Julie Downs Email & Phone Number

England, United Kingdom

- Strategic review of the NetSuite Programme- Programme refresh/remediation report provided to the Team17 Group plc Board- Finance systems architectural landscape review- Delivering the strategic NetSuite solution within tight timelines to meet the needs of the business

Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, Gb

Private Equity Backed Gaming company based in Cambridge deliverables include: -• Developed and built the Technology and Finance strategy aligned to the business strategy• Collaborated with executive stakeholders to define and gain consensus on the ERP strategy• Crafted a comprehensive ERP roadmap to guide technology initiatives• Established a new software support partner to enhance system maintenance and support• Orchestrated the seamless migration of infrastructure from on-premise to a hosted solution• Developed, implemented, and tested a robust Finance Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery plan ensuring operational resilience• Created essential governance framework documentation that was previously non-existent, enhancing process clarity• Spearheaded change initiatives in a dynamic, high-growth environment, fostering adaptability and growth

London, Gb

- Accountable for the end to end delivery of cloud-based SaaS ERP solution (Oracle NetSuite) across four global regions - Accountable for the design and delivery of the Global Finance Transformation Programme across the Euromoney Group of Companies- Integration with various CRM solutions, predominantly SalesForce- Developed a high performing (hybrid) Programme Team to enable effective delivery and a strategic Global Template utilising cloud-based SaaS solutions- Worked directly with the Senior Finance Leadership Team to build a Global Finance Target Operating Model (TOM) fit for the future- Business Acquisitions, legal entity migrations, integration and rationalisation- Bringing devolved business processes and systems into the Global Template- Legacy system migrations including SUN, Sage, Dynamics, Navision- Due diligence work to create a Global Business Centre- Building the strategic Finance Transformation roadmap

London, Gb

- Accountable for the design and implementation of the Programme team and Governance Framework- Taking the Global Finance Transformation Programme from initiation into delivery across four global regions- Strong business relationship management to ensure the Programme was understood and bought into on a Global basis across Senior and Business User StakeholdersResponsibilities included: -• Implementation of appropriate Governance Boards with relevant controls and reporting capability• Full review of the existing team, which included replacing some members, the management and coaching of others and increasing the team based on best practise and programme requirements• Accountable for a fully integrated Programme plan ensuring there was accountability, transparency and visibility• Responsible for the Business Change understanding and implementation through the building of a new Target Operating Model (TOM)• Accountability for all costs of the Programme against a budget of £9m over a three-year deployment timeline for 1000 users• Ensuring that legacy solutions (circa 30) are decommissioned and benefits are crystalised• To enable the business to grow further through appropriate acquisitions and divesture

Coventry, England, Gb

- Accountable for the end to end delivery of Cloud-Based SaaS ERP solution - SAP S4 Hana, simultaneous go-live for the UK and US- Built five year strategic technology roadmaps with business stakeholders to align to business and technology group strategy- Senior Global Business Engagement Manager for Corporate Business Systems within Meggitt PLC- Stakeholders included - Finance, HR & Payroll, Sales & Marketing, Customer Service and Support, Global Trade Compliance, Legal, Procurement, Production Systems- Developed and implemented Demand and Portfolio documentation and processes- Forged trusted business relationships Projects included:- SAP S4 Hana Implementation for the UK and the US simultaneously- CRM SalesForce Developments and improvements- Payroll and Timekeeping Solutions (Kronos)- SAP - Global Trade Compliance - SAP SuccessFactors (HR solution) - remediation project

Global, Gb

Managing all aspects of the Corporate IT portfolio strategy, demand, delivery, budget and service operation of the IT Corporate Line of Business globallyManagement of a team of Business Analysts (8)and Portfolio Managers (4)Responsible for the IT component of a business acquisition of full rebranding and integration into the end to end Specsavers solutions including Retail, Supply Chain and Corporate with a 90 day immovable deadlineStrategic IT planning responsibility with all Directors of corporate departmentsDeveloped best practise process and visibility through engagement, reporting, rationalisation and understanding risk from a technology, industry disruption and customer requirement perspectiveMaster Data Management Strategy, Data migration programme and Enterprise Data Warehouse Programme

Global, Gb

Head of IT working on the strategic direction for all Group and Corporate solutions within the Specsavers business.Working in partnership with Board Directors and senior managers globally to enable and support IT initiatives to meet strategic and tactical needsEnsuring the Business As Usual requirements as well as strategic requirements are met for many teams within the business including Finance, Tax & Treasury, HR & Payroll, Legal, Property, Loss Prevention, Contact Centre, Shared Service Centre, Corporate Eyecare, Marketing and eCommerce.Working directly with business stakeholders and IT stakeholders to ensure delivery of annual plan and multi-year plan initiatives and driving the change programme for Group and Corporate

Global, Gb

Head of IT seconded to act as Finance LeadBuilt new Target Operating ModelBusiness Lead for Finance on Oracle ERP programmeMember of the Vendor selection team for the chosen ERP solution and System IntegratorBuilt the Finance Workstream TeamEngagement of Global Finance Directors and Financial ControllersDeveloped the strategy and vision for Global Finance with the CFOPart of the Deployment Approach TeamManaged the Finance Blueprint planning processMember of the Programme Management Team

Global, Gb

- Finance Business Lead on Global System selection, Target Operating Model build and Implementation- IT Business Partner for Finance, Tax & Treasury, HR & Payroll, Facilities & Aviation, Property, Marketing and Legal Department- Coordinating and managing multiple continuous improvement projects- Enabling Annual Plan Initiative Projects from inception through to delivery- Maintaining a steady state for existing systems in providing direction and support for direct teams- Maintaining relationships with software suppliers to ensure appropriate levels of service and commitment achieved

Global, Gb

- Responsible for the Finance Project Management Office, Systems team, Development Team, Business Improvement Teams and the Data Management Team.- Enabling the Finance Community to challenge processes and systems using the Six Sigma Journey to establish a Continuous Improvement culture- Prince2 methodology used to compliment the Six Sigma skills within the teams to help provide a common approach and language to deliver change, improvements, removing waste and becoming Lean

Business ConsultancyAdvising and Troubleshooting problem areas of a businessRestructuring failing projects to moving forward to successful deliveryRestructuring and developing Software Support TeamsImplementing Software and Support Development LifecyclesProject Management - introduction of new systems, processes, documentation and people.Strategic consultancy for taking processes, systems and integration forward in business to gain more efficiencies and better customer and staff satisfactionBusiness Process re-engineering and introductionReview and re-writing of documentation to ISO standardsQuality Assurance - Test Plans for regression and User Acceptance testingConsultancy and Training on Finance SystemsCoaching and MentoringProjects include Finance, Supply Chain Management, eBIS, POP, SOP, ERP, Customer Services

- Accountable for the Support organisation across 3 different Financial Management Systems and various other collaborative applications- Responsible for the management of 50 staff across various locations with varying skill sets- Unified support systems, processes and documentation across the group, managing the support of approximately 3000 customers across different support teams

- Managing 16 staff to provide customer support and quality assurance testing for an accounting software package with peripheral modules- Provided support services to a customer base of 1500Covering Retail, Distribution, Service, Education, Health and Transport Services- Implemented updated Service support solution with appropriate support service documentation and SLAs- Introduced an enhanced support service and engagement process for customers with particular solution challenges

Key involvement to implement the OpenAccounts product at customer sites and re-engineer processes to aid business benefit. To manage and carry out the consultancy and training for customers across a customer base of approximately 850.

- Provided consultation services to end clients' senior stakeholders to establish the most appropriate way to build their new finance system- Designed and consulted on Chart of Accounts and reporting requirements- Configuration of the solution to ensure that the business requirements of the customers were met- Training all users on the OpenAccounts solution- Provided on site go-live support - Consultation on process improvements and ways that OpenAccounts would be able to provide value add and improve throughput and reduce month end timelines

Heerbrugg, St. Gallen, Ch

- Responsible for the production of the monthly Management Accounts, annual budgets and forecasts- Reviewed monthly spend with Cost Centre managers and looked at ways of reducing cost and improving processes- Improved the month end process to bring the accounts completion down from 10 to 3 days through automation of the reconciliations and proactive month end preparation

Cima, Accountancy

Arbinger Management Training

Btec National, Business And Finance

London Chamber Of Commerce Secretarial Studies Certificate

Education record