Professional Services Project Manager

ions implementations in collaboration with customer stakeholders.

• Align on scope of work with key customer stakeholders and Finastra stakeholders.

• Develop detailed program roadmaps, incorporating timelines, resource allocation, and risk mitigation strategies.

• Align program deliverables with both customer goals and Finastra's strategic product roadmap and release schedule.

Customer Engagement and Relationship Management:

• Act as the primary point of contact for customers throughout the implementation process, ensuring clear communication and continued alignment on program objectives.

• Provide expert guidance on the capabilities, features, and functionality of Finastra's universal banking software and its application to customer-specific needs.

• Build and maintain strong, trust-based relationships with customer executives and key project stakeholders.

Program Execution and Delivery:

• Lead the end-to-end implementation of Finastra's universal banking solutions, including project scoping, requirements gathering, configuration, customer-specific development, testing, and deployment.

• Lead the project in line with Universal Banking's implementation methodology and project governance standards.

• Collaborate and negotiate with customers where changes of scope are required, and coordinate and document change requests.

• Manage data migration from legacy systems, ensuring accuracy, security, and minimal disruption to operations.

• Oversee the integration of core banking modules, multi-product integrations and third-party applications - ensuring seamless functionality and performance.

Team Leadership and Collaboration:

• Coordinate and matrix manage cross-functional resources dedicated to in-scope projects, including product development and application operations as well as customer teams, third-party vendors, and Finastra partners / contractors.

• Provide leadership and clear direction to project team resources - ensuring adherence to Finastra's implementation methodology and governance.

• Ensure accurate completion of timesheets for all project resources, and track resource utilisation and cost.

• Foster a collaborative, customer-focused culture within the program team.

Vendor and Partner Management:

• Work with Finastra's technology partners and third-party vendors to ensure timely delivery of system components and services.

• Oversee vendor contracts, performance, and deliverables to ensure alignment with program goals.

• Oversee partner performance on a day-to-day basis to ensure alignment to customer requirements and quality of deliverables.

Risk and Compliance Management:

• Proactively identify and mitigate risks and issues related to solution implementation, including technical, operational, integration and regulatory challenges.

• Escalate key project risks to Universal Banking's leadership team where project progress will impact on time, cost, quality outcomes, or adversely affect Finastra's relationship or reputation.

• Ensure compliance with relevant banking regulations, data protection laws, and security standards.

• Support customers in navigating organizational change and business continuity planning.

Performance Monitoring and Reporting:

• Implement governance frameworks to monitor project progress, milestones, and performance against KPIs.

• Provide accurate project updates to Finastra, Universal Banking and customer leadership teams on a regular basis - highlighting successes, risks and issues, and opportunities.

• Conduct post-implementation reviews to capture lessons learned, recommend future improvements, and celebrate successes.

Support Business Development:

• Collaborate with Finastra's sales and pre-sales teams to provide estimates, develop proposals, and outline project plans for new and existing customer opportunities.

• Identify opportunities for additional Finastra solutions or services within ongoing customer engagements that contribute to additional software or services revenue.

• Contribute to Finastra's knowledge base, sharing best practices and innovative approaches to system implementation.

Qualifications:

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Business Administration, or a related field.

• Advanced degree (MBA or equivalent) or certifications (e.g., PMP, PgMP, ITIL, or Prince2) are a plus.

Experience:

• 10+ years of experience in IT program management, with at least 5 years managing core banking solution implementations.

• Strong knowledge of core banking platforms (e.g., Temenos, Oracle, Finacle, or equivalent).

• Experience working with banking and financial services in diverse markets.

Technical Knowledge:

• Familiarity with APIs, middleware, SaaS and cloud-based deployments, and digital banking solutions.

• Knowledge of banking operations, including retail, corporate, payments, and lending.

Soft Skills:

• Excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills.

• Strong problem-solving and decision-making abilities, with a proactive approach to addressing challenges.

• Ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced, customer-centric environment.

Work Environment:

• Full-time role with flexibility for hybrid or remote work, depending on customer and project needs.

• Collaboration across global teams, requiring occasional travel to customer sites or Finastra offices.