The opportunity

The Operations Specialist role is responsible for managing the delivery of consistent operations processes, policies, and other operational administrative activities with the objective of driving the efficient functioning of the Clients & Industries organization, ensuring our people are empowered to relentlessly focus on winning in the market and deliver exceptional client service.

The position reports to the Operations Senior Specialist and will be aligned to one, or a portfolio of Clients & Industries Teams. Day to day the role will have dotted line reporting to the respective Team leader or leaders.

Depending on portfolio assignment, responsibilities may include leading, supporting and executing some or all of the following operations activities and processes:

• Annual budget planning and management
• Annual strategy planning process
• Supply chain processes (BRIDGE, procurement, contracting, invoicing processes)
• Management Information reporting
• Talent pipeline management (recruiting, on/off boarding, year-end, succession planning)
• Participation and/or leadership of Clients & Industries operations strategic initiatives
• Operations team management (predominantly GDS)
• Global Integrated Planning, Annual G360 portfolio review, G360 succession planning
• Data management and governance

Your key responsibilities

Responsible for managing the delivery of operational excellence across the following activities:

• Budget - deliver robust and transparent budget processes that drive enhanced investment decisions:
  • Manage annual budget planning process, and contribute to the development of the annual budget plan to support delivery of annual priorities
  • Manage team budget to within 2% of approved plan
  • Manage event, expense and travel review and approvals
  • Manage purchased/sold time plans
  • Make/present recommendations to leadership on budget execution progress, funding risks and proposed solutions including potential savings opportunities through synergies, better leverage of GDS, innovation and automation
  • Deliver robust operational insights and guidance that drive enhanced investment decisions
• Supply chain - manage supply chain activities in alignment with growth and budget priorities, including source to pay processes (e.g., BRIDGE, procurement, contracting, invoicing)
• Reporting
  • Collaborate with C&I Integrated Planning and Reporting teams to drive adoption of centralized Clients & Industries reporting tools
  • Produce management information packs for team leadership meetings, leveraging centralized Clients & Industries reporting tools
  • Collaborate with C&I Integrated Planning and Reporting teams to develop team-specific financial reports
  • Manage the execution of C&I Integrated Planning and Reporting teams approved team specific reporting processes, dashboards, and tools

• Integrated Planning and GAC processes – manage and execute:
  • Integrated planning processes as defined by C&I Integrated Planning team
  • Annual G360/GAC processes as defined by the GAC/G360 team
  • Governance of account attribute changes, e.g., Sector, GCSP, Market Segment etc.
• People operations
  • Drive high people engagement through effective and consistent management of people related operational processes (as defined by C&I Operations & Reporting and Talent), e.g., operational processes aligned to recruitment, on/off boarding, secondments, inter-firm moves, mobility assignments, year-end activities
  • Work closely with local/global Talent to address/escalate people issues or procedures arising in the team
  • Manage inter-firm purchased/sold time engagement documentation
• Process improvement
  • Work with C&I Operations & Reporting colleagues to improve, innovate and streamline operational solutions that accelerate speed to market and enable Clients & Industries teams to focus on revenue generation
  • Engage with senior leadership to advise on optimal business enablement operations solutions
  • Provide constructive challenge and ensure right outcomes aligned to team objectives and wider EY business
• Project management of operations related initiatives and transformation/change programs aligned to team or Clients & Industries

Teaming

• Drive effective teaming through inclusive and trusted leadership and coaching at all levels to ensure all operations team members achieve their highest potential both individually and collectively
• Own, drive and/or support team collaboration activities, e.g., team communications, maintain team collaboration sites (e.g., Yammer, Teams), project manage all hands calls, business planning events and strategic workshops including taking minutes and managing actions and follow ups.

Analytical/Decision Making Responsibilities:

• Anticipate operational business needs and proactively provide innovative ideas and solutions
• Ability to create and implement timelines related to project deliverables, assign tasks, and follow up on their completion and manage sponsor/stakeholder expectations of the outcome of the deliverables.
• Possess strong conceptual problem-solving ability
• Assess and prioritize financial requests against limited/set budgets
• Provide proactive strategic operations insight and guidance at all levels, including senior leaders across EY, to drive team strategic objectives including making recommendations/problem-solving as issues arise
• Manage highly complex relationships with multiple stakeholders often with competing priorities
• Recommend strategic operations solutions based on a solid understanding of firm and business objectives and needs analysis and own experience/knowledge.
• Apply in-depth knowledge of the business, resources, leveraging relationships, communications, and operational effectiveness to drive and deliver complex operations initiatives
• Provide insightful guidance on project funding options
• Able to convert data (e.g., budget, performance, sales, and pipeline) or abstract concepts into sharp, compelling Management Information materials

Skills and attributes for success

• Proven track record of delivering excellence across most of the essential functions of the role
• Involvement in budget management across a global matrix organization.
• Able to articulate and position operations issues and activities in the context of the Team’s business issues and strategic priorities.
• Experience in change management around disruption and increasing business agility, innovation and adoption.
• Strong program management skills
• Able to analyze and solve complex or conceptual problems and propose insightful and pragmatic solutions
• Demonstrated drive, determination and resilience, and track record of being able to overcome barriers and achieve results.
• Financial acumen with demonstrable ability to analyze market intelligence and business reporting and make practical recommendations to Leadership based on that analysis.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills; able to quickly establish personal credibility and influence.
• Experience working at a senior level in a fast-moving, client-driven environment
• Experience in driving transformational change by engaging with and building strong, trusting relationships with stakeholders
• Strong oral and written communication skills
• Able to influence without authority
• Able to work both independently and within virtual, broad-based teams
• Comfortable with ambiguity and managing conflicting priorities.
• Proactive, forward looking and comfortable with taking the initiative.
• A global mindset and ability to communicate and work effectively across cultures
• Resilient, agile and pragmatic under pressure.
• Intermediate skills in Word, Excel and Powerpoint

Ideally, you’ll also

Other Requirements:

• Travel may be required from time to time to complete assignments and meet with organizational leaders and stakeholders
• Flexibility in working hours to accommodate volume of work and multiple time zones as needed

Education: Bachelor’s/University degree or equivalent qualification required

Experience: 7-10 years of operations experience in a corporate environment

What we offer you

At EY, we’ll develop you with future-focused skills and equip you with world-class experiences. We’ll empower you in a flexible environment, and fuel you and your extraordinary talents in a diverse and inclusive culture of globally connected teams. Learn more.

Are you ready to shape your future with confidence? Apply today.

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