Job Description
The role
Clifford Chance is a leading global and integrated law firm, delivering services to clients across the globe. As part of our broader finance vision and transformation, we are looking at our ERP and Global Practice Management System (GMPS), which is core to finance and our business strategy. In replacing and transforming our core finance systems, we will create a platform for the firm's finance operations into the future. This is a major programme continuing our broader strategy and movement to the cloud, our drive to bring technology advancement, standardisation and efficiency, while advancing and elevating the use of data and analytics to bring insight and growth to our business, and at the same time tightening controls and reducing risks.
Integral to the programme and the implementation of the new Finance ERP will be the Business Solution Architect. This is a key role bringing functional finance experience and expertise to the programme management team, working closely with the Programme Director and Global CFO. It will be integral to the success of the programme, delivering on the strategic objectives of the transformation to bring the best of technology, automation, and AI to finance, to meet our growth ambitions and drive efficiencies in our finance processes while continuing to deliver world class services to our clients.
The role will lead the transformation of core finance activities and processes into the future state leveraging technology, AI, automation, and end to end integration of our related systems. The person will lead and coordinate Clifford Chance's business and finance operations together with the vendor and their system. This will involve building a comprehensive understanding of the firm's finance processes and operations, applying industry knowledge and best practice, and working with the vendor to implement a design that is forward-thinking while considering the firm's key strategic requirements and global operations.
The Business Solution Architect will join an established programme team, working in close collaboration with the Programme Director, Global CFO and the programme's evolving leadership team. The role will also work directly with the vendor and other project, business analysis, technical, and change management professionals, as well as domain experts and a wide range of stakeholder groups. As a strategic programme, Clifford Chance has appointed an external advisory firm to guide the overall approach and support the delivery. This role will be a key interface to the strategic advisor.
Key Accountabilities
Your primary responsibility will be the design of the new Finance ERP and ensuring ownership of the future configuration is established across the firm's finance and operational teams. Experience and confidence of delivering finance change of this scale will be key to the success of the role, able to hold strong on the strategic objectives of the design, configuration, processes while recognising and focusing on the key requirements that are important to the business. You will ensure that the programme delivers in line with the Business Case and that benefits are tracked and delivered against the system and its configuration. You will also ensure that the associated finance processes and workflows are aligned to the expected benefits, and work with the programmer's leadership team to establish process owners across the various finance workflows.
The delivery of the programme will follow the firm's recently refreshed Transformation Framework, applying proven change management theory and industry best practices to optimise the programme's delivery. As a representative of the business's requirements, you will play an integral role in the development and implementation of these change management practices, working closely with the programme's change management team.
As the person responsible for the system's design, you will:
• Inherit existing design documentation and current state analyses and need to synthesise these into the required documentation and inputs into system design activities, both pre- and post-kick-off of the implementation, working closely with our existing finance team and SMEs, along with the vendor experts and third parties.
• Establish strong connections between the programme and the vendor, ensuring close collaboration on business requirements to drive simplification and standardisation whilst ensuring the firm's unique requirements are factored into the system design.
• Develop and maintain the solution architecture for the Finance ERP programme, ensuring it meets business requirements and aligns with the firm's strategic objectives.
• Collaborate closely business leaders, technology teams (including Data and Information Security), vendors, and strategic advisors to gather and validate requirements, define solutions, and ensure successful delivery.
• Take responsibility for the system configuration and requirements that will form the basis of the agreement with the vendor on the scope and delivery of the system, and track this throughout the delivery and into the handover to operational teams.
• Lead the definition of subsystems and their interfaces, allocate responsibilities to subsystems, understand solution deployment and communicate requirements for interactions with solution context.
• Establish high level solution intent; help establish the solution information models and documentation requirements.
• Establish critical non-functional requirements at solution level and participate in the definition of others.
• Working with portfolio stakeholders (in particular the Domain Architect and Product Manager), develop, analyse, split, and realise the implementation of Enabler epics.
• Play an important role in the development and incremental delivery of the benefits realisation plan, highlighting early any risks or issues that may hamper the delivery of business benefits.
• In close collaboration with the programme's Technology Director, provide product guidance and leadership throughout the project lifecycle, from initial concept through to implementation and support.
• Provide guidance and input into the integration of the ERP system with existing systems and processes, mostly from the perspective of meeting business requirements and objectives, to ensure seamless operational and data flows.
• Lead a team of functional and technical analysts, ensuring the programme is effectively resourced to deliver high quality, data-driven insights across the business, technology, data, change management, and operational workstreams.
• Identify potential risks in meeting the programme's objectives or business requirements and develop mitigation strategies to ensure success delivery.
• In collaboration with the firm's Product and Architecture teams, create and maintain comprehensive documentation of the solution architecture, including design specifications, integration plans, detailed requirements, and technical standards.
• Ensure the programme follows internal procedures and controls for the design, build, testing, and deployment of the system, including appropriate IT Leadership, Security, and Risk and Compliance approvals are gained in an effective and timely manner.
• Stay abreast of industry and technology trends and best practices and apply this knowledge to improve the ERP solution and related processes.
• Work closely with the firm's strategic advisors to ensure the programme is delivered in line with industry best practices and is forward thinking in the design of the new system.
Qualifications
Skills, Knowledge & Experience
The Business Solution Architect role is a key leadership role on the programme and is essential to the delivery of the Business Case and the benefits outlined within. As a member of the programme's leadership team, you will possess the following:
• • A solid number of years of experience in solution architecture, with a focus on ERP systems, preferably in the legal or professional services sector.
• Deep experience and appreciation of leading large finance systems and process transformation initiatives.
• Demonstrable ability to successfully deliver large, global, complex programmes in a professional services environment, in a business-focused role.
• Proficiency in ERP platforms (e.g., SAP, Oracle), integration technologies, and cloud solutions.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to translate business requirements into technical solutions, and negotiation of these with the business and vendors.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to effectively engage with stakeholders at all levels.
• Strong presentation, verbal, and written communication skills, with the ability to articulate complex ideas in easy-to-understand business terms to all levels of the firm, including senior leaders.
• Ability to effectively manage multiple competing priorities with high attention to detail.
• Effective team skills and ability to lead by influence to foster a collaborative and delivery-focused mindset across the team.
• Demonstrable experience in scaling teams quickly, including internal team members and external hires.
• Experience applying change management approaches, tools, and methodologies, both at a practical level and as an advocate for change initiatives.
• Industry recognised certifications (e.g., TOGAF, ITL, PMP) and be able to evidence how you have effectively applied this knowledge and expertise to delivery in a complex, fast-paced environment.
Client Focus
At Clifford Chance, we believe in bringing the client – both internal and external – to the centre of everything we do. To do this we need to understand, anticipate, and fulfil the unique needs and expectations of each client. We call this "Client Focus" and to help deliver this core part of our business strategy, we want to recruit people who not only excel in their field but who are also client focused.
We are looking for people who:
• Can demonstrate a keen interest and enthusiasm to understand their clients' priorities;
• Are self-starters but also team players ready to help others and contribute to the overall success;
• Listen, question and deliver; and
• Are reliable and responsive, who can put the needs of the client first.
In short, we are looking for people who are motivated by client satisfaction and who strive to exceed the expectations of their clients.
Company Description
We are one of the largest international law firms in the world. With over 30 offices across the globe, we strive to exceed the expectations of our clients, providing them with the highest-quality advice and legal insight, which combines the firm’s global standards with in-depth local expertise.
Our firm, work and people span jurisdictions, cultures, and languages. We offer our clients a truly international perspective. We believe every career should be rewarding and stimulating - full of opportunities to learn, thrive, and grow. That’s why we’re so proud of our inclusive, friendly, and team-based approach to work.
Our one firm global strategy is focused on targeted growth led by the needs of our core clients, those who we can best support with the breadth and depth of Clifford Chance expertise, across the sectors and geographies which matter most to them.
You’ll find our clients in commercial and industrial sectors, the financial investor community, governments, regulators, trade bodies, and not-for-profit organisations. But no matter who they are or why they’ve reached out to us, we provide a world-class service every step of the way. And that’s possible thanks to the entrepreneurial spirit and conscientious approach to work that you’ll find across all of our teams.
Whichever area of the business you join, you’ll become an integral part of an innovative, diverse, and ambitious team of people. Clifford Chance is a place where the brightest minds and the best of colleagues meet.
Hybrid Working
This role follows our 'balanced' hybrid working approach and as long as business needs allow, you will be supported to work in a hybrid way with the expectation of working from the office for a minimum of 50% of your time.
Additional Information
Equal opportunities statement
At Clifford Chance, we understand that our true asset is our people. Inclusion is good for our team and their families, our firm and society.
We are committed to treating all employees and applicants fairly and equally regardless of their gender, gender identity and expression, marital or civil partnership status, race, colour, national or ethnic origin, social or economic background, disability, religious belief, sexual orientation, or age. This applies to recruitment and selection, terms and conditions of employment including pay, promotion, training, transfer and every other aspect of employment.
We have a variety of flourishing employee networks. These networks are a place for colleagues to share experiences and advocate for change wherever they see an opportunity for improvement.
Our goal is to deliver an equality of opportunity, an equality of aspiration and an equality of experience to everyone who works in our firm.
Find out more about our inclusive culture here.
