Finance Accounting Process and Systems Optimization Lead

Entity:

Production & Operations

Job Family Group:

Finance Group

Job Description:

bpx energy, a major oil and gas producer in the United States, leverages its expertise in unconventional gas, including shale, to deliver hydrocarbon production and technical knowledge worldwide. With operations in Texas and Louisiana, our US onshore business has become both a best-in-class oil and gas producer and a leader in reducing methane emissions. As part of BP, a global industry leader, we foster a high-energy, high-intensity environment built on accountability, collegiality, and empowerment.

Location: Houston, TX or Denver, CO
Department: Finance / Accounting / Digital Transformation
Reports To: Head of Supply Chain and Corporate Excellence

Position Summary:

We are seeking a strategic and innovative Finance and Accounting Process and Systems Optimization Lead to drive transformation across finance and accounting operations in our oil and gas business. This role will lead initiatives to streamline processes, optimize ERP and financial systems, and integrate sophisticated technologies such as AI and cloud-based data platforms like Snowflake to improve decision-making and operational efficiency.

Key Responsibilities:

Process Optimization & Standardization

• Lead end-to-end reviews of finance and accounting processes (e.g., FP&A, General Ledger Accounting, Fixed Assets, Joint Venture Accounting, Finance Accrual Processes, Finance Forecasting and Reporting, Production and Regulatory Accounting).
• Identify inefficiencies, bottlenecks, and automation opportunities using AI-driven insights.
• Develop and implement standardized workflows and internal controls across business units.
• Own the Finance Process and Optimization team across Denver and Houston.

Systems Strategy & Implementation

• Serve as the business lead for SAP and financial systems upgrades, integrations, and improvements.
• Understand the short term and long-term roadmap for SAP including BDC and Jouele.  Ability to drive strategic improvements and adoption across the business is crucial to this role.
• Drive the integration of AI/ML models for forecasting, anomaly detection, and predictive analytics in finance.
• Collaborate with IT and data teams to leverage SAP CDS Views, SAP BDC and  Snowflake for scalable, real-time financial data warehousing and reporting.
• Foster the use of digital tools (e.g., RPA, Power Platform, AI copilots) to improve reporting and compliance.

Data & Analytics Enablement

• Develop and implement data pipelines and reporting structures using  SAP CDS Views, SAP BDC, Snowflake, ensuring data integrity and accessibility.
• Partner with data science teams to embed AI into financial planning, audit, and risk management processes.
• Develop dashboards and KPIs using tools like Power BI or Tableau to supervise performance and drive insights.

Stakeholder Engagement & Change Management

• Partner with Finance, Accounting, Marketing, Operations, and IT leaders to align transformation initiatives with business goals.
• Lead change management efforts, including training, communication, and stakeholder engagement.
• Act as a liaison between finance users and technical teams to ensure business needs are met.

Governance & Compliance

• Ensure processes and systems comply with SOX, IFRS, and internal audit requirements.
• Support internal and external audits with documentation and process transparency.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business, or related field (CPA or MBA preferred).
• 8+ years of experience in finance/accounting roles, with at least 3 years in process improvement or systems optimization.
• Proven understanding of oil and gas industry accounting practices and regulatory environment.
• Hands-on experience with ERP systems (SAP S/4HANA, SAP RISE) and finance transformation projects.
• Confirmed experience with SAP BDC and Snowflake or similar cloud data platforms in a finance context.
• Familiarity with AI/ML applications in finance, such as intelligent automation, forecasting, and anomaly detection; Palantir experience a plus
• Experience with automation tools (e.g., SAP RPA, Power Automate) and analytics platforms (e.g., Power BI, Palantir).
• Excellent communication, analytical, and cross-functional leadership skills.

Preferred Attributes:

• Experience with shared services or global business services models.
• Strong understanding of upstream/midstream/downstream operational finance.
• Exposure to data g