Job Specification: Project Manager/Change Manager - UKISSA

Role Title: Project Manager/Change Manager
Region: UKISSA (UK, Ireland, Sub-Saharan Africa)
Reports To: Regional Chief Financial Officer (CFO)
Primary Focus: Cost Containment, Financial Tracking, Procurement Oversight, Governance & Stakeholder Coordination

Role Overview

The Project Manager/Change Manager will lead the UKISSA project and change agenda, reporting directly to the Regional CFO. This role functions as a central governance point across business stakeholders, finance teams, and group reporting. A key part of the role is ensuring cost discipline, driving financial transparency, and maintaining control over procurement processes. The role will coordinate all internal calls, follow-ups, and reporting routines, ensuring strong execution discipline across markets and functions.

Key Responsibilities

1. Cost Management & Financial Tracking

• Lead regional cost-containment initiatives with clear accountability to the CFO.
• Develop and maintain structured cost-tracking models, dashboards, and variance analysis.
• Partner with regional finance, market finance leaders, and group reporting to validate data and ensure accuracy.
• Identify risks, opportunities, and corrective actions, ensuring timely escalation and follow-through.

1. Procurement Oversight

• Provide oversight, coordination, and challenge across the regional procurement function.
• Monitor procurement pipeline, supplier performance, PO approval governance, and tendering processes.
• Drive efficiency initiatives focused on reducing cost, improving compliance, and streamlining sourcing activities.
• Ensure procurement activity aligns with regional financial objectives and cost-control expectations.

1. Project & Change Delivery

• Own delivery of the UKISSA change agenda, ensuring all project milestones and workstreams progress to plan.
• Maintain project plans, RAID logs, and governance frameworks across multiple stakeholder groups.
• Conduct change impact assessments and support markets through transition phases.
• Ensure project discipline, holding teams accountable for actions, risks, and dependencies.

1. Stakeholder Engagement & Cross-Functional Coordination

• Act as the single point of coordination between business units, procurement, finance teams, regional leadership, and group reporting.
• Run standing meetings, steering forums, and internal calls with strong follow-up governance.
• Foster productive relationships with functional leads to ensure alignment across all touchpoints.

1. Reporting & Business Communication

• Prepare consolidated reporting packs for the Regional CFO, business stakeholders, and Group Reporting.
• Produce weekly/monthly updates on performance KPIs, spend, project risks, and operational status.
• Translate complex data into clear, actionable insights for senior leadership.
• Ensure documentation is disciplined, audit-ready, and aligned with internal standards.

1. Governance, Follow-Up & Execution

• Drive a strong rhythm of accountability across teams, ensuring timely closure of actions and deliverables.
• Enhance governance routines to increase transparency, efficiency, and cross-functional alignment.
• Support CFO-level reviews with data, insights, and documented recommendations.

Skills & Experience

Essential

• Proven experience in project management and/or change management within a finance-intensive environment.
• Strong financial acumen with hands-on experience in cost-control, budgeting, or financial tracking.
• Demonstrated experience working with procurement processes or cross-functional commercial teams.
• Exceptional communication skills, capable of managing senior-level audiences.
• Proficiency in Excel, financial modelling, reporting tools, and project management systems.
• Strong stakeholder management across matrixed organisations.

Desirable

• Experience across UK, Ireland, or Sub-Saharan Africa markets.
• Exposure to group reporting, consolidation processes, or multinational governance structures.
• Project management or change management certification (PMP, PRINCE2, Agile, Prosci).