Job from partnerDescription of the job
Job Description
Job Title: PMO Lead - Operations Support (12-Month Fixed-Term Maternity Cover) - Professional Services - SC Advantageous
Department: Business Operations Support
Location: Glasgow or Birmingham (Hybrid Role)
Contract Type: Fixed-Term Contract (12 months, maternity cover)
Reports To: Chief Financial Officer
Role Overview
We are seeking an experienced and proactive PMO Lead to provide maternity cover for a 12-month period. This role is pivotal to the smooth operation and financial governance of our professional services and products business, which delivers Quality Engineering, Cyber Security Services, Conformance and Interoperability, and Media Content Services to clients worldwide.
The PMO Lead oversees the day-to-day running of three key operational functions — Business Operations, Resourcing, and Project Finance Support — ensuring that project, financial, and resourcing activities are executed with precision and efficiency across the full Order-to-Cash (O2C) lifecycle.
- Business Operations is responsible for the integrity and maintenance of project and financial data within Unit4, ensuring accurate setup, invoicing, and revenue recognition across a global portfolio.
- Resourcing ensures that projects are staffed effectively based on skills, availability, and security clearance, balancing priorities across multiple service lines and geographies.
- Project Finance Support provides financial oversight, including WIP and invoicing management, collections support, and close collaboration with Finance Business Partners to maintain commercial accuracy and accountability.
The successful candidate will bring hands-on experience in project and resourcing governance within a professional services environment, including strong understanding of operational finance, project lifecycle management, and the O2C process. This is a highly collaborative role that requires strong stakeholder management, an eye for detail, and the ability to drive operational excellence across multiple teams and systems.
Key Responsibilities
Daily Operations
- Lead daily team check-ins to review priorities, address blockers, and maintain progress across Business Operations activities.
- Oversee shared inbox management to ensure timely task progression and responses.
- Conduct regular catchups with the Resourcing team to monitor project allocations and resolve any issues.
- Review invoicing and Work in Progress (WIP) for accuracy and flow.
- Act as the primary escalation point for all Unit4-related queries, including projects, invoicing, revenue, and timesheets.
- Respond to ad hoc reporting and data requests, particularly involving Unit4 project or customer data.
Weekly Activities
- Support twice-weekly Resourcing check-in calls with Business and Delivery Managers to ensure efficient project staffing.
- Attend forecasting calls, supporting with Unit4 data analysis and clarification as required.
- Drive timely timesheet submission and approval across all billable staff.
- Review bench reports, WIP, and operational performance, addressing follow-ups where needed.
- Prompt system updates or corrections across teams to maintain data integrity.
- Oversee Business Operations, Resourcing, and Project Finance Support teams, ensuring alignment and collaboration.
- Monitor the full Project Lifecycle process to ensure consistency and compliance.
Monthly Activities
- Lead and coordinate all month-end activities across Business Operations, Resourcing, and Project Finance Support.
- Ensure timely and accurate submission and approval of timesheets for all billable staff.
- Resolve posting issues and ensure smooth data transfers for month-end close.
- Oversee invoicing completion and drive prompt revenue recognition.
- Review and validate timesheet and utilisation data for accuracy.
- Partner with Finance Business Partners and Project Finance Support to align on revenue recognition and forecasting accuracy.
- Validate and post final revenue recognition once data integrity is confirmed.
- Ensure month-end invoicing and financial processes are completed on time.
Ad Hoc and Strategic Responsibilities
- Provide strategic insight and operational foresight to support ongoing business growth and scalability.
- Act as the Security Cleared reviewer for financial proposals and related documentation.
- Support Business and Delivery Managers with Unit4 insights, data interpretation, and operational guidance.
- Act as a central escalation and coordination point for high-level operational or financial issues.
Team Oversight
Business Operations Team
- Manages Unit4 project setup, financial configuration, invoicing, and month-end processes.
- Provides support with Unit4 functionality, reports, and timesheet adjustments.
- Daily communication with various stakeholders to provide reporting and support requests as required.
Resourcing Team
- Allocates staff to projects based on skills, clearance, and availability.
- Works closely with Delivery and Business Managers to ensure project coverage and efficiency.
- Collaborate with operational teams to ensure efficient Resourcing.
Project Finance Support Team
- Oversees WIP and invoicing processes to ensure accuracy and timeliness.
- Provides financial oversight on Unit4 projects and supports collections and aged debt resolution.
- Maintains project visibility at a detailed level and is a local support to the region.
- Support any framework requirements.
Skills and Experience
- Proven experience in a similar operations or finance in a professional services organisation
- Strong understanding of business systems — Unit4 (ERP/PSA) experience highly desirable.
- Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams and manage complex operational processes.
- Excellent communication, stakeholder management, and problem-solving skills.
- High attention to detail and commitment to data accuracy.
- Ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
