Job Summary:

At Disney, we‘re storytellers. We make the impossible, possible. We bring stories to life by utilizing and developing cutting-edge technology and pushing the envelope through our movies, products, interactive games, parks and resorts, and media networks. Now is your chance to join our talented team that delivers unparalleled creative content to audiences around the world.

The Financial Systems Manager plays a key role within Disney Financial Systems (DFS) providing support to the Enterprise Financial Services organization for strategic operational initiatives, data analytics, and continuous process improvements. Partnering with functional leaders, other DFS team members, and Enterprise Technology, this role supports operational projects targeted at optimizing processes through the employment of Robotic Process Automation (RPA) and machine learning (cognitive) software. The Financial Systems Manager identifies, evaluates, documents, develops, and tests automations in accordance with established governance standards. This role partners with functional leaders and team members to develop appropriate audit procedures for each automation. The Financial Systems Manager provides ongoing support to production automations and is able to trouble-shoot problem situations, identify root cause, and resolve RPA issues. This role will develop RPA automation standards and, in a future federated development model, will be responsible for reviewing and approving automations written by other individuals prior to their production implementation. Periodic, project-related business travel may be required.

The ideal candidate should have strong technical skills/affinities, extensive experience with process improvement, and an ability to learn new systems while functioning at the Enterprise, Segment or Business Unit level. This candidate should be familiar with current financial business practices, possess the ability to work with multiple business units to understand a myriad of process issues, and to partner with a variety of functional and technical teams on solutions.

The role reporting to the Senior Manager, Financial Systems.

Responsibilities:

Strategy and Governance

• Assists leadership in developing and maintaining customer/stakeholder relationships and driving buy-in/ commitment
• Pulls and monitors metrics to obtain trends and patterns to identify process/system opportunities and execute corrective action
• Demonstrates an understanding of their specific business process and related objectives
• Uses knowledge of the company’s products and services to meet customer needs
• Leverages synergy opportunities across functions and businesses
• Participates and aligns with long term strategy for Financial Systems and related processes within their process area
• Assists leadership in establishing and refining a robotics process automation (RPA) delivery lifecycle to ensure rapid and repeatable delivery of automated processes within the company

Leadership and Communication

• Effectively communicates with management, stakeholders, subject matter experts, and team members
• Collaborates and solves problems – works with others to resolve significant issues, clarify or interpret complex information, provide initial screening/negotiations
• Develops and delivers concise, relevant, and timely key information
• Contributes to the productivity and morale of the team
• Positively confronts issues and resolves conflict with sound judgement and a focus on the long-term business relationship
• Manages client expectations during project lifecycle to avoid issues with satisfaction and scope creep

Process Improvement

• Translates assignments into specific priorities, objectives and action plans, completing assignments according to established standards and timelines
• Recommends and implements process improvement/reengineering/automation initiatives
• Maintains an in-depth knowledge of business specific objectives and the Company’s current and planned technology environment
• Stays abreast of technology and solutions for key finance processes, supply chain, and business analytics
• Designs, configures and tests automation solutions in accordance with delivery methodology, security policies and business requirements; creates and maintains solution documentation
• Maintains a solution library to ensure process understanding and object re-use across processes
• Supports existing process automations by resolving issues and implementing change requirements in a timely manner
• Serves as a strategic thought partner working with operational teams and business units, as well as Enterprise and Segment Technology teams, to formulate enhancement options that address specific functional issues / requirements
• Liaises with Enterprise Technology and other DFS teams to drive system enhancements, upgrades and modifications to the Enterprise RPA environment necessary to support business requirements

Project Management

• Leads small to medium scale projects or portions of a larger project
• Works with Corporate partners and Disney Segments to understand and support their process and data needs within the various finance and reporting systems
• Manages the detailed tasks required to design and deliver individual automation solutions to business operations in accordance with delivery methodology
• Develops cost and resource estimates for delivering automation solutions based on business requirements
• Provides accurate planning and tracking of Define, Design, Configure and Test deliverables; ensures projects are completed on time and on budget
• Confirms business requirements are understood and delivered against in each step of the delivery cycle to guarantee automation solutions meet customer expectations
• Identifies project risks and dependencies within the delivery cycle and effectively manage these across internal departments; escalates issues to the leaders when appropriate
• Develops project plans with specific objectives, timelines, and risk/contingency plans
• Partners with leadership to develop alternative resourcing plans and cost models to support Finance's RPA program

Basic Qualifications:

• Minimum three years of demonstrated relevant experience building, implementing, and supporting financial planning and reporting systems, which may include external client-focused reporting or internal management reporting
• Minimum three years working on automation or technology-enabled process improvement efforts at the Enterprise, Segment or Business Unit levels of the organization
• Experience using business intelligence, data visualization and/or reporting systems (e.g. Tableau, Business Objects Analysis, Cognos, MS SQL Report Builder or similar)
• Minimum two years working with object oriented programming (C#)
• Strong verbal and written communication skills for both technical and non-technical subjects/audiences
• Strong ability to interact effectively and influence at all levels of the organization
• Critical thinking and problem solving skills with a demonstrated ability to make decisions in a fast-paced environment
• Demonstrated strong analytical skills, attention to detail, and the ability to grasp complex financial data models
• Ability to understand and adapt to different audiences and clients, while anticipating their business needs
• Demonstrated business acumen, ability to build credibility with internal clients and to navigate organizational structures
• Ability to discriminate between symptoms and root causes
• Passion for and knowledge of new media and emerging technologies to deliver best practice business solutions
• Experience implementing financial processes and systems
• Demonstrated ability to meet deadlines, handle multiple priorities, and perform job responsibilities accurately with minimal supervision
• High level energy, self-direction and motivation
• Demonstrated ability to act as a resource for colleagues with less experience
• Excellent organization and time management skills; ability to multi-task and work effectively in a dynamic, matrix environment
• Demonstrated computer proficiency within Excel (Pivot, Functions, Macro), PowerPoint, Project, Visio, and Word
• Ability to occasionally travel for business, domestically and potentially internationally

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience using continuous improvement and project management methodologies (e.g. Lean Six Sigma, TQM, PMP® or similar)
• Experience utilizing enterprise SQL database (MS SQL, Oracle, My SQL, SSRS) platforms
• Experience transitioning financial services functions to a Shared Service Center environment
• Experience in developing and maintaining key performance metrics for financial service functions
• Experience working for large company and within a matrix organization
• Experience implementing robotic process automations (RPAs) or machine learning (cognitive) automations
• Experience in building commitment to change, and coaching others through change
• Experience supporting a global operation
• Project management experience using the Agile delivery methodology
• Experience in developing and maintaining key performance metrics for general accounting functions
• Experience with software development lifecycle
• Experience with Robotics / Machine Learning
• Experience transitioning accounting functions to a Shared Service Center environment
• Proficiency in major accounting systems (preferably SAP)
• Experience in using Business Objects, Tableau and/or Cognos reporting tools
• PMP® or other professional project management certification
• Six Sigma certification (Black belt, Green belt, LEAN)

Required Education

• Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent work experience in Finance/Accounting, Business Administration, Information Technology, Data Science, or a related field

Preferred Education

• Master’s degree in Finance/Accounting, Business Administration, Information Technology, Data Science, or a related field

Additional Information:

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This role is considered hybrid, which means the employee will work a portion of their time on-site from a Company designated location and the remainder of their time remotely.

About The Walt Disney Company (Corporate):

At Disney Corporate you can see how the businesses behind the Company’s powerful brands come together to create the most innovative, far-reaching and admired entertainment company in the world. As a member of a corporate team, you’ll work with world-class leaders driving the strategies that keep The Walt Disney Company at the leading edge of entertainment. See and be seen by other innovative thinkers as you enable the greatest storytellers in the world to create memories for millions of families around the globe.

About The Walt Disney Company:

The Walt Disney Company, together with its subsidiaries and affiliates, is a leading diversified international family entertainment and media enterprise with the following business segments: media networks, parks and resorts, studio entertainment, consumer products and interactive media. From humble beginnings as a cartoon studio in the 1920s to its preeminent name in the entertainment industry today, Disney proudly continues its legacy of creating world-class stories and experiences for every member of the family. Disney’s stories, characters and experiences reach consumers and guests from every corner of the globe. With operations in more than 40 countries, our employees and cast members work together to create entertainment experiences that are both universally and locally cherished.

This position is with Disney Financial Services Co., LLC, which is part of a business we call The Walt Disney Company (Corporate).

Disney Financial Services Co., LLC is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or protected veteran status. Disney fosters a business culture where ideas and decisions from all people help us grow, innovate, create the best stories and be relevant in a rapidly changing world.