4 Ways to Secure Senior Finance & Accounting Roles in the UK
Demonstrating Large-Scale ERP Integrations and Change Management
Enterprise boards and private equity backers rarely hire an FC or FD simply to oversee steady-state operations. They hire them to govern transformation, standardise multi-entity reporting, or automate fragmented processes. Having proven, hands-on experience delivering an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) migration or consolidation instantly elevates your profile into the top tier of candidates.
In the UK market, direct experience implementing or optimising platforms such as SAP S/4HANA, Oracle NetSuite, Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, or Workday is exceptionally valuable. If you were a finance workstream lead on an ERP implementation, detail the project lifecycle on your CV: chart of accounts (COA) redesign, entity mapping, User Acceptance Testing (UAT), parallel payroll and billing runs, and post-go-live stabilisation.
Quantify the efficiency gains delivered by your systems projects. Rather than stating you 'led an ERP implementation', specify that you 'architected the migration from legacy Sage 50 to NetSuite across 4 UK subsidiaries, automating intercompany eliminations and cutting group close time from 14 business days to 4'.
Demonstrate strong controls governance alongside software execution. Detail your work establishing robust internal control environments, integrating automated purchase-order approval hierarchies, and ensuring UK GAAP (FRS 102) and IFRS 16 compliance. Mention your track record collaborating with external auditors (Big 4 or Top 10 firms) to secure clean, unqualified year-end audit sign-offs. Demonstrating technical governance and systems transformation qualifies your track record; the final challenge is proving your executive gravitas during commercial boardroom case study interviews.