Finance Data & Systems Optimisation Manager

We are Lightsource bp – and we’re on a mission to become a global leader in onshore renewables, anchored by our proven track record in solar development.

For over a decade we’ve been actively working to diversify the way our world is powered with sustainable and responsible renewable power. We work to safely deliver affordable, reliable, large-scale onshore renewable and energy storage solutions to help the world decarbonise.

Our growing business is constantly innovating and investing to help drive the energy transition. Our people and projects are focused on supporting long-term sustainable growth and energy security.

Lightsource bp operates with five core values: Safety, Integrity, Respect, Sustainability, and Drive.

We seek to attract and hire individuals who share our commitment to creating a safe workplace, uphold the highest standards of integrity, and demonstrate respect for colleagues, communities, and the environment. Our recruitment process promotes sustainability by valuing long-term growth and responsible practices, while seeking candidates with the drive to innovate and lead in the global energy transition.

Together, these values shape how we engage, assess, and welcome talent to join us in delivering transformational solar power solutions worldwide. 

Lightsource bp was fully acquired by bp in 2024.

What you’ll do (the role)

Summary

This role leads initiatives to improve how Finance manages, accesses, and uses its data and systems. With responsibility across the finance function the Finance Data & Systems Optimisation Manager identifies and delivers improvements in reporting practices, data accessibility, and system effectiveness.

The role combines strategic project management with hands-on citizen development to create scalable, high-impact solutions that enhance Finance’s ability to automate and deliver timely, accurate, and insightful information.

Duties and Responsibilities

Digital Project Management & Implementation

• Lead and manage initiatives to improve Finance data accessibility, reporting capabilities, and systems utilisation — including programme roadmap ownership, milestone tracking, and benefits realisation reporting
• Drive discovery activities to establish data lineage, identify data sources, flows, and dependencies, and prioritise reporting and system use cases
• Support Finance teams in identifying and scoping Data Lake use cases, acting as the liaison between Finance stakeholders and the IT Data Team — including hands-on citizen development and testing within the sandbox environment where needed
• Define requirements for data transformation, consolidation, and quality checks to ensure accuracy and integrity
• Support citizen developed solutions using company-available tools — including Microsoft Power Platform to deliver immediate reporting improvements
• Oversee larger technical developments through internal IT resources and/or offshore teams, ensuring business requirements are accurately translated into technical designs and solutions are scalable and fit for purpose

Stakeholder Engagement

• Proactively identify data and reporting optimisation opportunities across Finance through workshops, discovery sessions, and stakeholder engagement, contributing to the team's broader pipeline of initiatives
• Communicate clearly and regularly with technical and non-technical stakeholders on project objectives, risks, and progress — translating complex data and system concepts into accessible language
• Maintain strong engagement with end users across regions, ensuring outputs are practical, understood, and fully adopted

Technical Expertise, Governance, and Support

• Maintain and develop knowledge of data modelling, transformation, and dashboard/report solutions relevant to Finance operations — including Microsoft Power Platform, SAP data structures, and cloud-based data platforms such as Snowflake
• Evaluate and recommend system configuration changes, integrations, or tools to improve data management and reporting — including awareness of Data Lake capabilities and how Finance teams can connect to and consume data from centralised IT-managed environments
• Maintain awareness of AI tools and capabilities and identify where AI features can be layered onto stable processes and structured data to enhance solution value. Collaborate with the IT & Digital AI team to explore and pilot AI-enabled enhancements to Finance workflows and reporting

Knowledge

• Experience of assessing, executing, and documenting digital transformation business opportunities
• Wider experience of developing and implementing automation and digitalisation initiatives within a global finance team
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills, including the ability to manage cross-functional and cross-regional relationships
• A genuine curiosity for technology and a demonstrable ability to learn new tools and platforms quickly
• Exceptionally strong analytical skills with the ability to challenge and drive value creation

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Data Analytics, Information Systems, or related field (or equivalent practical experience). Master's degree is advantageous
• BI or data visualisation certification is desirable
• Qualified or Part Qualified Accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA) advantageous

Experience

• 3+ years in finance data analysis, reporting, and/or systems optimisation within an international environment
• Proven track record delivering initiatives that improve reporting practices, automate data preparation, and enhance system performance
• Hands on experience in reporting and data integration tools
• Experience in cross functional and cross regional stakeholder management
• Hands-on experience with SAP ECC/S/4HANA, Snowflake, Workday, and Microsoft Power Platform valued

Personal qualities

• Adaptable and organized individual who has had experience of working within an international, multi entity group and running projects to a successful conclusion.
• Flexible and positive can-do approach in a changing environment, while keeping a clear head under pressure
• An effective problem solver with curiosity to understand and challenge the business to drive value creation
• Self-starter able to work under limited direction and supervision

Why you’ll want to work for us

Our company is a place where you can be yourself and grow, a place where your ideas and opinions matter.

Be you: We pride ourselves on being an inclusive community, where every individual is valued and treated with respect.

Be responsible: Our culture is driven by our core values – from operating safely to ensuring our projects are responsible. 

Be recognized: Alongside a competitive salary, we offer a variety of benefits including annual bonus, retention bank, health insurance, pension and other local benefits.

Be inspired: Beyond your day-to-day working life at Lightsource bp, there’s a variety of initiatives that will contribute to your own personal development. These include our charitable causes, supporting our solar honey project, or volunteering on our VIBES committee to name a few.

Our core values: Lightsource bp truly cares about creating a sustainable future through safe, responsible and meaningful low carbon energy projects. Our core values of Safety, Integrity, Respect, Sustainability and Drive are the guiding principles for everything we do. 

For further information on our career opportunities and life at Lightsource bp, please visit https://www.lightsourcebp.com/careers/

Why you’ll want to stay with us

At Lightsource bp, you’ll work within agile, cross-functional teams where diverse perspectives come together. Our culture embraces open knowledge sharing and collaboration, empowering you to learn from others and accelerate progress collectively. Your career growth is our priority and a shared journey. We are committed to developing talent from within and prepare you for career advancement so you can shape a fulfilling and lasting journey here. In today’s fast-changing world, a learning mindset is essential and therefore we proactively support upskilling to help you push your skill boundaries and stay ahead in your field, so you can not only keep pace with change but confidently shape a brighter future.