Principal Strategic Optimization Consultant

BlackLine•Pleasanton, CA

11h•Hybrid

About The Position

The Platform Adoption Services Principal partners with customers to integrate strategy, process, and technology while providing thought leadership to optimize the accounting & finance function. Through the Transformation Framework, professional optimization consulting helps customers 1) understand their end game 2) understand the keys to a successful journey 3) envision end-to-end process optimization with BlackLine 4) organize their journey based on the nine foundational accounting process categorizes 5) assess their current state and develop a roadmap for process optimization 6) optimize processes using the 7 steps to process optimization. Consultants partner with Customers to design and drive a digital transformation roadmap leveraging BlackLine. The Role partners with Account Managers to develop a plan to deploy the key elements of the Transformation Framework to advance the customers’ digital transformation journey. The Role challenges the customer’s processes and designs innovative solutions to advance the customers’ digital transformation journey, increasing adoption and expansion of BlackLine, driving consulting services revenues, preventing attrition and churn, and continually enriching the customer experience. The Role leverages their BlackLine expertise, their accounting, internal controls, and process optimization expertise, as well as their professional judgment to provide leading practice optimization strategies, insights, and deliverables. These deliverables include original, innovative solutions for complex customer challenges, consulting services, process redesign and transformation, solution architecture specific to the customers’ challenges, one to many thought leadership, Executive touch points and strategy sessions, and recommendations to accelerate customer’s accounting innovation journey. Most importantly, the Role must be confident in the unknown as many customers require assistance in understanding their own processes before considering optimization with BlackLine. All facets of the role are designed to drive customers’ successful digital transformation journey.

Requirements

8+ years of experience in accounting/auditing and/or in accounting/auditing/financial industry software solutions
6+ years customer facing experience (internal or external)
5+ years BlackLine experience
Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Economics or Business Administration
Strong interpersonal skills and experience building relationships
Strategic focus with actionable plans
Ability to adapt to changing priorities, customer needs in high-pressure situations with poise, diplomacy and tact.
Comfort and confidence in dealing with the unknown. An ability to complete the puzzle without the final picture being available for reference.
Highly process-oriented mindset, with an aptitude for dissecting processes and delivering optimized solutions
Excellent listening and empathy skills: identify with the customer and want to help solve their business challenges
Desire to be solution focused
Strong verbal and written professional communication
Demonstrated strong presentation skills including content building and delivery in varied settings (live, recorded, webex, etc)
Constantly elevate knowledge of BlackLine, current accounting practices, and changes in the industry
Demonstrated advanced knowledge of BlackLine solutions to optimize processes

Nice To Haves

Recognized process optimization skills and ability to architect multiple solutions with limited customer support/documentation
Demonstrated value communication skills; succinctly tie customer challenges to actionable solutions that deliver value
Demonstrated leadership skills
Adaptability to changing priorities and customer needs
Self-motivated, proactive team player with a natural curiosity and passion for learning
Prioritization and time management skills
CPA, CIA or related professional accounting certification

Responsibilities

Using the Transformation Framework, partner with customers as they pursue digital transformation.
Ensure that customers are aware of all billable services available to partner with them on their journey.
Generate pipeline and independently close on billable consulting engagements with customers. Responsible for utilizing knowledge of company products and services and developing sales pitches to connect with customers and generate sales.
Work with customers to assess current state processes, challenge the current state, architect potential solutions, and partner to deliver process optimizations. (BlackLine Optimization Blitz)
Design original, innovative solutions for complex customer challenges where no standard solution currently exists.
Articulate value and benefits associated with optimized solutions.
Document process optimization use cases in a way that allows for their use throughout BlackLine.
Shadow customers as they pursue digital transformation, providing consultative guidance worthy of elevated hourly billing rates to ensure success (BlackLine Optimization Consulting Services)
Leverage prior and current experiences and expertise to develop and deliver thought leadership to customers through webinars and other multi-customer events
Listen to customers to understand their needs and translate their pain points into actionable BlackLine solutions
Using professional judgment and expertise, offer opportunities where customers can provide their processes without written documentation; Review and analyze the processes and develop solutions (even when the customer is unsure of their process) based on personal experience and experience with other customers
Provide coaching, mentoring, and guidance for POCs to assist with more complex process optimizations.
Engage with customer leadership and partner with AM to understand the customers’ goals, objectives, and challenges and adapt our offerings to support their needs
Work as a team with Account Managers and other departments on account planning focused on ACV expansion, services revenue, user adoption, referencability, and preventing attrition
Deliver actionable advice and expertise to customers regarding using BlackLine’s solutions as a foundational technology supporting their digital transformation journey
Maintain and elevate BlackLine knowledge as well as, other relevant domain knowledge that is imperative for advising customers on their Digital Transformation
Identify and communicate on “at-risk” customers and work with AM and leadership to devise best approach
Exhibit authentic energy for BlackLine solutions and the desire to motivate and engage our customers
Other duties as assigned