Manager, Business Applications

About the Role: Seeking an experienced Manager – Business Applications to lead the management, optimisation, support and continuous improvement of its business applications landscape. This is a hands-on leadership role within a relatively lean IT environment, requiring someone who can take ownership from day one and act as the bridge between technology and business requirements.

Key Applications:

The role will oversee and support a diverse business applications environment, including:

• Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations (D365 F&O) – ERP
• Cognos – Finance consolidation and reporting
• SimCorp – Investment management software
• Jedox EPM – Enterprise Performance Management
• Other business applications and supporting technologies

Key Responsibilities:

Business Applications Management & Support

• Take ownership of the organisation’s business applications portfolio.
• Ensure applications are stable, secure, supported and aligned with business requirements.
• Provide and coordinate L3 support for critical business applications.
• Oversee application maintenance, upgrades, patching, enhancements and lifecycle management.
• Work closely with internal teams and outsourced application specialists to resolve complex issues.
• Ensure business continuity, application availability and appropriate support coverage.

ERP & Enterprise Applications

• Manage and support Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations.
• Oversee integrations and dependencies across finance, investment, reporting and EPM platforms.
• Work with business stakeholders to understand operational and financial requirements.
• Translate business needs into practical technology solutions.

Project & Change Management

• Coordinate and deliver multiple business applications projects throughout the year.
• Manage project priorities, timelines, vendors, budgets and implementation activities.
• Evaluate new technologies, software products and solutions based on business needs.
• Lead smaller projects independently while coordinating larger initiatives with relevant stakeholders.
• Support the organisation through approximately 12–16 projects annually, depending on business priorities.

Vendor & Outsourcing Management

• Manage relationships with software vendors, implementation partners and outsourced specialists.
• Evaluate vendors and software solutions, including functionality, suitability and commercial value.
• Review proposals, compare pricing and support procurement-related technology decisions.
• Manage project contracts, vendor meetings, deliverables and service expectations.

Infrastructure & Technical Oversight

• Provide technical oversight across relevant infrastructure areas when required, reflecting the broad nature of a smaller IT organisation.
• Oversee or coordinate operating system patching and related security activities.
• Work with infrastructure resources on Windows Server, Linux and application hosting environments.
• Ensure appropriate attention to cybersecurity, patching and technical risk across the applications estate.

Team Leadership

• Lead a small internal business applications team and coordinate outsourced specialists.
• Manage approximately two full-time employees and several outsourced application specialists.
• Allocate responsibilities across different application domains.
• Encourage ownership, accountability and effective collaboration across internal and external resources.

Indicative Role Allocation

• 30% – Application maintenance and technical ownership
• 20% – L3 support
• 25% – Technology evaluation and improvement
• 25% – Project coordination and vendor management

Key Requirements:

Essential

• Approximately 10+ years of experience in IT, enterprise applications or business applications management.
• Strong experience managing Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations or a comparable ERP environment.
• Broad exposure to multiple enterprise applications and technologies rather than experience limited to a single platform.
• Strong understanding of business processes, particularly finance, financial reporting, consolidation, cash flow or investment-related operations.
• Proven experience delivering and coordinating business applications projects.
• Experience managing vendors, outsourced partners and third-party application support.
• Strong hands-on understanding of:
• Windows Server
• Linux
• Operating system patching and technical security
• At least one programming language other than SQL
• At least one relevant technical certification in addition to a university degree.
• Ability to operate independently and take ownership from day one.
• Strong communication, stakeholder management and problem-solving skills.

• Exposure to financial services, investment, private-sector or similarly complex business environments.

Ideal Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate is someone who has:

• Moved beyond a purely support-focused career.
• Successfully delivered multiple projects and implementations.
• Broad enterprise applications exposure across different technologies.
• Strong business and financial understanding.
• The ability to manage day-to-day support while simultaneously driving projects and technology improvements.
• The confidence to work independently in a small organisation with limited layers of management.
• A practical, hands-on approach rather than someone who only delegates.
• The ability to prioritise competing projects and business requirements effectively.

Education & Certifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Business Systems or a related discipline.
• At least one relevant technical certification.
• A Master’s degree is not required.