Finance Transformation Lead - Fixed Term Contract (MARI)

MARI; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work environment

Pension match

Parental Leave

Employee Assistance Programme

Wellhub wellness & financial apps

Flexible Paid Time Off

Job summary

MARI Group seeks a Finance Transformation & AI Lead to own a modern, AI-forward transformation across AR, AP, RTR and close processes. You will design future-state, roadmaps, partner with BU finance leads, and drive TSA exit and system migration to steady state while shaping post-migration finance operations.

The role is hands-on, high impact and requires 8–10+ years in finance transformation, strong change management, and experience with outsourced models.

Qualifications

• 8-10+ years in finance transformation, consulting or operational excellence
• Experience leading complex finance transformation programmes with automation/AI
• Exposure to outsourced operating models (e.g., BPO) and offshore teams

Responsibilities

• Build and own MARI's Finance AI/automation transformation vision, translating it into a phased roadmap with milestones
• Assess current-state AR/AP/reconciliations/reporting/close across every BU and design AI-driven future-state processes
• Partner with BU finance leads to implement changes with minimal disruption to close cycles and budgeting
• Act as the primary liaison with WNS, MARI's outsourced finance partner and manage SLA oversight
• Lead the TSA exit and system migration to steady state
• Rebuild Desktop Procedure Manuals (DPMs) to reflect post-migration processes
• Identify inefficiencies and opportunities to apply AI and automation with internal and external stakeholders

Skills

Finance transformation

AI in finance

Stakeholder management

Change management

Outsourced finance

Job description

About MARI Group

MARI is a global events and experiences company powering world-defining live experiences. Our portfolio of premium live properties spans sports, art, and entertainment - including the Madrid and Miami Open tennis tournaments, Frieze (a leading voice in contemporary art), and Barrett-Jackson (the premium U.S. collector car auction company). MARI also includes TodayTix Group, the global e-commerce leader for cultural experiences, connecting millions of customers with the best in live entertainment. MARI is reshaping the live events landscape - building a growing portfolio of category-defining events and brands that set the standard for what's next, across sports, entertainment, art, and lifestyle. At MARI, you'll work alongside people who are passionate, curious, and driven - people who believe that live experiences have the power to shape culture, and who care about the work, the mission, and each other. We welcome outstanding applicants of all backgrounds and encourage everyone to apply.

About the Role

MARI is undergoing a significant finance transformation to build a modern, AI-forward team- including a TSA (Transition Services Agreement) exit and system migration - and is seeking a Finance Transformation & AI Lead to own that vision end-to-end. AI and intelligent automation will be central to how this transformation is delivered, and to how MARI's finance operations run going forward. This is a hands-on, high-impact role sitting within the Finance team: you will assess how every business unit's finance and accounting workflows operate today (AP, AR, reconciliations, reporting, month-end close, and more), design the AI- and automation-driven future state, build a phased roadmap to get there, and drive execution against it - with the explicit goal of scaling Finance's capacity many times over without proportional headcount growth. You'll partner closely with MARI's finance leaders and their teams across the portfolio - currently stretched thin by close cycles, event wrap-ups, and budgeting - to free up their capacity through AI and automation, and with our outsourced finance partner, WNS, on Accounts Payable (AP), Accounts Receivable (AR), and Record to Report (RTR). As part of this mandate, you will lead MARI's finance transformation through TSA (Transition Services Agreement) exit and system migration to steady state, including governing the WNS relationship (SLA oversight, operational continuity) and rebuilding Desktop Procedure Manuals (DPMs) to reflect post-migration processes. Beyond the TSA exit, your ongoing mandate is to proactively and systematically identify inefficiencies across every BU's finance operations, evaluate and select the right AI/automation tools and infrastructure, and implement improvements - from AI-assisted reconciliation and reporting to intelligent workflow automation - that reduce manual, repetitive work and phase out reliance of WNS or other outsourced support wherever appropriate. You will be accountable for both the pace and quality of this transformation. This is a highly visible, business-critical role - AI is a top priority for MARI, you'll be working directly with senior leaders and stakeholders across every BU, and if that kind of challenge excites you, we want to hear from you. Please note: this is an 18 month, fixed term contract opportunity.

What Success Looks Like:

• A clear, phased transformation roadmap - with milestones and timeline - built and actively tracked across every BU
• Finance and accounting workflows across all BUs (AR, AP, reconciliations, reporting, close) assessed and redesigned around AI and intelligent automation
• TSA exit and system migration completed on schedule, with finance operations transitioned smoothly to steady state
• WNS relationship governed effectively, with SLAs consistently met across AP, AR, and RTR
• DPMs fully rebuilt and reflecting accurate, post-migration processes
• AI and automation opportunities identified and implemented, materially reducing manual effort across AP, AR, and RTR
• Reduced reliance on WNS within MARI finance processes, with in-house capability built where appropriate
• Demonstrable capacity scaling - materially more output per person, without proportional headcount growth
• An AI/automation tool and infrastructure stack selected and standing, built to a coherent architecture rather than one-off pilots

What You'll Own:

• Build and own MARI's Finance AI/automation transformation vision, translating it into a phased roadmap (workstreams, milestones, timeline) and driving execution against it
• Assess current-state finance and accounting workflows (AR, AP, reconciliations, reporting, close, budgeting support) across every BU, and design the future-state, AI-driven processes
• Partner with BU finance leads and their teams to implement changes with minimal disruption to close cycles, event wrap-ups, and budgeting deadlines
• Act as the primary liaison with WNS, MARI's outsourced finance partner
• Maintain day-to-day governance, SLA oversight, and operational continuity across AP, AR, and RTR
• Lead the finance transformation through TSA exit and system migration to steady state
• Rebuild and maintain Desktop Procedure Manuals (DPMs) to reflect post-migration processes
• Identify inefficiencies and opportunities to apply AI and automation, partnering with WNS and internal stakeholders to design and implement improvements
• Drive the phased reduction of WNS's involvement across MARI finance processes
• Champion the use of AI and automation across AP, AR, and RTR - evaluate, select, and stand up the AI, automation, and infrastructure tools/platforms needed to support the transformation

What You Bring:

• 8-10+ years' experience in finance, finance transformation, consulting or operational excellence, including demonstrable experience leading complex finance transformation programmes involving process redesign, automation and AI-enabled improvements
• Prior exposure to BPO or outsourced operating models
• Proven track record in change management and process documentation
• Strong stakeholder management skills, with experience partnering with outsourced or offshore teams
• Comfortable operating in a fast-paced, transformation-focused environment, with genuine curiosity about how AI can transform finance operations
• Well-versed in the current landscape of AI and automation tools for finance operations (e.g. tools, platforms, vendors RPA, AI-assisted reconciliation/reporting, workflow automation platforms) is a strong plus

Benefits

Here are some of the Benefits and Perks offered at MARI Group:

• Hybrid work environment (blend of in-office and at-home days)
• Pension match and access to a bespoke pension scheme
• Paid Parental Leave
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Enhanced gyms, wellness and financial wellbeing apps access via Wellhub
• Flexible Paid Time Off

MARI believes in the power of live experiences to unite people - and we know that can only be achieved when we reflect the full diversity of the world around us. As a global company that shapes culture across sports, art, and entertainment, we are committed to fostering an inclusive workplace and to practicing anti-discrimination across race, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, and beyond. We recognise that systemic inequality and discrimination remain challenges across the events and entertainment industry, and we are dedicated to driving meaningful progress - both within our own organisation and across the wider industry we are proud to be part of.