Product Owner

Product Owner

General Summary:

Interacts with Accounting business unit to analyze
business operations objectives to improve operational maturity and efficiency
through process re-engineering or technology automation. Serves as a liaison
between Accounting, Software Engineering and other departments, as needed.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities:

• Works with business unit to understand and solve various business process needs in order to meet department goals and for planning and analysis of projects.
• Acts as a product owner for assigned projects. Works with team to develop and present the business case. Regularly provides project tracking/reporting to the business owners. Maintains team focus on project or process developments, ensuring successful execution and resolution on assigned deliverables. Manages timelines in accordance with the project or process schedules.
• Assists in new development and ongoing maintenance of automated processes and applications. Helps staff with the development of functional specifications. Leads and coordinates Accounting's participation in assigned Agile team meetings. Collaborates with Software Engineering to create, facilitate and execute business user testing.
• Works with departmental management and Software Engineering on the direction and processes of the business to facilitate system functional enhancements and changes in line with the business direction. Develops, reviews and edits requirements, business processes and recommendations related to the project and/or process improvement efforts.
• Assists staff with the analysis of accounting processes, including manual and automated, to identify strengths and weaknesses and provide tactical recommendations to support process enhancement solutions.
• Identifies, tracks and reports on issues, both end-user computing and system technologies; including their resolution.
• Performs other duties and completes special projects as assigned by management.

Minimum Knowledge, Experience, and
Skills Required:

• Knowledge at a level normally acquired through the completion of a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Computer Science, Information Systems, Process Management or related field of study. Additional focus in Accounting or Finance is preferred.
• Four years in an increasing contributory role in business process analysis or project management within an accounting department or financial function.
• Experience with working in an Agile project structure and Scrum framework is highly desired, as well as experience working with internal stakeholders and project execution (ability to analyze/evaluate/teach and mentor).
• Thorough understanding of the IT environment. Understanding of the operating area's business and how IT contributes to the delivery of those products and services.
• Excellent analytical skills to assess business process and determine appropriate solutions.Knowledge of software development life-cycle (SDLC) and Six Sigma or total quality management (TQM) is desirable.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite, Azure DevOps, Visual Basic for Applications (VBA), and SharePoint are highly preferred. Experience with systems implementation, functional specification writing, and technical aspects of customized development strongly preferred.
• Knowledge of, and experience working in, accounting and/or financial services industry is highly preferred. General understanding of accounting systems and practices is desirable.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, able to communicate and present situations/status to senior management
• Must be detail-oriented and highly self-motivated.
  
  

Working Environment:

Normal office environment
with flexibility to meet tight deadlines as required.