Position Summary
The Manager, EMEA Finance Operations & Systems serves as the regional techno-functional lead for the Finance Process & Operations (FPO) team the EMEA region. Based in London, this role operates within a coordinated reporting structure, reporting directly to US FPO leadership while maintaining a collaborative reporting relationship with London finance leadership to align regional operations with global standards. The role pairs deep regional process and systems knowledge with hands-on technology capability - spanning AI, low-code/no-code development, and scripting - to evaluate processes, deliver solutions, and modernize finance operations across the region. Unlike a single-function role, this position spans financial systems broadly, owning how EMEA operations map to the firm’s global platforms.
The Manager acts as the AI and technology champion for the region, identifying high-impact opportunities to apply emerging technology and building solutions directly - from generative AI workflows and Power Platform applications to scripted automations and integrations. A defining feature of the role is accounting for EMEA-specific requirements, including VAT, multi-currency, cross-border, and local statutory and regulatory reporting nuances, when scoping and validating solutions.
Stakeholder management sits at the heart of this position. The Manager serves as the primary liaison and trusted partner between EMEA end-users and US FPO & IT, bridging time zones, facilitating alignment across geographically distributed teams, and influencing outcomes without direct authority. The role operates with a high degree of independence, owning regional requirements end to end and leading small-to-medium initiatives with limited oversight.
In-Office Requirement:
4 days a week
Primary Responsibilities:
Regional SME & AI/Technology Leadership (~35%)
Serve as the regional SME for EMEA finance business processes across financial systems broadly, not limited to any single function, owning how regional operations map to firmwide platforms
Serve as the regional SME for the EMEA technical landscape - systems, integrations, and data flows - and how it connects to the US/global environment
Act as the AI/technology champion for the EMEA region, identifying high-impact opportunities to apply AI and emerging technology and driving adoption across regional teams
Apply AI tooling - generative AI, prompt engineering, agent workflows, SQL, and BI - to analyze data, accelerate work, and design more efficient regional workflows
Account for EMEA-specific regulatory, operational and reporting requirements - when scoping and validating solutions
Solution Development & Delivery (~30%)
Design, build, and maintain low-code/no-code solutions and workflow automations on the Power Platform, and comparable platforms such as Appian, to solve regional process problems directly
Apply hands-on scripting and coding such as Python, SQL, and VBA where appropriate to build integrations, automations, or data transformations beyond what low-code tools allow
Create and maintain reusable components - prompt libraries, automation templates, and documentation - that scale across the region and back to global teams
Document business requirements, functional specifications, and user stories with clear acceptance criteria
Lead business-side testing, including UAT, for regional initiatives, validating that delivered systems meet documented requirements
Oversee small-to-medium regional initiatives end to end, from discovery through deployment and stabilization, participating in agile delivery and proactively flagging obstacles
Stakeholder Management & Regional Partnership (~20%)
Serve as the primary liaison and trusted partner between EMEA end-users and US FPO/GTS, bridging time zones and translating regional needs into firmwide solutions
Build and maintain strong relationships with stakeholders across functions and seniority levels, from regional end-users to US finance and technology leadership
Facilitate workshops and working sessions with business owners and SMEs to drive requirements, alignment, and initiative outcomes
Manage stakeholder expectations across a transatlantic reporting line, proactively communicating status, risks, and trade-offs, and escalating with proposed solutions
Influence and drive consensus across diverse, geographically distributed groups without direct authority, acting as escalation partner for complex regional scenarios
Process Improvement, Support & Change Management (~15%)
Perform data analysis to support troubleshooting, reporting, process evaluation, and data-flow documentation
Identify process gaps and automation opportunities, recommending solutions that weigh risk, control, and business impact, and drive process standardization and modernization across EMEA
Provide regional production support, triaging and resolving issues and escalating to US FPO/GTS with proposed solutions where needed
Support monthly and quarterly financial close cycles across the region, troubleshooting issues, validating data flows, and coordinating with US FPO/GTS to ensure timely and accurate closes
Drive change management across EMEA through training, documentation, and communication to ensure adoption of new tools and processes
Train and enable regional business users on AI and low-code/no-code capabilities, supporting citizen-developer enablement
Requirements
Education & Certificates
Bachelor’s degree required; concentration in Finance, Accounting, Economics, Information Systems, or a related field preferred
Professional Experience
5–7 years in finance operations, business systems, or a techno-functional and process improvement role, with regional/EMEA exposure
Hands-on experience building with low-code/no-code platforms such as Power Platform or Appian - required, not just familiarity
Working coding ability such as Python, SQL, or VBA for automation, integration, and data work
Demonstrated experience applying AI tools to real business problems
Knowledge of EMEA finance specifics - VAT, multi-currency, cross-border, and local statutory and regulatory reporting
Ability to work independently and lead initiatives with minimal oversight across a transatlantic reporting line
Experience supporting development teams in an agile environment, writing requirements, functional specs, or process documentation
Background in private equity or alternative investment operations preferred
Competencies & Attributes
Proficiency with generative AI tools such as ChatGPT, Claude, or Microsoft Copilot, and a strong track record of applying AI to finance workflows
Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills across functions, seniority levels, and geographies, able to drive consensus without direct authority
Financial systems experience required across accounting, ERP, treasury, or comparable platforms
Advanced Excel required; SQL and data-querying skills strongly preferred
Exposure to BI and reporting tools such as Sigma Computing or Power BI a plus
Understanding of finance operations and financial reporting principles
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with an inquisitive, forward-thinking mindset
Ability to translate complex business needs into clear, structured requirements and working solutions
Excellent written and verbal communication, tailored to finance, technology, and leadership audiences
Highly organized, detail-oriented, and able to manage multiple competing priorities independently
Familiarity with Jira or similar agile project management tools
About Us:
The Carlyle Group (NASDAQ: CG) is a global investment firm with $475 billion of assets under management, across 678 investment vehicles as of March 31, 2026. Founded in 1987 in Washington, DC, Carlyle has grown into one of the world's largest and most successful investment firms, with more than 2,500 professionals operating in 28 offices in North America, Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Australia.
Carlyle’s purpose is to connect people, ideas, and capital to fuel growth for companies and performance for investors, which range from public and private pension funds to wealthy individuals and families to sovereign wealth funds, unions and corporations. Carlyle invests across three segments – Global Private Equity, Global Credit and Carlyle AlpInvest – and has deep expertise across industries, markets, and geographies.
At Carlyle, we believe that a wide spectrum of experiences and viewpoints drives performance and success. Our CEO, Harvey Schwartz, has stated that, "To build better businesses and create value for all of our stakeholders, we are focused on assembling leadership teams with the strongest insights from a range of perspectives." Reflecting this view, emphasis is placed on development, retention and inclusion through our internal processes and seven Employee Resource Groups (ERGs). We cultivate a culture where ideas are openly shared and challenged, connecting diverse expertise and perspectives to drive enduring value.