Morningstar is looking for a Manager – Finance Automation to join our global Finance Systems and Business Intelligence team, which is focused on business partnership, innovation, automation, and process improvement.

As the Finance Automation Manager, you will be responsible for assisting with the development and execution of the vision, mission, governance, and functional automation strategy for Morningstar’s global finance business processes. The role reports to Morningstar’s Head of Finance Systems and Business Intelligence and will provide value to the business by supporting and improving the global finance operations through innovation and automation, so the organization stays at the forefront of automation through various tools, including Robotic Process Automation (RPA) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies. The role requires the use of analytical skills to support the business in finding and capitalizing on automation opportunities to transform and help to drive the effective and efficient performance of the end-to-end finance processes.

This is a full-time position and can be based in a Morningstar office in Chicago, IL.

Job Responsibilities

• Serve as the custodian and subject matter expert in Finance for automation technologies, including RPA and other tools.
• Assist with the strategy, design, and execution of automation within finance business processes.
• Assist with the development and execution of an automation roadmap for each finance business process.
• Collaborate with global process owners (QTC, P2P, R2R), RPA development team, finance shared service team other internal stakeholders impacted by automation initiatives.
• Oversee nearly 50 RPA BOT processes, upwards of 40 automations within finance systems, and finance systems support for Salesforce & Oracle.
• Lead weekly automation prioritization meetings.
• Provide regular updates to an automation governance committee.
• Identify automation opportunities by analyzing processes and assessing feasibility for automation.
• Identify processes that can be simplified, digitized, or eliminated by use of automation.
• Document business requirements specifications and translate them to solution designs.
• Execute the automation life cycle (i.e. document business requirements, feasibility assessment, project implementation plan, documentation, design, development/configuration, testing, training, change management, go-live and post go-live support).
• Establish and monitor metrics.
• Create and maintain documentation for automated tasks/processes.
• Perform controls impact assessment for all automation initiatives to ensure internal controls appropriate for a U.S. publicly traded company.
• Stay abreast of current automation practices, business automation trends, and leading automation practices occurring in the industry to inform strategic direction and process enhancement.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• In-depth experience with RPA application and specifically UiPath is a must.
• Breadth of knowledge of finance business processes (QTC, P2P, etc.), in-flight automation initiatives, and overall business objectives.
• Ability to assess and articulate business requirements, analyze design options, coordinate testing and drive implementation.
• Proven ability to build and foster relationships with team members, business leaders, shared services, and global accounting functions.
• Project management and change management experience required.
• Forward thinking attitude with a continuous improvement mindset.
• Minimum of 6-8 years of progressive experience in the Accounting/Finance function for a multinational organization, including experience with shared service centers.
• A bachelor`s degree or equivalent in Finance or Accounting required.
• Excellent “problem solving” skills, self-starter who applies critical thinking for analysis, evaluation, reasoning and arriving at solutions
• Attention to detail, organization, accuracy, and ability to identify and resolve gaps
• Strong skills and proficiency with Microsoft Office programs (Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, and Word).
• Good understanding of systems used within the finance business processes, such as Salesforce, Oracle, Coupa, Sidetrade, DnBi, automation platform UiPath
• Ability to prepare clear and concise documentation