Chapter Manager - SAP Finance Specialist

About the Role

The Chapter Manager specializing in SAP Finance is an acknowledged expert within the organization, possessing deep knowledge of SAP Finance processes, solutions, and system integrations. This role provides advanced functional guidance and practical expertise to Product Teams, especially when confronting complex challenges that surpass the teams' existing skillsets. The manager helps in diagnosing issues, evaluating potential solutions, understanding configuration impacts, and making sustainable design decisions.

Being part of the Finance Chapter enables sharing of scarce expertise across diverse products while preserving critical knowledge and promoting best practices and standards. This role also challenges external advisors and strives to minimize reliance on individual experts or external suppliers.

While Product Teams manage their business relationships, backlogs, and product delivery, and the Finance Architect holds ultimate responsibility for the overall Finance architecture, the Chapter Manager supplies the deep SAP Finance know-how necessary to support these decisions.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary internal authority and escalation contact for complex SAP Finance matters within the assigned capability.
• Maintain comprehensive knowledge of pertinent Finance processes, SAP functionalities, configuration principles, controls, data dependencies, and integration points.
• Advise Product Owners and Teams on advanced functional decisions, solution alternatives, configuration considerations, risks, and downstream effects.
• Identify root causes for complex functional and integration issues and recommend durable solutions.
• Review and critically assess functional designs and external suggestions, advocating for standard SAP features, reuse, and alignment with Finance core-model principles.
• Collaborate with the Finance Architect on architectural implications that impact broader system landscapes.
• Manage knowledge stewardship including documentation of standards, design rationale, lessons learned, risk management, and internal capability building.
• Lead and energize a community of practice to facilitate knowledge transfer and consistent methodologies across products.
• Maintain a resource pool within the areas of expertise to support various Product Teams.
• Provide hands-on expert assistance during complex phases of discovery, design, implementation, testing, deployment, and problem resolution, without embedding permanently into Product Teams.
• Ensure functional quality assurance for changes with significant impact by evaluating process, data, control, configuration, and integration outcomes.
• Independently challenge deliverables from AMS providers, system integrators, and other external consultants.
• Translate implementation and operational learnings into reusable guidelines, standards, and capability development programs.
• Highlight systemic risks, dependencies, and improvement opportunities affecting product roadmaps and portfolio execution.
• Maintain accessible documentation and progressively enhance expertise and autonomy within the Chapter.
• Collaborate closely with Finance Chapter Lead, Product Owners and Analysts, architects, Business Partners, and delivery teams to align capabilities and priorities.
• Support leadership in translating Product Group needs into skill development and capability priorities.
• Engage in business discussions only at the request of Product Teams to preserve their role as primary business interlocutors.
• Work cooperatively with Finance Architect and other Chapter Managers on cross-capability or solution matters.
• Coach Chapter members and encourage transfer and retention of critical expertise from external partners internally.
• Drive influence through expertise, evidence, and credibility rather than formal authority.

Experience and Education

• Overall 8 to 10 years of experience in SAP Finance, including functional consulting, finance technology, product delivery, or transformation roles in complex organizations.
• Minimum of 5 years of direct hands-on experience with SAP Finance involving functional analysis, configuration, solution design, implementation, integration, deployment, or resolving complex operational problems.
• Experience should demonstrably reflect the capacity to advise and challenge other professionals.
• University degree or equivalent professional qualification in Finance, Accounting, Information Systems, Business, Engineering, Technology, or related fields.
• SAP Finance certification is preferred but not mandatory, as functional expertise and practical experience are paramount.
• Additional certifications in business analysis, product management, or Agile methodologies are advantageous but not required.

Additional Desirable Skills

• Exposure to Finance transformation initiatives such as standardization, core-model adoption, or multi-entity projects.
• Familiarity with related domains like tax, treasury, statutory reporting, controlling, master data management, financial controls, data governance, or SaaS solutions.
• Skills in defining standards, design principles, reusable solution patterns, communities of practice, or capability frameworks.
• Understanding of product-centric operating models, Agile frameworks, and product roadmap or portfolio discussions.
• Experience coaching specialists and working effectively within matrix and evolving organizational structures.

Location and Application

This position is based in Hyderabad, India. Candidates with relevant experience and skills are encouraged to apply directly through the company's careers page.

Eligibility

Applications are open to any graduate meeting the experience and skill requirements.