Finance Transformation PMO Lead

Brilliant®; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 140,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

Brilliant® in Chicago is seeking a Finance Transformation Lead for an interim/contract engagement. The role leads multi-workstream transformation across ERP, close, and reporting, partnering with the CEO organization to connect finance initiatives to the investment thesis and to track synergies.

You will design and execute finance process changes and build scalable reporting infrastructure. Ideal candidates bring 10+ years in finance, hands-on ERP implementation, and post-merger integration

Qualifications

• 10+ years in finance or accounting with transformation experience
• Hands-on ERP implementation as finance-side lead (JD Edwards and/or MS Dynamics or Great Plains)
• Post-merger integration experience including opening balance sheets and close-cycle setup
• Experience in high-growth or acquisitive environments with speed and precision

Responsibilities

• ERP migration and finance systems implementation from design through hyper care
• Post-merger integration: stand up finance operations at acquired entities and drive integration playbooks
• Redesign core finance processes (close, reporting, consolidation, FP&A) to speed up close and enable scale
• Partner with leadership to connect finance initiatives to the investment thesis and track synergies
• PMO and program governance: milestone tracking, risk management, and executive reporting

Skills

Finance transformation

ERP implementation

Post-merger integration

Strategic partnering

Education

CPA

CMA

MBA

Tools

JD Edwards

MS Dynamics

Great Plains

Job description

Brilliant® is an award-winning contract and consulting practice headquartered in Chicago and specializing in accounting, finance, technology and business solutions for the Midwest and Southeast regions of the U.S. labor markets.

Finance Transformation Lead — Interim / Contract

We're working with a growing $1B+ privately held company to find a senior finance professional who can step in and lead change across the CEO organization.

This isn't a keep-the-lights-on role. It's a hands-on leadership engagement for someone who has been through the full lifecycle of organizational transformation across M&A integrations, system implementations and optimizations, process improvements, and finance re-design.

The work spans several interconnected priorities:

• ERP migration and finance systems implementation; owning the finance workstream from design through hyper care, ensuring the system reflects how the business actually operates
• M&A integration — standing up finance operations at acquired entities, building repeatable integration playbooks, and driving post-close execution across accounting, reporting, and controls
• Business process optimization — redesigning core finance processes (close, reporting, consolidation, FP&A) to eliminate friction, improve speed-to-close, and support scale
• Strategic value creation — partnering with leadership and the sponsor to connect finance initiatives to the investment thesis, track synergies, and build the reporting infrastructure that supports decision-making
• PMO and program governance — bringing structure to complex, multi-workstream programs through milestone management, risk tracking, executive reporting, and cross-functional coordination

What makes someone right for this:

• 10+ years in finance or accounting, with real transformation experience
• Hands-on ERP implementation as the finance-side lead (JD Edwards and/or MS Dynamics or Great Plains preferred)
• Post-merger integration experience, including opening balance sheets, chart of accounts rationalization, close-cycle stand-up
• Comfort operating in a high-growth, or acquisitive environment where speed and precision both matter
• CPA, CMA, or MBA preferred; PMP a plus
• Big 4, consulting, or corporate finance backgrounds all welcome; what matters is that you've built, not just advised

Details:

• Chicago; flexible hybrid
• Competitive rate commensurate with experience