Senior Manager, Finance Transformation

Cohen & Co•Cleveland, OH

3d•Onsite

About The Position

As a Senior Manager on Cohen's Finance Transformation team, you'll lead complex, multi-workstream engagements that reimagine how CFO organizations operate — from finance operating model and end-to-end process architecture through the ERP and application landscape that enables it. You'll own engagement delivery, client relationships, and team development, while shaping the growth and capabilities of our Advisory practice.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Information Systems, Business, or a related field.
6–10+ years of progressive experience in finance transformation, delivered through a consulting firm, internal transformation function, or a combination of both.
Demonstrated experience leading at least three full-lifecycle finance transformation or ERP-enabled finance programs from diagnostic through post-go-live stabilization.
Deep working knowledge of at least one major ERP platform's financial modules, plus practical exposure to the broader finance application landscape (EPM, close management, reconciliation, or automation tooling).
Demonstrated depth in redesigning end-to-end finance and accounting processes, with measurable outcomes (e.g., close cycle reduction, cost-to-serve improvement, touchless invoice rates, forecast accuracy).
Comprehensive understanding of the finance operating model and how its components interact — service delivery model, process architecture, data and technology, governance and controls, organization and talent, and performance management.
Working knowledge of US GAAP and, where applicable, IFRS; familiarity with SOX and internal control design as they relate to process and system change.
Executive-level communication skills, including experience presenting to and influencing CFO-level stakeholders and steering committees.
Ability to travel up to 15–20% to client sites and to work in the US without current or future visa sponsorship.

Nice To Haves

CPA, CMA, CGMA, MBA, or equivalent professional credential.
Prior experience at a Big Four, national, or top-tier boutique consulting firm at Manager or Senior Manager level.
ERP platform certifications (e.g., SAP S/4HANA Finance, Oracle Cloud Financials, Workday Financials).
Hands-on experience deploying AI, machine learning, or intelligent automation within a finance function, including familiarity with data governance, model risk, and control implications.
Shared services, GBS, or outsourcing transition experience (design, build, migrate, or optimize).
Post-merger integration, carve-out, or IPO-readiness finance experience.
Change management certification (Prosci or equivalent) or program management credential (PMP, SAFe).

Responsibilities

Lead end-to-end finance transformation engagements across Record-to-Report, Order-to-Cash, Procure-to-Pay, Acquire-to-Retire, Plan-to-Perform (FP&A), Treasury, and Tax-enabling processes.
Diagnose current-state finance operating models — organization design, service delivery model (retained / COE / shared services / outsourced / GBS), governance, process, data, technology, and performance management — and design target-state models with a supporting business case.
Direct process redesign and standardization efforts, including global process ownership models, policy harmonization, controls rationalization, and close acceleration.
Own engagement quality: deliverable review, risk management, scope and change control, budget-to-actual performance, and timely escalation of issues.
Advise on ERP and finance application strategy, selection, and implementation oversight across platforms including SAP S/4HANA, Oracle Fusion Cloud ERP, Workday Financials, Microsoft Dynamics 365, and NetSuite.
Shape chart of accounts, master data, and reporting architecture decisions; align finance data models to management and statutory reporting requirements.
Evaluate and deploy the surrounding finance application ecosystem — EPM/CPM (consolidation, planning, close management), reconciliation and account certification tools, AP/AR automation, treasury management, tax engines, spend management, and reporting/analytics platforms.
Identify, design, and deploy intelligent automation and AI use cases within finance — document and invoice intelligence, anomaly and exception detection, journal entry and reconciliation automation, forecasting and variance narrative generation, and agentic or copilot-assisted workflows — with appropriate governance, data quality, and control considerations.
Partner with client IT and systems integrators on design authority, integration architecture, testing strategy, cutover, and hypercare.
Lead organizational change management, stakeholder alignment, communications, training, and adoption measurement.
Define benefits cases and KPI baselines; track and report value realization post-deployment.
Design finance talent models, role profiles, and capability roadmaps aligned to the future-state operating model.
Lead proposal development, oral presentations, scoping, pricing, and contracting for new opportunities; maintain an active pipeline of new business.
Identify and convert expansion opportunities within existing accounts.
Contribute to methodology, accelerators, tooling, and thought leadership; represent the firm at industry forums and in client-facing points of view.
Serve as the primary day-to-day contact for client finance leadership — Controller, VP Finance, CAO, and CFO — and build trusted-advisor relationships that extend beyond the current engagement.
Hold your own in a controller's office debating close mechanics and in a steering committee defending an ERP design decision; translate finance strategy into operating model, process, data, technology, and people changes that deliver measurable results.
Communicate proactively on engagement status, risks, and key decisions; manage scope and change control with transparency and executive-level clarity.
Manage, coach, and develop teams of consultants across multiple concurrent engagements.
Provide performance feedback, career guidance, and technical mentorship; participate in recruiting, interviewing, and onboarding.
Foster an inclusive, high-accountability team culture consistent with firm values.