Financial Services Operations Manager
About The Position
The M&A Stock Deal Lead works within Cisco Financial Shared Services’ Global Stock Plan Services (GSPS) & M&A Stock team. The team manages global equity plan operations across more than 76 countries and leads equity integration work for Cisco acquisitions, partnering with Corporate Development, Finance, Legal, Tax, Treasury, and People & Communities (HR). The role leads end-to-end equity workstreams for mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures, including due diligence, signing, closing, and post-close integration. It also supports day-to-day administration of Cisco’s global equity programs as needed, providing operational oversight, SOX compliance, and participant support. The position may assist with administration of RSUs, PSUs, DRSUs, and ESPP through Morgan Stanley at Work / Equity Edge Online. Work includes enrollment and purchase cycles, vesting and exercises, share settlement, payroll and tax reconciliations, participant communications, and equity education. This is a hybrid role with two in-office days per week at Cisco’s Atlanta, Salt Lake City, or RTP offices; alternate locations may be considered on an exception basis.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, Economics, or a related discipline.
- At least 6 years of progressive professional experience in global equity compensation administration and stock plan operations.
- Demonstrated experience managing equity workstreams in mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, or other corporate transactions, including due diligence, closing funding wires, and post-close integration.
- Hands-on operational proficiency with Morgan Stanley at Work / Equity Edge Online (EEO) and Workday HRIS integrations.
- Advanced Microsoft Excel modeling capabilities.
Nice To Haves
- Certified Equity Professional (CEP) or Equity Compensation Associate (ECA) designation.
- In-depth knowledge of global statutory equity compliance, SEC Section 16 reporting, IRS Forms 3921/3922 regulations, and SOX internal control frameworks.
- Practical experience using enterprise AI tools, data automation pipelines, and modern collaboration technologies to streamline equity workflows.
- Exceptional stakeholder communication, project management, and cross-functional leadership skills, including the ability to influence decisions across Corporate Development, Legal, Tax, Treasury, and Payroll.
- Proven ability to prioritize competing transactional priorities and deliver high-accuracy results under compressed deal timelines.
Responsibilities
- Lead cross-functional equity workstreams throughout M&A transactions, including due diligence, signing, closing, and post-close integration.
- Partner with Corporate Development, Legal, Tax, Treasury, HR, and external advisors on equity deal mechanics.
- Review term sheets, merger agreements, disclosure schedules, and retention equity structures and provide equity-related feedback.
- Manage and direct distribution of cash and stock consideration through paying agents, escrow agents, and Cisco Payroll.
- Manage assumed RSUs and stock option conversions, equity exchange ratios, and share reserve reconciliations; gather information for Form S-8 registration filings.
- Coordinate post-acquisition employee onboarding and education about equity award treatment, vesting schedules, and holdback or escrow release mechanisms.
- Maintain and execute key SOX controls across transaction milestones.
- Partner with Payroll and paying agents on statutory compliance and year-end reporting, including Forms 3921/3922 and 1099s.
- Assist with end-to-end administration of global equity plans, including RSUs, PSUs, DRSUs, and ESPP, using Morgan Stanley at Work / Equity Edge Online.
- Assist with semi-annual ESPP enrollment, contribution reconciliations, purchase execution, statutory $25,000 limit monitoring, and disqualifying disposition tracking.
- Assist with RSU, PSU, and DRSU vesting events; option exercises; share issuances; tax withholding calculations; and mobile employee transactions.
- Reconcile compensation income and tax withholding files with Payroll and support year-end statutory compliance, including W-2s, Forms 3921/3922, and 1099s.
- Assist with participant equity inquiries, draft participant communications, and conduct equity education sessions.
Benefits
- Medical insurance
- Dental insurance
- Vision insurance
- 401(k) plan with Cisco matching contribution
- Paid parental leave
- Short- and long-term disability coverage
- Basic life insurance
- Cisco restricted stock unit grants may be available to eligible employees, subject to vesting and continued employment
- Paid holidays
- Floating holiday for non-exempt employees
- Paid birthday day off
- Paid year-end holiday shutdown
- Personal wellness days
- Paid vacation or flexible vacation time off, depending on employee classification
- Paid sick time
- Additional paid time away may be requested for critical or emergency family issues
- Optional paid volunteer days
- Annual bonuses may be available for non-sales roles, subject to Cisco policies
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
