Integration Implementation Lead - GBS

Company Description

At Informa, no two days and no two people are the same, and you'll find the freedom, opportunity and support of a fantastic community to make a real impact.

We’re an international business that connects specialists with knowledge, helping them to learn more, know more and do more through live and on demand events, digital and data-driven services and academic research.

We are home to over 10,000 colleagues across 30 countries and are a member of the UK’s FTSE 100 group of leading public companies.

In Global Support, we provide expert guidance and hands-on support to the Informa Group and Informa’s many business teams. Across tech, finance, legal, corporate development, HR, communications, operations and many other areas, we work collaboratively and flexibly to help our brands serve their customers and help the company succeed.

Job Description

Informa has made a significant number of acquisitions over recent years across all divisions and including asset and share-based transactions, multiple platforms/ERPS and in many locations across the globe. The process for integrating acquired businesses includes preparation phases of assessment, prioritisation, high level and detailed design, scoping, and budgeting, followed by carefully planned detailed build/configuration, change management and implementation. Care is required to ensure minimum disruption to ongoing business activities, planning communication, resource management, controls compliance, testing and post-integration support.

Informa has recently established an M&A Implementation Board (MIB), coordinating activities and inputs across GBS, Technology, HR, Divisions and others. 

As the GBS Integration Delivery Lead, you will report to the Head of GBS Integration and take ownership of successfully introducing or transitioning GBS services into the integrated business. You will work closely with and represent the GBS teams, including Service Delivery, GPOs, and Workstream Leads. Your role will involve managing and coordinating GBS-related integration activities to ensure a smooth transition into the GBS service model and ‘run’ operation. Acting as the GBS representative within the MIB process, you will be a trusted advisor and hands-on partner, driving all GBS-related aspects of integration.

Key Responsibilities

• Establish the position of the GBS Integration Delivery Lead as having coordinating accountability within the GBS in the design and delivery of an GBS integration framework within the remit of the role.
• Oversee the integration plans, approvals, assumptions and requirement of each integration.
• Manage the multiple concurrent integration workstreams as a portfolio, reporting on progress, risk, issue management, etc and highlighting needs for escalation or reprioritisation.
• Be a key player and partner with other GBS teams including Finance and HR Service Delivery, GPOs, Internal Controls as well as the wider Integration teams.
• Liaise closely and coordinate integration plans and activities with other functions such as HR, and technology.

• Lead end-to-end integration projects, including scoping, planning, execution, and delivery, ensuring milestones are met on time and within budget. Collaborate with key stakeholders to define deliverables and track progress.
• Work closely with global and regional teams, including functional leads and business unit heads, to understand their needs and ensure the GBS integration plan aligns with broader goals.
• Drive change management efforts, ensuring that stakeholders are engaged and prepared for the integration of new businesses, systems, processes, and technologies.
• Evaluate existing processes across multiple workstreams, identifying opportunities for integration and improvement. Streamline workflows and procedures for greater operational efficiency.
• Lead the integration of systems and tools that support GBS services. Ensure data flows seamlessly between systems, minimizing disruptions and improving user experiences.
• Maintain strong relationships with business leaders and project teams. Provide regular updates on progress, risks, and issues. Proactively address concerns and mitigate potential roadblocks.
• Identify potential risks related to the integration process and implement mitigation strategies. Ensure that issues are resolved quickly and effectively to minimize any disruptions to business operations.
• Monitor the success of GBS integrations, gather feedback, and propose adjustments as needed to continually improve service delivery and alignment with organizational objectives.

Qualifications

• You will be a qualified finance professional with significant shared services experience managing multi-faceted business integrations. The candidate will possess a good understanding of finance processes and the critical requirements of service compliance and control.
• You will be an excellent communicator (written, verbal and presentation) and a proven leader of change and process improvement, with the requisite skills to effect informed decision-making
• Experience in leading large-scale integrations within a global or multi-functional environment, preferably within a GBS or shared services framework. Experience in managing cross-functional teams and complex projects is essential.
• You will be experienced in building cross-functional relationships, able to influence, facilitate and hold to principles and standards whilst maintaining positive professional relationships. Of great importance to this role will be the ability to advise and lead on key financial processes, including, risk, controls and governance.
• Extensive experience in leading large-scale transformation and integration programmes. Ability to engage and influence at the C-Suite level.

Additional Information

We work hard to make sure Life at Informa is rewarding, supportive and enjoyable for everyone. Here’s some of what you can expect when you join us. But don’t just take our word for it – see what our colleagues have to say at LifeAt.Informa.com

• Freedom & flexibility: colleagues rate us highly for the flexibility and trust they receive and most of us balance time in the office with time working remotely
• Great community: a welcoming culture with in-person and online social events, our fantastic Walk the World charity day and active diversity and inclusion networks
• Broader impact: take up to four days per year to volunteer, with charity match funding available too
• Career opportunity: the opportunity to develop your career with bespoke training and learning, mentoring platforms and on-demand access to thousands of courses on LinkedIn Learning. When it’s time for the next step, we encourage and support internal job moves
• Time out: 25 days annual leave, rising to 27 days after two years, plus a birthday leave day and the chance to work from (almost!) anywhere for up to four weeks a year
• A flexible range of personal benefits to choose from, plus company funded private medical cover
• A ShareMatch scheme that allows you to become an Informa shareholder with free matching shares
• Strong wellbeing support through EAP assistance, mental health first aiders, a healthy living subsidy, access to health apps and more
• Recognition for great work, with global awards and kudos programmes
• As an international company, the chance to collaborate with teams around the world

We’re not solely focused on a checklist of skills. We champion energy and ambition and look for colleagues who will roll their sleeves up, join in and help make things happen. If it sounds like a match and you have most – although not all – of the skills and experience listed, we welcome your application.

At Informa, you'll find inclusive experiences and environments where all perspectives and backgrounds are welcomed. As part of this approach and our diversity and inclusion commitments, we are also formally an Equal Opportunities Employer. This means we base decisions on relevant qualifications and merit and do not discriminate on the basis of key characteristics and statuses, including all of those protected by law. Ask us or see our website for full information.