Head of Core Business Applications

SAP Contractors; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

SAP Contractors is seeking a strategic Head of Core Business Applications to lead the enterprise application landscape across Finance, HR, and core systems. You will direct SAP S/4HANA Finance, SAP SuccessFactors, Zellis Payroll, and UKG, ensuring security, scalability, and business alignment.

You will build and lead a high-performing team, manage complex vendor ecosystems, and partner with senior stakeholders to deliver measurable business value.

Qualifications

• Experience leading enterprise application teams in large organisations.
• Expertise in SAP S/4HANA Finance and SAP SuccessFactors.
• Strong governance, transformation and vendor-management capabilities.
• Proven ability to manage complex third-party ecosystems and SLAs.
• Outstanding stakeholder management and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Define and deliver the enterprise application strategy for Finance, HR, and core business systems.
• Lead and optimise platforms including SAP S/4HANA Finance, SAP SuccessFactors, Zellis Payroll, and UKG.
• Ensure systems remain secure, scalable, and compliant with business objectives.
• Build and lead a high-performing team of application specialists and analysts.
• Act as senior escalation point for complex application issues and drive issue resolution.
• Manage relationships with strategic vendors and managed service providers.

Skills

Enterprise leadership

SAP S/4HANA Finance

SAP SuccessFactors

Governance & transformation

Vendor management

Stakeholder management

Technology-enabled business change

Financial management

Tools

SAP S/4HANA

SAP SuccessFactors

Zellis Payroll

UKG Time & Attendance

Job description

Lead the Future of Enterprise Applications

We are seeking an experienced and strategic Head of Core Business Applications to lead the technology platforms that power our Finance, HR, and core business functions across the Group.

Reporting to the Group Director of IT, this is a senior leadership role responsible for the vision, performance, transformation, and ongoing optimisation of a critical enterprise application landscape, including SAP S/4HANA, SAP SuccessFactors, Zellis Payroll, UKG Time & Attendance, and associated business systems.

As Head of Core Business Applications, you will:

• Define and deliver the enterprise application strategy for Finance, HR, and core business systems
• Lead and optimise key platforms including SAP S/4HANA Finance, SAP SuccessFactors, Zellis Payroll, and UKG
• Ensure systems remain secure, scalable, compliant, and aligned with business objectives
• Build and lead a high-performing team of application specialists and analysts
• Act as the senior escalation point for complex application support and service issues
• Manage relationships with strategic vendors and managed service providers
• Oversee supplier performance, SLAs, KPIs, contracts, and renewals
• Drive transformation initiatives, upgrades, automation, self-service capabilities, and process improvements
• Contribute to budgeting and forecasting while maintaining strong financial governance
• Partner with senior stakeholders across IT, Finance, HR, and the wider business to deliver measurable value.

What We're Looking For

We're looking for a leader with:

• Proven experience leading enterprise application teams within a large and complex organisation
• Deep expertise in SAP S/4HANA Finance and SAP SuccessFactors
• Strong understanding of enterprise application support, governance, and transformation
• Experience managing complex third-party supplier and vendor ecosystems
• Outstanding stakeholder management and communication skills
• A track record of delivering technology-enabled business change
• Strong commercial awareness and financial management capabilities