Head – Operations Excellence (F&A Operations)

Position Title: Head Operations Excellence (F&A Operations)

Reports To: Director- Finance Shared Services

Location: Mumbai, India

Shift: 1:30 -10:30 PM

Role Description:

Sodexo Global Business Services (GBS) is hiring a Operations Excellence Head that will provide support to F&A Operations (P2P/R2R/O2C) in driving strategic initiatives, efficiency projects, supports F&A transitions and identify/execute process improvement initiatives.

Driving strategic changes in finance processes, systems, and people to shift the function from transactional to a value-adding business partner, focusing on automation (RPA, AI), analytics, ERP implementation, and process redesign (P2P, O2C, R2R) to enhance efficiency, decision-making, and strategic alignment, requiring strong business acumen, change management, and technology skills to deliver measurable results.

The role demands strong financial acumen, people leadership, stakeholder management, and an ability to drive operational excellence in a global shared services environment. The incumbent works autonomously, leads multiple priorities, and supports GBS-wide finance initiatives.

During the performance of responsibilities, the incumbent interacts with F&A Domain Heads/Managers/Project Management Team/ Global Stakeholders across APMEA/NORAM.

Key Responsibilities:

• Strategy Development and Execution:
• Develop and execute a holistic finance transformation strategy aligned with business objectives.
• Assess current finance operations, identify pain points, and define target operating models.
• Develop business cases and ROI analysis for transformation initiatives.
• Finance Function Optimization:
• Redesign and optimize finance processes to enhance efficiency and effectiveness.
• Implement industry best practices and leverage automation technologies (RPA, AI) to streamline operations.
• Support shared service centre growth and centres of excellence to drive operational excellence.
• Technology Implementation and Adoption:
• Lead the selection, implementation, and integration of finance systems (ERP, Workflows, BI, etc.).
• Drive the adoption of emerging technologies (cloud, AI, machine learning) to enhance finance capabilities.
• Ensure data quality, integrity, and security throughout the transformation process
• Implement advanced analytics and predictive modelling to support strategic decision-making.
• Develop self-service reporting capabilities to empower business users.
• Change Management:
• Develop and execute comprehensive change management plans to ensure successful adoption of transformation initiatives.
• Build stakeholder buy-in and manage resistance to change.
• Provide training and support to finance teams throughout the transformation journey.
• Team Leadership and Development:
• Lead and mentor a high-performing finance transformation team.
• Develop talent and succession plans to build a strong finance organization.
• Foster a culture of innovation and continuous improvement.

Education

Minimum Degree Requirements:

Bachelors degree in finance, Accounting, or related field MBA or advanced degree preferred.

Preferred Major Area of Study:

CA- Shared Services F&A

Experience

Minimum years of related experience required:

15+ years of relevant experience in finance, minimum two domains out of three (P2P/R2R/O2C) with a strong focus on transformation and consulting in GBS/GCC industry

Competencies/Behaviors required for job

• Strategic & Analytical Skills
• Strategic thinking with ability to understand business performance drivers.
• Strong analytical capabilities with ability to generate and evaluate alternative solutions.
• Understanding of F&A KPIs in GBS industry
• Leadership & Collaboration
• Demonstrates leadership presence and leads by example.
• Strong ability to collaborate, influence, and work with cross-functional stakeholders.
• A proactive and solution-oriented mindset.
• Communication & Stakeholder Engagement
• Ability to translate technical financial information for non-financial audiences.
• Strong presentation, communication, and storytelling skills.
• Customer Orientation
• High responsiveness and service mindset.
• Ability to resolve issues calmly and professionally.
• Technical Accounting Knowledge
• Strong understanding of general accounting principles, financial reporting, AP/AR/GL operations.
• Familiarity with financial systems/ERPs/SAP/AX, data extraction tools, and analysis applications.
• Excellent Excel/PPT skills; ability to work with large data sets.
• Business & Behavioral
• Good understanding of business operations and ability to interpret financial data for non-finance stakeholders.
• Strong customer service orientation: professional, calm, and solution driven.
• High attention to detail, accuracy, and data integrity.
• Strong communication skills: ability to simplify complex financial data.
• Team player with strong collaboration, cooperation, and problem-solving capabilities.
• Ability to prioritize tasks and meet deadlines in a dynamic shared services environment.
• Strong willingness to learn, collaborate, and ask questions.