Head of Business & Finance Transformation
Description
The Opportunity
Reporting to the Executive Vice President / Chief Financial Officer, the Head of Business & Finance Transformation, supports the realization of Delaware North’s performance strategy by providing program leadership during a multi-year journey to optimize Delaware North’s Finance function. The end goal is the implementation of an operating model that drives optimization of the Finance function across the enterprise. The business results of a new operating model enhances enterprise value, positions Delaware North for effective and efficient growth, and delivers bottom line year-over-year cost savings. This is an opportunity to impact the governance, direction and agenda of Project Maximization’s steering committee and stakeholders to effectively address strategic choices, conflicts and priorities.
The Head of Business & Finance Transformation is responsible for: 1.) Setting and executing a clear and impactful informational vision and strategy. 2.) Driving alignment and active sponsorship with key Delaware North stakeholders. 3.) Managing, and holding accountable, a large and diverse team to aggressive timelines. Ensuring the implementation of project scope, budget, schedule and quality by facing and addressing change resistance with personal and leadership resilience. 4.) Accountability for realizing value from implementing both quick wins and mid/longer term initiatives. 5.) Leading and managing detailed, well formulated transformative project work. This leader will set and socialize a clear vision for the future state operating model, including a concise case for why change is required. The position will drive to operating model integration decisions among both business and functional stakeholders by partnering with business leaders and functional leaders. The performance of the Program Team will demonstrate best in class program management.
Position Details
For this high-impact role, we seek a results-oriented, creative and strategic leader to define the overarching Finance function maximization strategy and longer-term integration vision by influencing executive leaders, creating plans and implementing initiatives across organizational boundaries. They will work in partnership with change lead, articulate and socialize the case for change – why Finance maximization and a more effective operating model is critical to Delaware North’s success as a growing global company. Take a lead role in shaping the end-to-end Finance maximization program journey. They will possess an intimate understanding of the underlying changes in customer requirements and consumer expectations that are driving competitors to embark on similar integration efforts. Actively communicate with and continuously involve business stakeholders throughout program journey. This leader plays significant role with transformative initiatives and project work and executes to mitigate risk while driving for intended financial benefits. They will manages strategic vendor relationships including setting direction and managing outsource providers. Ensure collaboration, quality and consistency of engagement to produce effective project results. They will defines roles, responsibilities and accountabilities for project team members. Works effectively with functional leaders to ensure team members provide technical and functional expertise while working within the project. Routinely dialogue with functional leaders regarding team member performance and take appropriate action steps as necessary. This leader will provide direction and guidance to project leads. Identify and mitigate resources conflicts by identifying and prioritizing tasks. They will support execution of day-to-day project plan/activities; resolving day-to-day issues while tracking program status, issues and risks as well as project budget performance.
The leader we seek will facilitate the development of a leadership coalition which provides direction and ownership for the Finance Maximization Program overall. They will drive cross-functional and cross-Business Unit alignment to drive binding decisions across the organization. They will manage and drive key decisions around the Program including scope, budget, staffing, interdependencies and timing. Hold peers, team and third parties accountable to execute on agreed-upon Program decisions and commitments. They must work effectively with functional leaders across the enterprise to establish and manage project teams, while functional leaders (IT, HR, Procurement and Operations) remain responsible to provide needed expertise, standards and processes. They will also ensure project and functional reporting relationships, duties and expectations are commonly understood and implemented.
The Head of Business & Finance Transformation will staff key project maximization program roles. Provide on-going assessment, coaching and feedback to project team members and functional leaders against expectations and project deliverables. They will takes action, in concert with functional leaders, to address missed opportunities, development needs or performance issues. Establish project team vision, mission, planning and governance responsibilities to ensure common understanding and accountabilities within the team and to project stakeholders. This leader will provide process integration across the teams, coordinate cross team working sessions for key decision making and understanding. Coordinates timelines and resources while overseeing key Finance Maximization Program deliverables (e.g. Strategy, Operating Model, Value Case, Roadmaps, and Change Strategy) and subsequent creation on implementation plans. They will ensure effective partnerships with strategic vendors leading to effective augmentation of talent, skills sets and delivery of project deliverables. Providing visible and consistent program leadership, direction and focus by providing senior leadership visibility to program progress, risk issues and key decisions. Influencing senior leaders in establishing program objectives, timelines and resources with the ability to facilitate resolution to conflicts surrounding resources, priorities and competing demands.
The successful candidate will oversee the refinement of the value case for Finance Maximization Program – detailed, bottoms-up impact estimates that are presented to the program steering committee and additional senior leaders at Delaware North as needed. They will be responsible for the delivery of the program against the detailed value case. Regularly communicating progress to achieving value case across all stakeholder groups this leader will be responsible for spend against the Finance Maximization Program budget. Ensuring lessons learned are memorialized to incorporate into future transformation initiatives. Builds a network of project champions and human capital for on-going initiatives. They will champion success stories, builds enthusiasm and tells the story of organizational transformation and creation of value.
Qualifications
Education
- BA/BS degree required; Master’s degree or further professional designation preferred. A degree in Technology, Project Management, Business Management or a related field of study preferred.
Required
- A minimum of 10 years of related experience with proven track record, including strategic support of senior executives aligning Technology, change management, workforce, strategies with business priorities.
- Demonstrated experience and previous success leading transformative organizational work.
- Proven ability to work with diverse stakeholders, manage competing agendas and priorities, and translate complex information across functions.
- This role is located in Buffalo, NY, relocation to the Buffalo, NY area is required.
- Travel: 30%. Travel requirements may peak to 50% as project requires.
Equal Employment Opportunity
Delaware North Companies, Incorporated and its subsidiaries consider applicants for all positions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, national origin, age, disability, marital or veteran status, sexual orientation, or any other legally protected status. Delaware North is an equal opportunity employer.
Who We Are
Delaware North is one of the largest and most admired, privately-held hospitality companies in the world. Founded and owned by the Jacobs family for nearly 100 years, it is a global leader in hospitality and food service with operations in the sports, travel hospitality, restaurants and catering, parks, resorts, gaming and specialty retail industries. Delaware North has annual revenue exceeding $3 billion with 60,000 employee associates. To learn more, visit www.delawarenorth.com.
This position will be based out of Delaware North’s new global headquarters building in Buffalo, NY- an iconic 12-story glass walled structure on the corner of Delaware and Chippewa. The headquarters integrates the latest advances in environmental, energy conservation and office design. In addition to our offices, the building – which opened in 2015, was renamed The Delaware North Building in 2016 – is home to The Westin Buffalo hotel and Patina 250 restaurant, both of which we own and operate. The Delaware North Building is by all accounts a microcosm of our operations around the world, with a focus on exceptional customer experience, innovation and hospitality. What’s more, the award-winning facility is a strong representation of our culture, which is rooted in family values and focused on collaboration through communication and high-performing teams.