Finance Project Manager (FPM)

At Alstom, we understand transport networks and what moves people. From high-speed trains, metros, monorails, and trams, to turnkey systems, services, infrastructure, signalling and digital mobility, we offer our diverse customers the broadest portfolio in the industry. Every day, more than 80 000 colleagues lead the way to greener and smarter mobility worldwide, connecting cities as we reduce carbon and replace cars.

Purpose of the Job :

• Lead finances for projects rated in High Criticality, in order to improve the project overall performance.
• Participate in overall Project Management process jointly with the Project Manager.

As a key member of the project:

• Provide financial analysis, advice and guidance to support the project team in making the best business decisions for the project.
• Be the main partner for the Financial Strategy success of the project, contributing to negotiation processes to secure project success. Support the PM in the risks and opportunities process and sign-off contingencies/committed savings.

As CFO of the Project:

Be responsible for the Financial performance of the project.

Key accountabilities :  

• Participate in overall Project Management process jointly with Project Manager
• Main partner for the Financial Strategy success of the project
• Optimize financial aspects on the project Organization, Tax, Hedging, Financing
• Business Partnering:
• Provide finance advise and tutoring to the project team
• Set up technical expertise within the real and current concerns of the business to create value
• Enrich integration within the organization
• Ensure compliance of finance rules in project review preparation and throughout project execution
• Contribute on business agility and awareness
• Supervision, analysis and support for overall finance topics of the project
• Control the financial performance of the project and propose action plans to improve contract margin and cash profile as well as corrective action plans to mitigate identified risks
• Raised "Early Warnings" when necessary to increase management attention
• Add insight and accuracy to project financial information (Improve accuracy on forecasts, revenue, cash, cost, etc.)
• Challenge and approve Project Financials (cash, competitiveness) as per Delegation of Authority (DoA)
• Provide confirmation of Internal Transfer Pricing policies to procurement for the issuance of internal purchase orders
• Control the intercompany flows of Internal purchase orders
• Ensure compliance with local regulations, especially for tax and statutory accounts purposes
• Liaise with other finance expert functions when necessary
• Cooperate with other expert functions (e.g. Legal, Platforms, Operational Excellence, etc.)
• Establish strategic network with external financial players involved in the project
• Contribute to negotiation processes to secure project success (customer and / or partner)
• Support PM in risks and opportunities process and sign-off contingencies/committed savings
• Partner with PM and CM in Contract & Claim Management (focus on finance topics & risks profile)
• For partnership (consortium or JV), ensure follow up of the financial aspects in compliance with the partner agreements and alert in case of any deviation or risk profile for Alstom
• Know and understand businesses portfolio and the operation of every business function
• Responsible for coaching Junior FPMs to develop necessary skills to manage projects with low and no criticality

Main activities:

• Liaise with the Finance Tender Manager to understand and implement the global financial strategy set for the project at tender stage (forex and firming strategy, tax guidance, cash profile, etc.), ensuring a smooth transition from Tender to Project and implementation at FPR0. Alert in case of deviations between tender and FPR0
• Contribute effectively with the project initial set up
• Communicate effectively with Project Stakeholders and provide reliable financial analysis to assist in the decision-making (Explain, justify and keep record in detail)
• Prepare jointly with the project team, the management project reviews content and reassess each semester the profitability (MPRs / FPRs)
• Explain, justify and keep record in detail of the estimates
• The Senior Finance Project Manager is permanently focused on adding value through:
  • Participating and influencing negotiations (Price review, financial T&C, VO´s, Claims, etc.)
  • Permanently looking for liquidity flows and working capital optimization and promote cash culture in the project
  • Challenging financial information throughout project process (consistent “Early Warning” for financial impacts of projects operational performance and risk mitigation)
  • Monitoring compliance with all governance and reporting rules & regulations in project
  • Corroborating the permanent compliance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS)
  • As Lead FPM, gather information on FX exposures (amounts, currencies, payment dates…) on the whole project and coordinate with the FPMs PU / SSCs / WPCs to make sure all project exposures are identified and hedges are in place in each Unit and followed-up
  • Ensuring, managing and monitoring foreign exchange exposures and Contract Price Adjustment (CPA) indexes evolution (help to define indexes to be used)
  • Understanding the Project Organization (PxO) focused on Financial Flows
  • Warning on any deviation that may affect the tax structure (Tax guidance) implemented
  • Understanding the contractual terms and conditions and advising about all financial matters in contract, focusing on guiding on competitiveness improvement
  • Supporting Claim Management (jointly with Project Manager and Contract Manager), focus on finance topics, risks profile (support amendments wording)
  • Managing and analyzing costs, revenue and profitability
  • Preparing timely forecasts for sales, costs, margin and cash
  • Transforming data analysis into real insights focusing on profit improvement
  • Ensuring billing process (external or internal) is made on a timely manner
  • Supporting the finance teams in the monthly closing process and reporting Project financials in a suitable manner
  • Supporting requests made by Group Performance Management
  • Challenge eligibility and relevance of Capex & R&D analyzing impacts, optimizing implementation and informing Operations Finance about the amounts considered at tender stage
  • Ensuring project contractual bonds and guarantees are issued in due time and request release "as soon as possible", avoiding unnecessary expenses
• Follow the project in the different stages: Execution, Warranty and closing

Measurement / Key Performance Indicators:

• Achievement of financial targets of the project (i.e.: project margin compliance, project cash flow in line with targets, kpi’s fulfillment, etc.)
• Compliance with ALSTOM rules & processes
• Timely and accurate MPRs & FPRs

Competencies & Skills

• Integrity, resilience, coordination, communication and leadership skills
• Autonomous
• Project Finance Management
• Strategic Thinking
• Synthesis and analytical mind
• Demonstrated ability to partner well and influence others
• Entrepreneur and proactive
• Ability to work in a matrix environment
• Taste for new technology

You don’t need to be a train enthusiast to thrive with us. We guarantee that when you step onto one of our trains with your friends or family, you’ll be proud. If you’re up for the challenge, we’d love to hear from you!