Senior Application Engineer - Finance Systems

The Portfolio Group; Manchester; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading UK financial services provider is seeking a Senior Systems Engineer to lead the modernization of finance and HR systems. You will manage key applications, collaborate with stakeholders, and provide technical leadership as part of a major digital transformation. Ideal candidates have strong experience in Microsoft technologies and a proven track record in large organizations. This role is critical for shaping a cloud-based operational future and offers a dynamic work environment with significant impact.

Qualifications

• Proven experience with finance systems in large international organizations.
• Deep expertise in Microsoft technologies and system integrations.
• Hands-on development and troubleshooting experience with legacy systems.
• Excellent communication skills for senior leadership engagement.
• Familiarity with cloud migration strategies and SaaS adoption.

Responsibilities

• Own technical operation of finance and HR applications.
• Design solutions and data pipelines using Microsoft stack.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to define requirements and drive transformation.
• Provide technical leadership for systems architecture and strategy.
• Troubleshoot and maintain legacy systems.

Skills

Technical leadership

Stakeholder collaboration

System integrations

Microsoft technologies expertise

Cloud migration strategies

Tools

MS SQL Server

Crystal Reports

SaaS solutions

Job description

The Opportunity

Reporting to the Associate Director of Data & Systems Engineering, this senior role sits at the heart of a multi-year digital transformation programme. You'll take the lead in managing, modernising, and integrating our core finance and HR systems, working closely with our in-house Development and Data teams, alongside key stakeholders, and third-party vendors across our international operations.

Key Responsibilities

• Own the technical operation and performance of key Finance and HR applications.
• Design and implement solutions, integrations, and data pipelines using the Microsoft stack.
• Collaborate with global stakeholders and internal teams to define requirements, drive transformation, and ensure system integrity.
• Provide technical leadership in systems architecture, integration, and future-state strategy.
• Troubleshoot, optimise, and maintain legacy systems while managing technical debt.
• Work with infrastructure and data engineering teams to support associated databases and servers.

Your Background

We're looking for a strong technical leader with:

• Proven experience working with finance systems and stakeholders in large international organisations.
• Deep expertise in Microsoft technologies and system integrations.
• A hands-on approach to development, troubleshooting, and modernising legacy systems.
• Excellent communication skills and experience collaborating with senior leadership.
• Familiarity with cloud migration strategies and SaaS adoption.

Current Environment Includes:

• Dimensions v2 (Finance system on MS SQL Server)
• FocalPoint (Purchase approvals & workflow)
• Orbis Task Centre (Scheduling & report generation using Crystal Reports)
• Access Document Management (ADM)
• People XD (HR and payroll)
• Access aCloud (Expenses platform)
• Direct debit integrations with banking systems

The Challenge

You'll be joining at a pivotal moment, the company is embarking on a journey to fully cloud-based, SaaS-driven operations within two years. This role is central to shaping that future, providing technical guidance, selecting vendors, and helping define the digital landscape for our global finance operations.

Stakeholder Engagement

You'll be working with key leaders across the business, including:

• Group CTO & CFO
• Director of Group Finance
• Associate Director - Group Credit
• Group Financial Controller
• Head of IT Service Delivery
• Head of Infrastructure

Apply Now

This is a rare opportunity to drive lasting change in a dynamic, high-growth business. If you're ready to take ownership of critical systems, shape strategy, and make an impact at scale, we want to hear from you.

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