About the position
We are seeking a highly experienced Programme Manager to lead a complex SAP S/4HANA programme with a strong Finance focus within a large retail organisation.
This role is a contract role, onsite based in Cape Town.
The successful candidate will take ownership of an established programme approaching its first go-live, manage the transition into subsequent phases and maintain delivery momentum across approximately 106 functional processes. The role requires deep SAP S/4HANA delivery experience, strong Finance knowledge and the confidence to engage directly with executives and detailed functional stakeholders.
Key Responsibilities
- Assume programme ownership through a structured handover, validating delivery plans, outstanding decisions, risks and readiness.
- Lead delivery through the first go-live and subsequent programme phases.
- Coordinate Finance, business, technology, implementation partners and functional workstreams.
- Maintain an integrated programme plan covering dependencies, resources, milestones and critical delivery activities.
- Ensure functional process requirements, integration points and business impacts are understood and managed.
- Oversee testing, defect resolution, data migration readiness, cutover planning and business readiness.
- Drive go-live governance, hypercare planning and transition into operational support.
- Build trusted relationships with executive sponsors and functional stakeholders.
- Provide clear executive reporting and secure timely decisions on risks, scope and priorities.
- Maintain strong delivery discipline while taking a hands-on approach to resolving issues.
Essential Requirements
- At least seven years of relevant project or programme management experience, supported by substantial SAP S/4HANA delivery experience.
- Proven leadership of complex SAP S/4HANA implementations through go-live.
- Strong Finance process knowledge and experience coordinating SAP Finance delivery.
- Experience managing large programmes with multiple functional processes, workstreams and integration dependencies.
- Proven delivery experience with CIO or C-suite executive sponsors.
- Ability to take over an established programme close to go-live and quickly establish credibility.
- Exceptional attention to detail and confidence engaging demanding functional stakeholders.
- Strong governance, risk management, testing and cutover coordination skills.
- Willingness to work onsite four days per week and accommodate executive schedules.
Preferred Experience
- Retail experience is highly valued.
- Experience delivering phased SAP rollouts and managing implementation partners.
- Candidates without retail experience must demonstrate strong executive engagement and a substantial SAP S/4HANA and Finance delivery record.
Desired Skills:
