Head of Transformation & Strategic Enablement (Finance)

Head of Transformation and Strategic Enablement

• Reports to: Chief Operating Officer
• Location: Remote
• Department: Strategy & Enablement
• Direct Reports: No
• Indirect Reports: Yes

Position Summary

The Head of Transformation and Strategic Enablement will lead and execute enterprise-wide operational transformation initiatives across our globally distributed professional services firm. This role will focus on improving efficiency, service delivery, and scalability through streamlined processes, digital enablement, and third-party partnerships. The ideal candidate is a strategic thinker, operational driver, and empathetic change agent who thrives in complex, global, and fast-evolving environments.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

• Define and implement a transformation roadmap aligned with the firm's strategic goals and evolving client needs.
• Collaborate with business unit leaders to prioritize and implement high-impact transformation initiatives that enable efficient and effective delivery business objectives.
• Identify and evaluate emerging initiatives that can improve service delivery, client engagement, and operational performance that delivers ROI for the firm.
• Leverage knowledge of enterprise architecture requirements to develop integrated solutions with seamless workflows and future-fit automations
• Adept at dealing with complexity, prioritizing and sequencing work whilst taking senior stakeholders on the change journey

Operational Enablement

• Lead cross-functional operational transformation initiatives across global offices, ensuring alignment with firm-wide strategic goals.
• Proactively collaborate with Transformation Council of cross-functional teams (People, Finance, Technology, Data) to connect-the-dots and roll-up departmental KPIs into firm-wide objectives.
• Identify inefficiencies and design scalable solutions to improve service delivery, reduce operational complexity, and support future growth.
• Build and maintain strong governance, tracking key milestones, risks, and KPIs for each transformation program.
• Collaborate with Insights & Analytics Team to build dashboards and/or reporting that effectively manages progress of transformation portfolio.
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement, operational excellence, and accountability across the organization.

Leadership & Team Development

• Lead and develop a high-performing team that delivers on team goals linked to business priorities; ensure performance accountability through strong operational governance.
• Enable a PMO that delivers on a firm-wide portfolio that supports key programs and initiatives.
• Foster a culture of cross-functional collaboration, continuous learning, and service excellence.

Financial & Vendor Oversight

• Develop and manage the transformation budget to maximize ROI.
• Evaluate, select, and manage vendors and external partners for services that will support the firm's objectives.
• Partner with cross-functional teams to ensure that vendors are effectively managing stakeholder relationships and delivering on mutually agreed upon KPIs (timelines, quality and cost targets).
• Recommend new vendors that can optimize investment or improve efficiency of delivery as the firm continues to evolve its global footprint.

Change Management

• Actively engage senior leaders, business unit heads, and frontline teams to drive adoption and overcome resistance to change.
• Collaborate with Transformation Team to develop and implement change management strategies tailored to diverse geographies, functions, and levels of change readiness.
• Communicate clearly and frequently to ensure transparency, alignment, and engagement with all stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Operations, Organizational Change, or related field; MBA or advanced degree preferred.
• 10+ years of progressive leadership experience in transformation, operations, or consulting roles, with a focus on professional services or globally distributed organizations.
• Proven success leading complex operational change programs across multiple geographies and functions.
• Strong experience managing third-party vendors or consulting partners in transformation or technology-driven engagements.
• Expertise in organizational change management, including methodologies such as Prosci, ADKAR, or Kotter.
• Demonstrated ability to drive transformation in environments with change resistance, cultural complexity, and matrixed decision-making.
• Strong data orientation, with ability to analyze operations, build business cases, and define measurable outcomes.
• Outstanding communication, facilitation, and stakeholder management skills.

Preferred Attributes

• Executive presence with high emotional intelligence.
• Pragmatic problem-solver with a bias for action.
• Adept at influencing across functions, cultures, and organizational levels.
• Ability to lead through ambiguity while building trust and alignment.
• Comfortable balancing strategic vision with operational execution.

The Head of Transformation and Strategic Enablement will lead and execute enterprise-wide operational transformation initiatives across our globally distributed professional services firm. This role will focus on improving efficiency, service delivery, and scalability through streamlined processes, digital enablement, and third-party partnerships. The ideal candidate is a strategic thinker, operational driver, and empathetic change agent who thrives in complex, global, and fast-evolving environments.