Senior Transformation Project Manager

Function: Finance

Reports to: Finance Controller, Turkey & Unilever Central Asia

Scope: Turkey

Location: Istanbul, Umraniye

Terms & Conditions: Project Management / Full-time

Please note that this is a fixed-term project role; however, successful performance during the project will lead to a permanent employment opportunity within Unilever. 

ABOUT UNILEVER

With 3.4 billion people in over 190 countries using our products every day, Unilever is a business that makes a real impact on the world. Work on brands that are loved and improve the lives of our consumers and the communities around us. We are driven by our purpose: to make sustainable living commonplace, and it is our belief that doing business the right way drives superior performance. At the heart of what we do is our people – we believe that when our people work with purpose, we will create a better business and a better world.

At Unilever, your career will be a unique journey, grounded in our inclusive, collaborative, and flexible working environment. We don’t believe in the ‘one size fits all’ approach and instead we will equip you with the tools you need to shape your own future.

JOB PURPOSE

Unilever is the place where you can bring your purpose to life with the work that you do – creating a better business and a better world. If you are passionate about finance and looking to build a finance career, then this role is just for you!

WHAT WILL YOUR MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES BE
This role takes ownership of the large-scale transformation project, responsible for leading the timeline, governance and timely reporting of process. The role will be reporting to Finance Controller, Turkey & Unilever Central Asia.

WHAT YOU WILL NEED TO SUCCEED

Experiences & Qualifications
• Act as end to end Finance Project Manager for a large scale transformation project, owning scope, milestones, dependencies, risks and delivery timelines
• Drive governance over project related financial reporting deliverables, ensuring outputs are accurate, consistent, timely and aligned with agreed methodologies
• Coordinate and validate financial inputs received from country teams via standardized data packs, ensuring completeness and quality
• Define, document and communicate basis of preparation and reporting assumptions required for the project, particularly where financial data is complex
• Serve as the single point of coordination between central teams, country finance teams and external advisors, ensuring clarity of roles, responsibilities and expectations
• Lead regular project cadence including status tracking, milestone reviews, issue logs, risk management and escalation forums
• Proactively identify delivery risks, bottlenecks or interdependencies, escalate where required and drive resolution to maintain project timelines
• Work closely with Big 4 advisory and audit teams to ensure alignment on deliverables, planning and execution
• Support audit, assurance and control activities connected to the transformation project, ensuring compliance with internal standards and controls
• Prepare and present clear project updates to senior finance and transformation leadership, highlighting progress, risks and required decisions
• Line manage 1 direct report, providing direction, prioritisation and coaching to support project execution

Key Stakeholders

Internal:

• Finance Leadership Team, Transformation / PMO Leadership, Finance Expertise & Technical Teams, Controls & Compliance

• Country Controlling Teams, RTR Operating Centers

• Global Functions (Performance Management, Investor Relations, Corporate Tax, Corporate Pension)

• Information & Analytics, IT, Global RTR Process Excellence, other global or local teams as required

External:
Big 4 audit and advisory firms, third party service providers (ad hoc)

All About You
• Strong track record within Finance and/or Finance Transformation projects, ideally in complex, international environments
• Hands on experience managing transformation or change programmes, with ability to balance structure with pragmatism
• Solid grounding in financial reporting, accounting or controlling, enabling effective challenge and decision making
• Professional finance or accounting qualification preferred
• Excellent stakeholder management skills with the ability to influence across management levels
• Highly organised, delivery focused and comfortable operating under tight timelines and ambiguity
• Self starter with strong ownership mindset and minimal supervision requirement
• Proven people management and leadership capability
• Experience with SAP, BCS, iFinance or similar enterprise systems is desirable

Leadership

• You are energized by delivering fantastic results. You are an example to others – both your results and your resilience. You are constantly on the lookout for better ways to do things, engaging and collaborating with others along the way.
• As an individual you are the one responsible for your own wellbeing and delivering high standards of work. You must also focus on the Consumer and what they need. You are humble and have your head up, looking around to interpret evidence and data smartly, spot issues and opportunities to make things better.

Critical SOL (Standards of Leadership) Behaviors

o PERSONAL MASTERY: Sets high standards for themselves. Has emotional intelligence to take feedback, manage mood and motivations, and build empathy for others.

o PASSION FOR HIGH PERFORMANCE: Generates intensity and focus to motivate people to deliver results at speed. Takes personal responsibility and accountability for execution and results.

o TALENT CATALYST: Invests in people – coaches individuals and teams to realize their full potential. Creates an inclusive climate, empowering everyone to be at their best.

o PURPOSE & SERVICE: Has humility, understanding that leadership is service to others, inside and outside Unilever.

o CONSUMER LOVE: Invests time inside and outside to understand the needs of consumers.

o BUSINESS ACUMEN: Creates sustainable growth with purpose, engaging different partners across the system for change.

Unilever is an organisation committed to equity, inclusion and diversity to drive our business results and create a better future, every day, for our diverse employees, global consumers, partners, and communities. We believe a diverse workforce allows us to match our growth ambitions and drive inclusion across the business. At Unilever we are interested in every individual bringing their ‘Whole Self’ to work and this includes you! Thus if you require any support or access requirements, we encourage you to advise us at the time of your application so that we can support you through your recruitment journey.