CFO Advisory Manager / Associate Director

Job Description & Summary

We are seeking an experienced CFO Advisory professional to join our expanding Consulting and Advisory practice at Manager / Associate Director level. This role offers the opportunity to play a lead role in building and delivering a finance-led, AI-enabled advisory capability that positions the CFO function as a data-driven, forward-looking decision partner, supported by automation, analytics and modern finance technologies.

The successful candidate will work with senior finance leaders to shape and deliver practical CFO advisory solutions across finance strategy, finance transformation, operating model design, process improvement, data and reporting, AI use cases, automation, ERP / EPM enablement and business performance management. The role will suit a hands-on delivery leader who can translate CFO priorities into clear requirements, delivery plans, technology-enabled finance solutions and measurable client outcomes.

Embrace the possibility to apply – at Grant Thornton we are constantly upskilling our staff. If you do not meet all of the listed requirements, please do not be discouraged from applying. We value a growth-oriented mindset and are dedicated to supporting you in reaching your full potential.

Join a Dynamic Team Driving Change

Our Technology Consulting team is part of our wider Consulting and Advisory services, made up of both industry leads and subject matter experts driving change and innovation across this ever-growing department. Our consultants possess transferable skills and collaborate across various teams within the Consulting, Advisory department, applying expertise in project management, stakeholder management, communication and process improvement to drive impactful results.

As a CFO Advisory Manager / Associate Director, you will have the opportunity to work alongside industry-leading clients across diverse sectors, with a particular focus on finance transformation and AI-enabled finance programmes. You will be expected to bridge strategy and execution, helping clients define the future finance function and then mobilising the people, process, data and technology changes required to deliver it.

Roles & Responsibilities

Collaborate within a multi-disciplinary team to successfully deliver and manage projects across a range of key areas, including:

CFO Advisory and Finance Transformation

• Lead the delivery of complex CFO advisory, finance transformation and AI-enabled finance programmes, ensuring high-quality outputs and successfully meeting tight deadlines.

• Support clients to define finance vision, finance strategy, target operating models, service delivery models and transformation roadmaps.

• Assess finance function maturity across people, process, data, technology, controls and governance, identifying improvement opportunities and prioritised recommendations.

• Design and improve end-to-end finance processes, including Order to Cash, Procure to Pay, Record to Report, budgeting, planning, forecasting, management reporting and performance management.

• Translate CFO priorities into clear business requirements, solution designs, delivery plans, work packages, dependencies and measurable benefits.

• Identify opportunities to leverage automation, analytics, AI, ERP, EPM and reporting technologies to improve finance efficiency, insight, control and decision-making.

• Support and lead workshops with finance leaders, senior stakeholders, SMEs and cross-functional teams to capture current-state challenges, future-state requirements and implementation considerations.

• Prepare high-quality deliverables including finance strategy papers, operating model designs, process maps, business cases, benefits cases, implementation roadmaps, status reports and executive presentations.

Technology, Data and AI-Enabled Finance

• Work with data, AI, automation and technology specialists to shape practical solutions that support CFO and finance function priorities.

• Help clients identify and prioritise AI and automation use cases across finance workflows, reporting, forecasting, controls, reconciliations and business partnering.

• Support the design of data-driven reporting, KPI frameworks, dashboards and performance management approaches that improve insight and decision quality.

• Bridge the gap between finance stakeholders and technical teams by translating business requirements into process, data and technology design considerations.

• Contribute to ERP, EPM, BI, workflow, automation and finance systems implementation projects through requirements definition, process design, testing, governance and business readiness activity.

Client, Team and Business Development

• Build trusted relationships with clients, senior finance stakeholders and cross-functional project teams, acting as a key liaison between business, finance, technology and delivery teams.

• Manage and coach junior team members, providing clear direction, feedback and support to ensure high-quality delivery and continued professional development.

• Contribute to internal capability-building across CFO Advisory, including proposition development, methodology design, knowledge sharing, thought leadership and credentials development.

• Support and drive business development initiatives, including the preparation of proposals, tenders, pitch materials and client presentations for new opportunities.

• Bring a commercial mindset to engagements, supporting account management, financial management, risk management and quality assurance activity as required.

Skills and Experience

Education and Certifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business, Economics, Information Systems or a related discipline.
• Professional accounting qualification such as ACA, ACCA, CIMA, CPA or equivalent.
• Additional qualifications in programme management, business analysis, agile delivery, change management, data analytics, AI, ERP/EPM platforms or process improvement methodologies would be advantageous.
• Proven track record delivering complex business and technology-enabled transformation programmes, from strategy and operating model design through to implementation and benefits realisation.
• Proven ability to lead complex client engagements, manage senior stakeholder relationships and deliver high-quality outcomes across multiple workstreams and teams.
• Experience assessing and improving finance functions across people, process, data, technology, governance and control environments.
• Demonstrated experience leading multi-disciplinary teams and managing client engagements within a professional services, consulting or equivalent industry environment.
• Experience identifying and delivering opportunities to leverage technology, automation, analytics and AI to improve finance function performance and decision-making.
• Experience supporting or leading proposals, tenders, business development activities and client relationship management.
• Exposure to ERP, EPM, reporting, analytics, automation or AI-enabled finance solutions and the role they play in modernising finance functions.
• Excellent problem-solving skills with a track record of delivering solutions that enhance business processes and outcomes.
• Strong finance transformation capability, including finance strategy, target operating model design, process improvement, shared services, outsourcing and finance technology enablement.
• Strong understanding of CFO priorities, including financial reporting, planning and forecasting, business partnering, performance management, governance, controls, cost optimisation and value creation.
• Demonstrated ability to assess current-state finance functions and define future-state operating models across people, process, data, technology and governance.
• Experience leading business change across core finance processes including Order to Cash, Procure to Pay, Record to Report, budgeting, planning, forecasting and management reporting.
• Strong stakeholder management and facilitation skills, with the ability to engage effectively with CFOs, Finance Directors, operational leaders and technology teams.
• Ability to translate complex finance, data and technology requirements into practical solutions, delivery roadmaps and executive-level recommendations.
• Experience working with ERP, EPM, analytics, automation, workflow and AI-enabled finance solutions such as SAP, Oracle, Microsoft Dynamics, Workday, Anaplan, Power BI, Power Platform, Alteryx, UiPath, Workiva, BlackLine or comparable platforms.