Manager Of Application Development Jobs in Chicago, IL

Description
The Senior Manager of Application Development will lead a Corporate Finance Systems portfolio focused on finance transformation, business process modernization, scalable application delivery, and reliable platform operations. The role partners closely with Finance, DT, enterprise architecture, data, security, and vendor teams to translate business priorities into executable technology roadmaps and measurable outcomes.
This leader brings strong experience delivering finance transformation initiatives in complex ERP environments, including ERP implementation or modernization, process redesign, data readiness, reporting enablement, operating model alignment, change adoption, and stabilization of critical finance capabilities.
The role requires a balance of strategic thinking and operational follow-through: shaping multi-year plans, leading complex delivery, managing production support for finance applications, influencing senior stakeholders, and presenting clearly to executive audiences.
Success in this role depends on strong leadership, interpersonal credibility, sound judgment, and the ability to build high-performing teams that deliver with quality, accountability, and continuous improvement.
Finance Transformation Strategy and ERP Roadmap

• Lead the technology roadmap for finance transformation, ERP modernization, process redesign, reporting, data readiness, integrations, and long-term scalability

• Partner with Finance and DT leadership to align business outcomes, funding, sequencing, and execution priorities

• Identify opportunities to simplify finance processes, strengthen controls, improve data flow, and enable automation or analytics

Delivery, Application Ownership, and Operational Support

• Own delivery of finance transformation and finance technology initiatives across scope, schedule, budget, quality, risk, and business readiness

• Ensure stable production support, issue resolution, release readiness, and continuous service improvement for critical finance and ERP-related applications.
• Provide clear status, risk, decision, and performance updates to senior IT and business leadership
ERP and Finance Systems Portfolio Governance
• Provide governance across ERP, EPM, reporting, reconciliation, close, data, integration, and supporting finance platform
• Guide solution design, legacy coexistence, integration decisions, data readiness, security, testing, and operational handoff
• Work with architects, product SMEs, vendors, and finance stakeholders to evaluate options and manage trade-off
Stakeholder Partnership, Change Enablement, and Executive Communication
• Build trusted relationships with Finance, business process owners, vendors, and technology partner
• Translate complex business and technical topics into clear recommendations, executive-ready presentations, decisions, and change enablement plans
• Drive alignment across stakeholders with competing priorities through strong interpersonal skills and practical problem solving
Program Management and Financial Discipline
• Manage priorities, resource planning, vendor commitments, budgets, forecasts, business case updates, risks, and status reporting across transformation workstream
• Coordinate internal and external dependencies to ensure committed outcomes are delivered with transparency and accountability
Delivery Standards, Architecture, and Continuous Improvement
• Ensure Agile, QA, security, architecture, release, and operational standards are followed consistently
• Drive continuous improvement in delivery effectiveness, application reliability, integration patterns, reporting, and data control
People Leadership and Vendor Management
• Lead and develop high-performing teams, set clear goals and operating rhythms, and manage vendor accountability
• Build the skills, capacity, and ownership model needed to support finance transformation and long-term platform sustainment
Qualifications
Minimum Requirements
• Bachelor's degree Information Technology, Computer Engineering, Finance or related field
• 7+ years of experience in application development, ERP implementation/modernization, enterprise systems implementation, or finance technology platform delivery
• 3+ years in a leadership role managing cross-functional teams, vendor partners, or complex technology initiatives
• Experience delivering finance transformation initiatives, including process modernization, data readiness, reporting enablement, operating model changes, change adoption, and stabilization
• Proven experience supporting or leading full lifecycle ERP implementations or major ERP modernization efforts, such as Oracle Fusion, Oracle EBS, Workday, SAP, or similar enterprise platforms
• Experience managing enterprise finance applications across delivery and support; exposure to EPM, planning, reporting, reconciliation, close, data, or integration platforms is helpful
• Experience working directly with senior finance stakeholders and technology leaders to define priorities, manage trade-offs, and drive business outcomes
• Experience managing application delivery and production support responsibilities, including issue escalation, release planning, service performance, and continuous improvement
• Strong understanding of ERP-enabled finance transformation and core finance processes, including procure-to-pay, record-to-report, planning/forecasting, accounting close, reporting, and financial controls
• Knowledge of enterprise finance application management, including ERP/EPM configuration or enhancements, integrations, data quality, security/access, testing, releases, and production support
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to set direction, develop talent, hold teams accountable, and manage vendor delivery teams effectively
• Excellent stakeholder management and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build trust and influence senior business and technology leaders
• Strong executive communication and presentation skills; able to simplify complex information and communicate clear options, recommendations, risks, and decisions
• Understanding of enterprise architecture principles, integration patterns, data governance, scalability, security, and maintainability
• Hands-on experience with Agile delivery, DevOps practices, QA discipline, and operational performance management
• Ability to balance strategic roadmap development with disciplined execution, issue resolution, and day-to-day operational follow-through
Preferred Requirements
• Master's degree Information Technology, Computer Engineering, Finance or related field
• Experience supporting ERP coexistence between legacy finance platforms and modern finance technology solutions
• Experience with both on-prem and cloud-based ERP or enterprise finance platforms
• Experience with finance applications such as Oracle EPM, Anaplan, or comparable platforms supporting planning, forecasting, financial close, reconciliation, reporting, or enterprise data management
• Experience presenting program status, risks, roadmaps, and recommendations to senior leadership or steering committees

• Demonstrates an understanding of the capabilities and limitations of generative AI tools and effectively leverages them for research, analysis, content creation, and problem-solving. Applies critical thinking to validate AI-generated outputs while adhering to company policies related to responsible AI use, data privacy, and security