Lead Financial Management SME - NAVY

Overview

This remote role is for a Lead Financial Management Subject Matter Expert (SME) at the Senior Manager / Subject Matter Expert level. Support will focus on fiscal operations for a U.S. Navy / DoW financial management organization.

Clearance Requirement: Active Secret required. All candidates must already have the above clearance listed and be able to obtain and maintain their current clearance and any clearance level designated by the employer at any given time during employment.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the senior Financial Management SME and principal advisor for Navy financial execution, funds control, and reporting activities; set standards and provide technical direction to Financial Management Analysts, Navy ERP Specialists, and Junior Analysts.
• Lead, supervise, and manage day-to-day performance of the fiscal operations team, including workload distribution, quality review, mentoring, and professional development across analyst, specialist, and SME tiers.
• Act as final escalation point for resolution of the most complex Unmatched Disbursements (UMDs), Negative Unliquidated Obligations (NULOs), and aged transactions; establish department-wide reconciliation methodologies and direct corrective actions across disbursing, vendor pay, and program offices.
• Own accounts payable and accounts receivable reconciliation outcomes, including obligation-to-expenditure matching, vendor pay and invoice clearing, reimbursable billings, and collections; define controls and procedures to ensure transaction integrity and audit readiness enterprise-wide.
• Direct analysis of complex financial transactions and system data to identify errors, inefficiencies, and control gaps; advise leadership on corrective actions and risk mitigation.
• Provide oversight of budget execution and funds status reporting, including commitments, obligations, expenditures, and reconciliation processes.
• Serve as ultimate functional authority for Navy ERP (SAP ECC) spanning FI, MM, and SD modules, including configuration understanding, transaction processing, and advanced data analysis; resolve escalated system and process issues.
• Own audit readiness, FIAR, and internal controls for fiscal operations; ensure team activities align with OMB Circular A-123 and Navy/DoD financial management regulations.
• Design and oversee training curriculum, job aids, SOPs, and briefings for Navy personnel and department staff on Navy ERP financial functionality.
• Collaborate with functional, technical, and operational teams to improve system utilization and process alignment across the department.
• Advise senior government leadership on financial policy, audit strategy, and the financial impacts of business and system decisions; translate complex cross-team issues into actionable recommendations.
• Define and lead enterprise process-improvement and system-optimization initiatives across the full fiscal operations department.

Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business, or a related field (Master’s preferred).

Experience

• 10+ years of DoD or Navy financial management experience, with significant Navy ERP exposure and a demonstrated record as a recognized subject matter expert.
• Demonstrated experience leading, supervising, or mentoring teams of financial management analysts, Navy ERP specialists, or similar staff in a Navy/DoD financial environment.
• Demonstrated experience developing business cases, functional and non-functional requirements, feasibility studies, and solution scoping for new financial systems or process solutions.
• Demonstrated experience leading process modeling and translating business and financial requirements into functional or technical design, including identifying gaps/shortcomings and determining workarounds or changes.
• Expert understanding of the Navy/DoW financial execution lifecycle (budgeting, execution, reconciliation, reporting) and ability to advise on policy and resolve enterprise-level issues.
• Demonstrated experience directing reconciliation of UMDs, NULOs, accounts payable, and accounts receivable records at scale, including oversight of aged or unmatched transactions and discrepancies that drive audit findings.
• Demonstrated ability to brief and influence senior leaders (SES level and above) and explain complex accounting and Navy ERP functionality to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Advanced functional knowledge of Navy ERP (SAP ECC) financial modules (FI, MM, SD) and execution processes.

Skills

• Exceptional leadership, analytical, communication, and stakeholder engagement skills, including advising and influencing senior government leaders and coordinating with clients at the SES level and above.
• Highly skilled at assessing and implementing feasible solutions in compliance with government standards and relevant best practices.
• Demonstrated staff management skills, including mentoring, performance management, and professional development of analysts and specialists.
• Proficiency with financial reporting tools and data analysis (e.g., Excel, BI tools, or similar).

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting Navy BSO Financial Operations, SYSCOMs, or other major Navy claimants.
• Knowledge of related Navy/DoW systems (e.g., Navy ERP, DTS, WAWF, G-Invoicing, or other business systems).
• Experience developing department-level process documentation, SOPs, and training curricula.
• Prior consulting or advisory leadership experience in a Navy financial environment.
• Professional certifications (e.g., CPA, CDFM, PMP, SAP-related training).
• Direct supervisory experience managing teams of 5 or more financial management staff in a Navy ERP or financial management environment.

Compensation & Benefits

• Job Type: Full-Time
• Salary Range: $150,000 - $165,000

Location

• Remote