Master Data Lead

In this role you will proactively develop strong relations with the key business stakeholders, project team and data team to ensure financial data and applications are delivered on time to the highest levels of quality.

An essential part of this role will require you to have the ability to manage multiple resources (internal & external), coordinate and motivate your team.

You will have a proven track record of delivering results by aligning test plans to project objectives within a set time frame with clearly defined resources.

To be successful in this position you will have to be confident in delivering data migrations and data cleansing activities while managing the expectations and requirements of external and internal stakeholders

About Group Finance

In joining RWS’s Finance team you will be a critical part of supporting a listed world-leading provider of technology-enabled language, content, and intellectual property services. RWS has growing revenues of over £750m through a combination of value accretive acquisitions and organic growth. Group finance, led by our Group CFO; Candy Davies, includes diverse teams across the globe operating in functions including business partnering, operational finance, specialist, and group functions. We cover a footprint of over 100 legal entities in 43 different countries worldwide.  

It’s a very exciting time to join RWS Finance for an individual who enjoys change and making an impact! As part of the overall RWS business strategy we are making a significant investment in upgrading our financial systems and processes to deliver enhanced reporting and control, more efficient processing enabling great value through enhanced business partnering and decision support. 

Key Responsibilities

• Provide direction to teams handling Accounting, Customer, Supplier & Vendor Master Data
  • Coordinate the workflow of teams maintaining chart of accounts (including GL, cost centres and entities), other accounting master data objects, customer records and contracts data
  • Apply subject matter knowledge to improve the team’s Master Data Management processes including, but not limited to, maintenance of chart of accounts, setting up new customers in system, enabling customers and vendors on invoicing and procurement portals
  • Ensure accuracy completeness in the tasks performed by the Master Data team, for example, complete and comprehensive details entered and maintained in the systems
  • Ensure maintenance of required standard data documentation e.g., data dictionaries
  • Analyze end-to-end vendor onboarding and master data processes to identify gaps, inefficiencies, inconsistencies, and improvement opportunities across all stages—from request submission and validation to data creation, approval, and post-onboarding controls.
  • Lead initiatives to upgrade existing processes, unify regional and functional workflows, and eliminate unnecessary variations.
  • Design standardized global processes and documentation to ensure uniform execution.
• Supervise cross-functional team with multiple levels
  • Establish strong working relationships with team members to ensure satisfaction and talent retention
  • Mentor and guide team members, sharing expertise and knowledge
  • Conduct performance reviews of team members and identify areas of development
• Ensure data compliance & integrity
  • Oversee Master Data team’s required training to ensure adherence to company compliance policies & procedures
  • Develop repeatable data quality audits, policies, and procedures to monitor data health
  • Coordinate frequent and accurate reporting on data input, cleansing and maintenance activity to accurately monitor implementation of Master Data maintenance strategy and compliance with company policies and regulation
• Instil quality control
  • Validate data integrity during any data transformation and loading activities
  • Analyse and monitor business processes that create erroneous data to support remediation of issues
  • Ensure application and monitoring of robust and effective internal controls across all master data processes, and proactively influence key stakeholders to implement and maintain the same level of control in upstream and downstream processes.
• Collaborate with other teams
  • Network and represent the Master Data team with senior levels across the organisation
  • Collaborate with Finance process owners to instil best practices and standards
  • Collaborate with IT and Data & Analytics teams on data structures and data strategy
  • Ensure understanding of the Master Data requirements of the Shared Service Centre (SSC) Functional teams
  • Collaborate with other stakeholders to provide required data points
  • Act as the primary knowledge expert for all master data domains, providing guidance to stakeholders across Procurement, Finance, Supply Chain, Operations, and IT.
  • Advise business partners on best practices, data standards, and correct data structures to ensure alignment with global processes.
  • Support stakeholders in designing new processes, projects, or system changes by providing expert insights on data impact, dependencies, and compliance requirements.
  • Serve as a trusted advisor on data governance topics, helping teams interpret policies, apply internal controls, and resolve complex data issues.
  • Facilitate workshops, training, and consultations to increase organizational understanding of master data quality, processes, and governance.
  • Collaborate with cross-functional project teams to ensure that master data requirements are integrated into new systems, enhancements, and transformation initiatives.

Skills & Experience

• 5 years in a Maser data manager role
• Strong data literacy and knowledge of core finance systems, ERP, and integrations
• Strong MS Excel skills with a proven aptitude to interpret financial data
• High digital acumen and the ability to understand finance systems’ data handling, data structures and the impact on / integration with other systems
• Effective communication and collaboration skills to convey ideas, make recommendations and influence various stakeholder levels for approval through one-on-one conversations, formal presentations, and group discussions
• Knowledge of leading practice data risk & controls procedures and regulatory requirements
• Ability to work in a fast-moving environment with a proactive approach, accustomed to working towards tight deadlines whilst maintaining quality of work
• Strong stakeholder management skills, able to lead by example, hold teams, customers, and partners to account
• Demonstrate logical thought process to simplify complex issues and technical concepts, and to facilitate issue resolution

• Beneficial to have:

• Experience with Microsoft Dynamics
• Financial and accounting academic background
• Professional experience in IT or Technology Consulting role
• Experience in Finance process areas and proven ability to effectively navigate across Record to Report, Procure to Pay, and Order to Cash disciplines

Our purpose is to unlock global understanding. This means our work fundamentally recognizes the value of every language and culture. So, we celebrate difference, we are inclusive and believe that diversity makes us strong. We want every employee to grow as an individual and excel in their career. 

In return, we expect all our people to live by the values that unite us: to partner, putting clients fist and winning together, to pioneer, innovating fearlessly and leading with vision and courage, to progress, aiming high and growing through actions and to deliver, owning the outcome and building trust with our colleagues and clients.

RWS embraces DEI and promotes equal opportunity, we are an Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind. RWS is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all employees and to providing employees with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. All employment decisions at RWS are based on business needs, job requirements and individual qualifications, without regard to race, religion, nationality, ethnicity, sex, age, disability, or sexual orientation. RWS will not tolerate discrimination based on any of these characteristics. 

RWS Values 

Get the 3Ps right – Partner, Pioneer, Progress – and we´ll Deliver together as RWS.

Recruitment Agencies: RWS Holdings PLC does not accept agency resumes.  Please do not forward any unsolicited resumes to any RWS employees.  Any unsolicited resume received will be treated as the property of RWS and Terms & Conditions associated with the use of such resume will be considered null and void.

#LI-RT1

#LI-Hybrid