Global FinOps Continuous Improvement and RPA Lead

NIQ is the world’s leading consumer intelligence company, delivering the most complete understanding of consumer buying behavior and revealing new pathways to growth. In 2023, NIQ combined with GfK, bringing together the two industry leaders with unparalleled global reach. With a holistic retail read and the most comprehensive consumer insights—delivered with advanced analytics through state-of-the-art platforms—NIQ delivers the Full View™.

NIQ, is an Advent International portfolio company with operations in 100+ markets, covering more than 90% of the world’s population. For more information, visit NIQ.com.

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We are seeking a dynamic and experienced Continuous Improvement and RPA Lead to join our Global Finance Operations Organization and be part of the Enablement Leadership team.

The leader should have familiarity with Business Process Improvement (BPI)/ LEAN process techniques and possess strong finance acumen. The role entails analysis of end-to-end Finance processes, leveraging both data and observation methods, to suggest improvements for Productivity, Quality, Efficiency, and Speed; and eliminate redundant process/ steps.

The new lead shall further help us evolve our Culture of Continuous Improvement within the DNA of NielsenIQ Finance Operations – leveraging Lean and other BPI concepts to help Eliminate, Simplify, Standardize and ultimately Automate (ESSA) our Finance processes.

The main processes will initially be the typical Finance and Accounting transactional processes of Record to Report (R2R); Order to Cash (O2C); Procure to Pay (P2P – as well as those of our evolving new towers of more complex, value add and knowledge expertise such as Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A) ; Statutory Accounting; Direct Tax, Indirect Tax, and Master Data Management (MDM)  type activities are part of our Global  Finance Operations model.

This role will be a key and core foundational element of our enhanced Finance Operations operating model.

We are seeking a technical savvy, digital minded individual, who can further help us accelerate in the new evolving world, leveraging technologies such as AI, GenAI, RPA and even Agentic AI - to couple his or her traditional Continuous Improvement experience to be able to drive change and optimization across our processes.

Key Responsibilities:

• Business Process Improvement
  • CI Initiatives – operational: Evaluate existing business processes, identify gaps, and implement solutions to enhance productivity, quality, efficiency, and speed.
  • CI Initiatives – Culture:  Instill a culture of Continuous Improvement using Lean and other BPI concepts
  • Stakeholder Coordination: Work with internal stakeholders to align on BPI strategies and goals. Cooperate with Enablement, Finance Global Process Owners, and Finance Service Delivery Operations leaders to ensure high-quality deliverables.
  • Facilitate Kaizen Workshops: Conduct and facilitate Kaizen/VSM brainstorming workshops with stakeholders to drive process improvements and foster a culture of continuous improvement.  Time and Motion studies across each functional tower will shine a light on where efficiencies can be gained.
  • Data-Driven Analysis: Use metrics and data to identify continuous process improvement opportunities, carry out data-driven analysis, and build process improvement scenarios.
     
• Upskilling Fin Ops Associates, including Digital Upskilling –
  • Training and Certification: Drive training, certification, and adoption in areas such as White Belt, Yellow Belt, 6SL training across the entire Finance Operations teams. Ensure capability is cascaded to relevant teams and leaders.
  • Citizen-led Enablement Program: Drive a Citizen Led Enablement program in upskilling the Finance associates and lead initiatives in Automation and Process improvement by tapping into this extend pool of resource. Create an environment for the team to be excited and engaged to create their own scripts and macros that can be leveraged in our processes
  • Awareness on Automation, GenAI: Drive trainings on Automation, GenAI, RPA, Agentic AI to ensure continued growth and development of all our FinOps colleagues by upskilling the teams on new generation technologies.
     
• Supporting Improvements through Automation, including RPA Projects –
  • RPA Project Management: Lead multiple RPA projects as the RPA SME, working closely with the RPA CoE, EIT team and Stakeholders to accelerate the RPA program across Finance Operations.
  • Compliance: Ensure processes are designed to operate within legal and compliance guardrails.
  • AI-Enhanced Initiatives: Support and drive AI-enhanced initiatives in Finance Operations, leveraging technology to improve critical factors such as quality, efficiency, and speed.
  • Transformation Projects: Support transformation projects and process optimization initiatives, ensuring alignment with internal and external customer needs.

Desired Experiences and Competencies: -

• LSS Methodology and Tools: Proficiency in Lean Six Sigma (LSS) methodology and tools, with Green Belt or Black Belt certification desired.
• Kaizen/VSM Workshops: Experience in conducting Kaizen and Value Stream Mapping (VSM) workshops with stakeholders to drive process improvements.
• RPA Technologies and Platforms: Knowledge and experience in RPA technologies and platforms such as Advanced Excel, SAP Scripting, MS Automation tools, UiPath Orchestrator/Studio.
• Project Management: Strong project management skills, with experience in managing and delivering complex projects on time and within budget.
• Data Analysis: Strong data analysis skills, with the ability to analyze large data sets to identify anomalies and drive process improvements.

Qualifications:

• 8+ years of experience, out of which a minimum of 3 years of experience in setting up tech
• Innovation-driven business process improvement experience
• Ability to drive consensus across a variety of stakeholders at different levels and from different backgrounds (markets and culture)
• Ideally a Finance Shared Services or GBS background
• Strong stakeholder management skills
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Strong data analysis skills. Ability to analyze large data sets to identify anomalies
• Ability to innovate and enable business goals in harmony with the regulatory environment.
• Project and Change Management skills
• Familiarity with LEAN/ Six-sigma; Green Belt or Black Belt certification desired
• Startup mindset
• Growth Mindset
• Ability to translate technical details from different customer contexts
• Troubleshooting using Influencing skills
• Ability to work under pressure and ask for support when required
• Proven Track Record of implementing change that delivers results

Attributes:

• Customer-focused mindset – Client Obsessed
• Proactive and results oriented – Accountable for Results
• Problem Solver/Solutionist – Driven to Win
  
  
  Whilst the role will be based in Pune, our idea is that our new CI leader can work across all 5 of our main Finance Operations sites in Pune (India); Bucharest (Romania); Sofia (Bulgaria); Bogota (Colombia); and Guangzhou (China), to be able to drive improvement and business outcomes.
  
  The leader will report directly to the Global Finance Operations Enablement Leader.

Our Benefits

• Flexible working environment
• Volunteer time off
• LinkedIn Learning
• Employee-Assistance-Program (EAP)

About NIQ

NIQ is the world’s leading consumer intelligence company, delivering the most complete understanding of consumer buying behavior and revealing new pathways to growth. In 2023, NIQ combined with GfK, bringing together the two industry leaders with unparalleled global reach. With a holistic retail read and the most comprehensive consumer insights—delivered with advanced analytics through state-of-the-art platforms—NIQ delivers the Full View™. NIQ is an Advent International portfolio company with operations in 100+ markets, covering more than 90% of the world’s population.

For more information, visit NIQ.com

Want to keep up with our latest updates?

Follow us on: LinkedIn | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook

Our commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

NIQ is committed to reflecting the diversity of the clients, communities, and markets we measure within our own workforce. We exist to count everyone and are on a mission to systematically embed inclusion and diversity into all aspects of our workforce, measurement, and products. We enthusiastically invite candidates who share that mission to join us. We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action-Employer, making decisions without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability status, age, marital status, protected veteran status or any other protected class. Our global non-discrimination policy covers these protected classes in every market in which we do business worldwide. Learn more about how we are driving diversity and inclusion in everything we do by visiting the NIQ News Center: https://nielseniq.com/global/en/news-center/diversity-inclusion