Sr Manager - Continuous Improvement & Transformation

Diageo; Bengaluru; On-site; INR 3,500,000 - 6,000,000; Full time

Job summary

Diageo India seeks a senior leader to shape and execute a finance transformation agenda, driving efficiency, controls, and digital evolution. This role serves as the strategic liaison with Global Shared Services (GBO) to ensure high-quality service, smooth transitions, and ongoing performance improvements.

Responsible for designing future finance operations in India, embedding new ways of working, and ensuring excellence, agility, and strong controls across the function.

Qualifications

• Experience leading large-scale finance transformation programs.
• Strong stakeholder management across functions and markets.
• Proven track record delivering measurable benefits and cost control.

Responsibilities

• Shape India Finance Transformation strategy aligned with business priorities.
• Develop and maintain a multi-year roadmap for simplification and automation.
• Lead multi-stream programs including ERP/SAP enhancements and data improvements.
• Own governance, benefits realization, and risk management across the portfolio.
• Manage relationships with Shared Services (GBO) and executive stakeholders.
• Drive process standardization, controls strengthening, and data governance.
• Lead digitisation, automation, and analytics initiatives within finance.

Skills

Stakeholder Mgmt

Change Mgmt

Leadership

Strategic Thinking

Job description

Job Summary

This role is instrumental in building a future-ready finance function for Diageo India. It directly influences efficiency, control maturity, service performance, and the digital evolution of finance. This role will be responsible for driving long-term structural improvements that make finance simpler, faster, and more insightful.

A major part of the role is acting as the strategic relationship owner between Diageo India and the Global Shared Services Organisation (GBO) to ensure high-quality service delivery, smooth transitions, and continuous improvement in operational performance.

This leader will influence the future design of finance operations in India, embed new ways of working, upgrade processes and systems, and ensure the finance function operates with excellence, agility, and strong controls.

Responsibilities

Finance Transformation Strategy & Roadmap

• Shape the India Finance Transformation strategy aligned with market priorities, business ambition, and the digital finance vision.
• Develop and maintain a multi-year roadmap for simplification, standardization, automation, and operational efficiency.
• Bring forward innovative ideas and best practices to modernize Diageo India s finance operations.

End-to-End Delivery of Transformation Programs

• Lead large, multi-stream transformation projects covering process redesign, automation, ERP/SAP enhancements, and data-driven improvements.
• Own program governance, business cases, benefits realization, and risk management for the entire transformation portfolio.
• Ensure projects land smoothly across functions, with sustainable adoption and measurable outcomes.

Shared Services Relationship Leadership (GBO)

• Act as the senior relationship holder for the Shared Services team supporting India across all finance towers.
• Lead monthly and quarterly service performance reviews with clear focus on KPIs, controls, issue resolution, and stability of operations.
• Drive continuous improvement in service delivery and ensure new transitions into GBO are seamless and well-governed.
• Represent India Finance in all major service-related discussions, escalations, and performance forums.

Process Excellence & Control Strengthening

• Lead end-to-end process harmonization across finance, eliminating inefficiencies and embedding standard operating practices.
• Strengthen internal controls through improved process design, data discipline, and clarity in roles and responsibilities.
• Partner closely with Risk & Controls and Internal Audit teams to address findings and embed improvements into BAU processes.
• Drive strong master data governance frameworks and accountability across functions.

Digital, Data & Automation Leadership

• Collaborate with Technology teams to scale digital initiatives including RPA, AI-enabled tools, workflow solutions, dashboards, and analytics.
• Lead efforts related to system enhancements, finance digitisation, and data quality improvement.
• Build an integrated view of data, automation needs, and technology adoption across finance teams.

Senior Stakeholder Engagement & Change Leadership

• Build strong relationships across market finance, supply chain finance, commercial finance, and shared service delivery teams.
• Lead structured change management across teams including communication, training, adoption, and capability building.
• Influence key stakeholders at senior levels to embrace new processes and ways of working.

Team & Capability Leadership

• Lead a high-performing transformation team and provide direction