Principal Project Manager

Job description / Role

Who are we?

At Finastra, we are a dynamic global provider of open finance software solutions, dedicated to expanding access to financial services. Our innovative applications span lending, payments, treasury and capital markets, and universal banking. Proudly serving over 8,000 customers, including 45 of the world's top 50 banks, we aim to boost financial inclusion for all. Join us and be part of a vibrant company that embraces diverse perspectives and is committed to doing well by doing good.

What will you contribute?

The Presales and Project Management Principal is responsible for ensuring that all projects within the portfolio are delivered on time, within the client's budget, and meet or exceed financial targets, including baseline margins. This role defines project objectives and oversees quality assurance throughout the project lifecycle. A key aspect of the role is to consistently foster strong client relationships and uphold Finastra's reputation for excellence. Additionally, the Principal ensures that all presales proposals are submitted punctually and are aligned with budget expectations in coordination with sales and the client.

The Principal Project Manager is responsible for managing all aspects of large to moderately complex projects for a defined segment of strategic initiatives from project definition and intake to transition to full operational support.

Key responsibilities

Your deliverables as a Principal Project Manager will include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Leads and drives the development of the project intake process including developing scope, schedule, and cost.
• Defines the goals and objectives of specific projects and defines individual team members' roles and responsibilities for the duration of the project.
• Manages multiple mid to large scale projects ensuring that they will complete on time and within budget and that the solution aligns with or meets the business objective.
• Manages the daily and weekly project team assignments and monitors progress against the work plan to assure that objectives are met within the prescribed time, cost, and quality measures.
• Identification and impact analysis of potential project changes and facilitation of change control board to approve or disapprove said changes.
• Meets financial objectives by forecasting requirements; preparing a project budget; scheduling expenditures; analyzing variances; initiating corrective actions.
• Continual identification, qualification, and tracking of risks, defining mitigation and contingency plans, assigning appropriate resources, and constantly communicating status.
• Responsible for identification of resource requirements and proper communication of those requirements in a timely manner to ensure the project is properly staffed with the skilled resources required.
• Responsible for identifying internal and external stakeholders, understanding their communication requirements, and fulfilling those requirements.

Requirements and qualifications

• 15+ years of end-to-end project management experience.
• Fluent in Arabic; native-level proficiency is highly preferred.
• Experience must be with customer-facing projects and not internal to the organization.
• Experience assisting project management teams with identification of action items, tasks, and activities and tracking progress.
• Experience at defining, implementing, and continually improving standards, processes, and procedures utilizing industry best practice (PMI, CMMI, etc.).
• Experience developing project budgets based on the development of work breakdown structure (WBS).

Benefits

We are proud to offer a range of incentives to our employees worldwide. These benefits are available to everyone, regardless of grade, and reflect the values we uphold:

• Flexibility: Enjoy unlimited vacation, based on your location and business priorities. Hybrid working arrangements, and inclusive policies such as paid time off for voting, bereavement, and sick leave.
• Well-being: Access confidential one-on-one therapy through our employee assistance program, unlimited personalized coaching via our coaching app, and access to our Gather Groups for emotional and mental support.
• Medical, life & disability insurance, retirement plan, lifestyle and other benefits*
• ESG: Benefit from paid time off for volunteering and donation matching.
• DEI: Participate in multiple DE&I groups for open involvement (e.g., Count Me In, Culture@Finastra, Proud@Finastra, Disabilities@Finastra, Women@Finastra).
• Career development: Access online learning and accredited courses through our Skills & Career Navigator tool.
• Recognition: Be part of our global recognition program, Finastra Celebrates, and contribute to regular employee surveys to help shape Finastra and foster a culture where everyone is engaged and empowered to perform at their best.

*Specific benefits may vary by location.

At Finastra, each individual is unique, bringing their own ideas, thoughts, cultural beliefs, backgrounds, and experiences together. We learn from one another, embrace and celebrate our differences, and create an environment where everyone feels safe to be themselves.

Be unique, be exceptional, and help us make a difference at Finastra!