The Open University
SAP Finance Systems Manager
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Advert Reference Number: 1710
Job Location: Milton Keynes
Department: Financial Accounting & Systems
Salary: £59,966 to £73,710 plus Market Related Pay supplement*
Closing Date: 6 August 2026
Weekly Working Hours: 37
Contract Type: Permanent
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About the Role
We are looking for a SAP Finance System Manager to join our Financial Accounting and Systems Support team (FAS), within the Finance and Business Services (FBS) division, in building innovative products that users don’t just use but value.
This is a key leadership role created as part of a substantial investment to expand the Finance Systems & Data capability and is an exciting opportunity to shape and develop the future of Finance systems within FBS.
You will lead and manage the team responsible for finance systems within FAS, reporting to the Head of Finance Systems & Data, working closely with Digital Services and business teams to deliver robust, scalable and well-controlled SAP Finance solutions.
You will work with other SAP solution owners to assess and prioritise development, building a network with an aim to create efficiencies through improved system design, standardisation and process optimisation. You will utilise agile scrum methodology, develop user stories and acceptance criteria, refine and lead the product backlog delivery, and advocate for end-user and business needs. You will act as a change agent and foster a test-and-learn approach.
*This role currently attracts a temporary Market Related Pay supplement of up to £23,004 (total of salary and supplement will not exceed £83,000), which is to be reviewed after 2 years in post.
Key Responsibilities
This is a leadership role blending deep domain and technical expertise with a strong passion for coaching and developing people in a player-coach model.
- Leading and managing a team responsible for finance systems, with a focus on stability, optimisation, standardisation and continuous improvement.
- Own the end-to-end product lifecycle for SAP Finance systems, ensuring solutions are scalable, controlled and aligned to business needs.
- Prioritise and drive system change, enhancements and innovation through an iterative and continuous improvement approach.
- Work in partnership with colleagues to build internal capability to manage and evolve SAP Finance systems as a core enterprise platform.
- Ensure system design and functionality align with business priorities and deliver measurable business value.
- Ensure problem statements are clearly understood and translated into structured system solutions.
- Lead the coordination of User Acceptance Testing, release management and training to ensure solutions meet end-user needs and operate effectively in production.
- Act as an ambassador for Finance Systems change, ensuring the case for change and associated impacts are clearly understood across FBS.
- Act as the initial point of escalation within the unit for system-related priorities and integration points.
- Work in partnership with colleagues to mediate and resolve conflicting priorities across systems and processes.
- Collaborate closely with Digital Services on architecture, tooling and infrastructure decisions, particularly in relation to SAP S/4HANA and the evolving cloud landscape.
- Drive standardisation of processes and reduce reliance on bespoke solutions and manual workarounds.
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About You
Person Specification
An experienced leader who:
- Builds and maintains strong relationships and teams.
- Has an innovative approach and sets priorities within fixed resources to translate a vision into reality.
- Is comfortable working in ambiguous contexts and can provide direction despite uncertainty.
- Balances curiosity around how the organisation operates today with a drive to modernise and improve for the future.
- Takes a hands-on approach, leading from the front and setting standards for delivery, development and testing practices.
Essential
Experience
- Proven experience in a Systems Manager capacity, demonstrated by:
- Strong technical and functional knowledge of SAP S/4HANA, SAP BW and SAP BPC.
- Experience working across SAP Finance processes and system integration points.
- Engaging and influencing diverse stakeholders with differing perspectives.
- Experience delivering system enhancements, upgrades and transformation initiatives within SAP environments.
- Good technical and functional understanding of planning models in SAP BPC and SAC.
- Experience supporting or contributing to transitions from BPC to SAC planning.
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience.
Skills and Behaviours
- Role models the OU Values; Inclusive, Innovative and Responsive.
- Connecting and Communicating
- Builds and maintains strong relationships.
- Able to influence without formal authority across organisational boundaries.
- Actively listens and seeks to understand before intervening.
- Able to raise sensitive issues constructively.
- Demonstrates political awareness and sensitivity.
- Adapting, Learning and Coping
- Proactively identifies risks and issues early.
- Adapts approach based on context and stakeholder needs.
- Embraces experimentation and continuous improvement.
- Learns from experience and supports others to do the same.
- Remains effective under pressure.
- Taking Ownership for Delivery
- Operates effectively in complex and ambiguous environments.
- Anticipates barriers and plans accordingly.
- Aligns resources and priorities to deliver outcomes.
- Takes accountability for delivery against commitments.
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Desirable
Experience
- Experience within Higher Education or the Public Sector.
- Awareness of SAP cloud strategy, including S/4HANA Private vs Public Cloud considerations.
- Understanding of finance process standardisation and system-driven controls.
What's in it for you?
At The Open University, we offer a range of benefits to recognise and reward great work, alongside policies and flexible working that contribute towards a great work life balance. Get all the details of what benefits we offer by visiting our [Staff Benefits page](clicking this link will open a new window).
Flexible working
We are open to discussions about flexible working. Whether it’s a job share, part time, compressed hours or another working arrangement. Please reach out to us to discuss what works best for you.
Work Location
It is anticipated that a hybrid working pattern can be adopted for this role, where you can work from home and the office. However, as this role is contractually aligned to our Milton Keynes office it is expected that some attendance in the office will be required when necessary and in response to business needs. We’d expect this to be approximately one day per week.
Early closing date notification
While most roles will remain open until the advertised closing date, applications may be reviewed on an ongoing basis. In some cases, vacancies may close earlier if a sufficient number of suitable applications have been received and equality impacts have been appropriately considered. All roles will remain advertised for a minimum of one week before any early closure is implemented.
If you have started an application or were in the process of applying when the advert closed, we encourage you to get in touch. We are committed to understanding individual circumstances and can offer further support where needed, including reasonable adjustments for applicants with protected characteristics.
To apply for this role, please click 'Apply' to be taken to the OU Careers pages.
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