Role Purpose
The Senior Manager – Global Project Accounting & Financial Performance is a senior leadership role with end-to-end accountability for financial performance, operational excellence, and service delivery outcomes across a large, regional Project Accounting organization.
This role owns financial KPIs, service level performance, stakeholder satisfaction, and continuous improvement outcomes, serving as a trusted advisor to senior business leaders, regional finance leadership, and global delivery stakeholders. The position combines strategic leadership, governance ownership, and hands-on oversight of complex financial operations supporting high-value, multi-year infrastructure projects.
Key Accountabilities
Leadership and Stakeholder Management
- Act as a primary senior point of contact for executive stakeholders, including regional Finance Leads, Project Directors, Business Line Leaders, and Global Service Delivery leadership.
- Build and maintain trusted, influential relationships with senior stakeholders through proactive engagement, transparent communication, and consistent delivery against commitments.
- Lead stakeholder governance forums, performance reviews, and escalation discussions, ensuring alignment on priorities, risks, and outcomes.
- Translate complex financial and operational data into clear executive-level insights and recommendations that support strategic decision-making.
KPI Ownership & Performance Management
- Own and govern the full suite of financial, operational, and service delivery KPIs, ensuring alignment with global standards, SLAs, and business expectations.
- Establish performance targets, dashboards, and reporting mechanisms to track productivity, quality, timeliness, financial accuracy, cash flow, and margin performance.
- Drive a performance-driven culture, holding leaders and teams accountable for results and corrective actions.
- Lead root-cause analysis for KPI variances and ensure timely execution of remediation and continuous improvement plans.
- Regularly report performance outcomes, trends, and risks to senior leadership, including recommendations for strategic or operational intervention.
Financial Ownership
- Provide senior oversight of project financial execution, including revenue recognition, cost control, reserves, contingencies.
- Review and interpret complex commercial and contractual arrangements to ensure appropriate financial treatment and risk mitigation.
- Oversee analysis of WIP, unbilled costs, billings in excess of earnings, and receivables to drive improvements in cash flow, margin, and financial predictability.
- Serve as a senior escalation authority for complex accounting judgments, ensuring compliance with IFRS, U.S. GAAP, and internal control requirements.
Operational Excellence and Service Delivery
- Lead a large, geographically distributed organization of, ensuring scalable, resilient, and high-quality service delivery.
- Ensure consistent execution of global processes, standards, and controls across regions and end markets.
- Partner with GPOs, Global Service Delivery Leads, and functional leaders to drive operational stability, maturity, and standardization.
- Oversee capacity planning, workforce optimization, utilization, and skill mix to support business growth and changing demand.
Transformation & Continuous Improvement
- Own and lead finance transformation initiatives aligned with global strategy, including process standardization, automation, and digital enablement.
- Identify opportunities to enhance value-added services, shifting the function from transactional execution to strategic financial partnership.
- Drive tower alignment and harmonization of processes, controls, and reporting frameworks. Champion a continuous improvement mindset supported by data, benchmarks, and best-in-class practices.
Risk, Controls, and Compliance
- Ensure robust governance, internal controls, and compliance with SOX, audit requirements, and internal policies.
- Lead preparation and support for internal and external audits, business risk reviews, and project health assessments.
- Own business continuity planning and execution for the function, ensuring operational resilience and risk mitigation.
Talent and Leadership Development
- Set clear leadership expectations and build a strong management layer capable of sustaining performance at scale.
- Drive talent strategy including recruitment, succession planning, retention, and leadership development.
- Foster a culture of accountability, engagement, and continuous learning aligned with AECOM values. Act as a role model for inclusive leadership, ethical decision-making, and professional excellence.
Qualifications and Experience
- Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business, or a related field. Professional accounting qualification (CPA or equivalent) strongly preferred.
- Experience
- 10+ years of progressive experience in multinational, complex organizations, with significant senior leadership responsibility. Proven track record in the Engineering, Design, and Construction or project-based services industry. Demonstrated success leading large teams within shared services or global delivery models. Strong experience partnering with senior stakeholders and influencing at executive level.
- Deep expertise in Project Accounting and financial performance management. Advanced knowledge of revenue recognition (IFRS 15 / IAS 11 / ASC 606), U.S. GAAP, and SOX controls.
- Strong understanding of project lifecycles, contract types, and commercial risk management.
- Experience with large ERP platforms (Oracle, SAP, Blackline, or similar).
- Advanced analytical capability and executive-level reporting skills.
Leadership Competencies:
- Enterprise Leadership & Strategic Thinking
- Executive Stakeholder Influence
- KPI-Driven Performance Management
- Change Leadership & Transformation
- Operational Excellence at Scale
- Complex Problem Solving & Financial Judgment
- Results Orientation with Strong Governance Discipline
At AECOM, we are committed to maintaining a secure and trustworthy recruitment process and take any fraudulent hiring activity seriously. To support this commitment, all newly hired employees are required to attend an in-person Day 1 onboarding at an AECOM office location as a condition of employment.
About AECOM
AECOM is proud to offer comprehensive benefits to meet the diverse needs of our employees. Depending on your employment status, AECOM benefits may include medical, dental, vision, life, AD&D, disability benefits, paid time off, leaves of absences, voluntary benefits, perks, flexible work options, well-being resources, employee assistance program, business travel insurance, and service recognition awards.
AECOM is the global infrastructure leader, committed to delivering a better world. As a trusted professional services firm powered by deep technical abilities, we solve our clients’ complex challenges in water, environment, energy, transportation and buildings. Our teams partner with public- and private-sector clients to create innovative, sustainable and resilient solutions throughout the project lifecycle – from advisory, planning, design and engineering to program and construction management. AECOM is a Fortune 500 firm that had revenue of $16.1 billion in fiscal year 2025. Learn more at aecom.com.
What makes AECOM a great place to work
You will be part of a global team that champions your growth and career ambitions. Work on groundbreaking projects - both in your local community and on a global scale - that are transforming our industry and shaping the future. With cutting-edge technology and a network of experts, you’ll have the resources to make a real impact. Our award-winning training and development programs are designed to expand your technical expertise and leadership skills, helping you build the career you’ve always envisioned. Here, you’ll find a welcoming workplace built on respect, collaboration and community—where you have the freedom to grow in a world of opportunity.
As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we believe in your potential and are here to help you achieve it. All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.