The Firmwide Finance Transformation program is a truly global program designed to support the transformation of Dentons' finance teams into the business partnering function of the future. It will support the business by offering true business insight, efficient and effective processes while maintaining the necessary compliance and controls.
The global design and build phases of the Global Finance Transformation Program are drawing to a close and the next critical phase of the program is to work with the regional member firms across the Dentons network to deliver the program and launch the solutions into the regions and member firms. Some of the larger regional member firms (founding member firms) were part of the initial FFT scope and are currently in their delivery phases whilst other regions and member firms are now beginning the process of scoping and planning for the introduction of FFT into their firms. Dentons regional member firms can range in scale from 1000+ lawyers/attorneys with existing mature finance policies and processes to small firms with fewer than 25 lawyers/attorneys and very limited standard working practices. The support that the central teams will therefore need to give to the regional firms will vary significantly depending on the size and maturity of the specific member firm.
The primary responsibility of this role will be to provide end-to-end delivery project management services. The projects will entail both specific initiatives that the Central team are responsible for delivering to all member firms and also the end-to-end delivery of FFT to small/medium member firms throughout the Dentons global network. The delivery methods to support these smaller firms in particular must be highly efficient and repeatable and must remain closely aligned to the process and implementation standards and best practice collateral that has been built up during the global design and build phase.
Supporting the Implementation Lead, the role holder will coordinate the global implementation, change and technical teams as well as advise and support the regional and local project manager and teams to deliver the FFT projects to agreed quality, standards and timelines. They will be responsible for maintaining the project plans and status reporting. They will work with team leads as well as other work stream specific project managers to identify, review and resolve delivery issues and risks. They will ensure that documentation filing standards are followed. They will focus on the key deliverables and milestones as documented in the project scope and planning documentation to ensure the project stays on track.
The initial 2023 project focus for this role holder will be project managing is the FFT implementation to Dentons Delany Corp. in the Eastern Caribbean. This project will act as template for future FFT projects to similarly sized member firms across the Dentons network.
Why Dentons is different
The legal profession is changing rapidly and Dentons is leading the way in advancing change for the benefit of clients. We are driven to challenge the status quo, delivering consistent and uncompromising quality and value to our clients in new and innovative ways. With over 17, 000 individuals in more than 179 offices the opportunity is huge.
Dentons continues to receive external awards and recognition, including for our continued international expansion over the last 12 months; for ground-breaking innovation through the development of Nextlaw Labs and Nextlaw Global Referral Network; and for success in advising clients across multiple Regions. Dentons is also a leader on the Acritas Global Elite Brand Index and a BTI Client Service 30 Award winner.
Against such rapid growth and change, this role offers the successful individual the chance to play a lead role and make their mark in driving the successful implementation of this Global Program.
Key Deliverables
- Supporting the Central Implementation Leads with the development and continuous maintenance the project plans to support the regional FFT delivery projects and/or Central projects / initiatives.
- Management of project RAID. Supporting central and regional colleagues to identify, manage and resolve project issues and risks
- Development of regular project status reporting in line with Program standards and the reporting timetable
- Facilitate team meetings and other project management duties
- With follow central leadership, project managers and the PMO team ensure that project management and delivery standards are maintained and subject to lessons learned and continuous improvement.
Planning / Project Management
- Support central and regional stakeholders in the development of business cases, project initiation documents, project budget proposals and presentations during the project scoping phase.
- Work with central colleagues and regional / local project managers and other stakeholders to create, maintain and execute project plans to deliver FFT to the Dentons member firms or to deliver specific projects required of the Central team.
- Advise leads and team members of all activities on the critical path for implementation (i.e., in the implementation plan), including resources required for specific activities
- Work with other central team leads and work stream project managers (technical, functional, design, data, change, training etc.) as they develop and maintain their specific team plans and deliverables and manage their resources to support the projects.
- Alongside Implementation Leads, work with regional teams and third-party providers to ensure their alignment to the implementation plan.
- Support the FFT leadership team in managing relevant suppliers.
- Ensure the central, regional and local office plans, resource requirements, transformation/change agenda and deliverables are understood and assist the leadership team in resource planning
- With leadership and other project managers ensure that project resource levels / quality are appropriate to support delivery of the implementation plan
- Provide implementation team members task visibility using all available tools
- With implementation leads and other project managers coordinate and support central, regional and local teams as they perform tasks allocated to them
- Support regional and local teams to ensure that a project governance model aligns with central and regional requirements is in place to support the projects
- Ensure the project leads and team members understand how to apply Global Program standards for RAID (Risks, Assumptions, Issues, Dependencies, Decisions) management and reporting
- Maintenance of RAID. Work with central and regional management to support the identification, prioritization, tracking and resolution of risks, issues and deliverables assigned to regional teams and stakeholders.
- Escalation of issues and risks as appropriate to senior central and regional executives.
- Ensure that all relevant project and Program documentation and other collateral is being filed and managed in the appropriate folders and that it is visible and accessible to the relevant stakeholders.
- Track progress against plan and, with central regional and local management. ensure that appropriate status reporting is presented to regional and central steering committees.
- Facilitate meetings as required to meet delivery milestones
- Work alongside other project managers and the FFT PMO to ensure consistency of work practices across the Program teams
- Work alongside other project managers and the FFT PMO to establish and maintain reporting and tracking mechanisms to track project and Program performance.
- Work alongside leadership, other project managers and the FFT PMO to maintain project and Program management collateral e.g., Smartsheet Project Plans, RAID Logs
- Work alongside other project managers and the FFT PMO to ensure consistency of work practices across the Program teams
- Work alongside other project managers and the FFT PMO to establish and maintain reporting and tracking mechanisms to track project and Program performance.
- Work alongside leadership, other project managers and the FFT PMO to maintain project and Program management collateral e.g., Smartsheet Project Plans, RAID Logs
- Support the development of the appropriate regional or local stage gate methodology for the delivery projects
- Business international level of English both written and oral
- Highly collaborative and able to work in a global environment, accommodating the different time zones.
- Only team players will be considered.
- Particularly strong written communication skills
- Particularly strong organizational skills
- Strong knowledge and experience in Finance/IT practices
- Experience delivering finance and practice management systems to professional services firms would be beneficial
- Experience of international finance / business transformation programs desirable
- Significant experience and a proven track record in/as:
- Project Management of business/finance transformation projects.
- Proven experience in delivery of enterprise-wide programs in complex organizations
- Demonstrable understanding of working within program governance frameworks and to documented delivery principles
- Strong background/knowledge of finance and technology
- Strong stakeholder management, across both business and technology.
- You will possess:
- Excellent communications, influencing, and stakeholder management skills
- Excellent presentation skills with ability to conduct presentations comfortably to large groups
- Confidence to raise and escalate concerns, risks and issues as soon as they become apparent
- Proficiency in Project Management Software, MS Office, MS Teams, DevOps.
- Be versed in working across cultures and time zones
- Be adept in responding to challenges and issues as they arise
- Be able to thrive working under pressure, and be able to multi-task
- Extensive experience of working with layers of engagement and approval
- Ability to thrive in busy, fast-moving environments and work with teams to bring out the best in them
- Impeccable attention to detail and ability to work with a wide variety of people and projects in a collective and collaborative manner.
Qualifications / Experience
- Minimum of 4 years progressive experience with business and/or technology project management.
- Experience of working on international projects
- Experience of working in a legal / professional services firm (desirable)
- Management of at least two full end to end implementations (desirable)
- Prince 2 / Agile (desirable)
South Africa, Poland, Canada, Ireland
Disclaimer: Please ensure when applying for this role you are legally eligible to work/live in your location. Visa sponsorship or relocation costs will not be provided.
Diversity & Inclusion
Essential to our success as a global law firm is our ability to attract and retain the best talent from a diverse range of backgrounds. We want a work environment where everyone can reach their potential and we have an inclusive culture which respects individual differences.
We undertake and support a number of internal and external initiatives aimed at increasing diversity within the profession and we encourage all our partners and staff to get involved.
Equal Opportunities
Dentons is committed to providing equal opportunities for all.
Reward and Recognition
Remuneration and benefits package will reflect the successful candidate's experience and country where hired.
Applications from individuals directly, should be sent to the Global Recruitment Team: bianca.moodley@dentons.com
