Finance Change Manager 6M FTC

Job Description

abrdn plc is a global investment company that helps clients and customers plan, save, and invest for the future. We operate across three core businesses – Investments, Adviser, and interactive investor – all focused on meeting the evolving needs of our clients and customers. Our purpose is to build a vibrant, value-creating, and purpose-led organisation that benefits all stakeholders.

Our Finance function is primarily based in the UK, with teams in key regional hubs and an offshore operations model to drive efficiency. The function is continually evolving to align with business transformation and regulatory developments.

About the role

This position is a 6 month Fixed Term Contract that sits within the External Reporting Team, under the leadership of the Group Financial Controller. The team is responsible for delivering key corporate financial and non-financial reporting, managing the external audit relationship, and leading key reporting initiatives.

The Finance Change Manager is a newly created role, supporting the Head of Corporate Reform and wider finance leadership in the efficient and effective delivery of Group Finance-led change initiatives. These initiatives aim to drive tangible benefits across the function and business while aligning with the finance and corporate strategy.

The role holder will play a key role in the external audit tender project, while also supporting a range of other functional initiatives such as:

• Technology developments

• Operating model changes

• Quality and efficiency improvements

• Regulatory compliance initiatives

• Risk management projects

Key Responsibilities

• Build and maintain positive relationships with stakeholders, ensuring clear expectations, engagement, and delivery of agreed objectives.

• Provide effective challenge to project teams, ensuring that change initiatives align with business goals and regulatory requirements.

• Plan and coordinate activities across multiple teams, functions, and hierarchies, including governance, budgeting, and risk tracking (RAID management).

• Proactively identify, assess, and resolve risks and issues to protect critical project delivery timelines.

• Oversee risk and control practices, ensuring that changes adhere to financial governance standards.

• Maintain a flexible and agile approach to new challenges, adapting to evolving priorities in a fast-paced environment.

• Demonstrate a commitment to continuous learning and self-improvement.

About the candidate

• Qualified accountant, ideally with asset management experience.

• Experience in handling regulatory, operational, and/or reporting change initiatives.

• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, working effectively across different teams and seniority levels.

• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills, capable of delivering clear, concise, and impactful messaging.

• Proven ability to challenge assumptions, drive solutions, and deliver value-added outcomes.

• High level of commercial acumen and ability to interpret financial trends and market expectations.

• Proficiency in IT and data analysis, with experience in financial systems and reporting tools.

We are proud to be a Disability Confident Committed employer. If you have a disability and would like to apply to one of our UK roles under the Disability Confident Scheme, please notify us by completing the relevant section in our candidate questionnaire. One of our team will reach out to support you through your application process.

Our benefits

There's more to working life than coming home with a good salary. We have an environment where you can learn, get involved and be supported.

When you join us, your reward will be one of the best around. This includes 40 days’ annual leave, a 16% employer pension contribution, a discretionary performance based bonus (where applicable), private healthcare and a range of flexible benefits – including gym discounts, season ticket loans and access to an employee discount portal. You can read more about our benefits here.

Our business

Enabling our clients to be better investors drives everything we do. Our business is structured around three distinct areas – our vectors of growth – focused on our clients’ changing needs. You can find out more about what we do here.

We’re committed to providing an inclusive workplace where all forms of difference are valued and which is free from any form of unfair or unlawful treatment.  We define diversity in its broadest sense – this includes but is not limited to our diversity of educational and professional backgrounds, experience, cognitive and neurodiversity, age, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, religion or belief and ethnicity and geographical provenance.  We support a culture that values meritocracy, fairness and transparency and welcomes enquiries from everyone.

If you need assistance or an adjustment due to a disability please let us know as part of your application and we will assist.