross-functional team, multiple geographies taking responsibility for end-to-end project lifecycle including stakeholder management, risk and issues management, developing and monitoring plans and milestones, budgeting progress and benefits tracking and communications
- Stakeholder influenc e: having developed process revisions, ideas on how to manage working capital more effectively or requirements for new ways of working, you will get the opportunity to present to senior stakeholders and so will need to be comfortable presenting to those audiences and able to influence audiences towards calls to action
- Intellectual curiosity : in an environment of complex processes, complex client organisations, different cultural norms and practices and teams managing multiple priorities all having an impact on the success of working capital management, the dogged determination to explore problems to find out why they occurred and then develop processes, procedures and controls towards sustainable solutions is a critical success factor for this team
- Working capital management : a financial background, with high levels of expertise in our internal engagement, billing and collections processes will enable the incumbent to navigate complex situations and develop processes, procedures and controls

To qualify you must have

- Graduate or higher degree in finance, business or related field
- 5 + years of finance experience, with particular emphasis on working capital, credit risk, billing and collections
- 5+ years of project management experience
- Knowledge of our engagement lifecycle with a deep understanding of our billing and cash collection processes
- Unparalleled drive to identify root cause issues and support remediation efforts, through a relentless problem-solving ethos

Ideally, you will also have

- Expert ability to influence engagement teams, partners and senior leaders towards accepting harmonised processes and procedures
- In-depth understanding of EY's service offerings
- Experience of leading change in a complex matrix organisation

What we look for

We are looking for people who can combine great technical skills, with a passion for problem solving and great collaboration, influencing and listening skills. It is important to be able to thrive in an ever changing, diverse, multi-cultural environment where we expect exceptional quality. You must be able to work within a matrixed organization, balancing the needs of multiple stakeholders. You must be able to manage multiple priorities simultaneously, make complex decisions and overcome obstacles autonomously.

What we offer

We offer a competitive compensation package where you'll be rewarded based on performance and recognized for the value you bring to our business. Plus, we offer:

- Continuous learning : You'll develop the mindset and skills to navigate whatever comes next.
- Success as defined by you : We'll provide the tools and flexibility, so you can make a meaningful impact, your way.
- Transformative leadership : We'll give you the insights, coaching and confidence to be the leader the world needs.
- Diverse and inclusive culture : You'll be embraced for who you are and empowered to use your voice to help others find theirs.

If you can demonstrate that you meet the criteria above, please contact us as soon as possible.

The exceptional EY experience. It's yours to build.

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The MENA practice of EY has been operating in the region since 1923. For over 95 years, we have grown to over 7,500 people united across 21 offices and 16 countries, sharing the same values and an unwavering commitment to quality. As an organization, we continue to develop outstanding leaders who deliver exceptional services to our clients and who contribute to our communities. We are proud of our accomplishments over the years, reaffirming our position as the largest and most established professional services organization in the region