Operations Associate, Assurance Tech

We are the leading provider of professional services to the middle market globally, our purpose is to instill confidence in a world of change, empowering our clients and people to realize their full potential. Our exceptional people are the key to our unrivaled, inclusive culture and talent experience and our ability to be compelling to our clients. You’ll find an environment that inspires and empowers you to thrive both personally and professionally. There’s no one like you and that’s why there’s nowhere like RSM.

Operations Associate

The primary function of the Operations Associate is providing specialized support to the assigned leadership team in areas associated with the National Professional Standards Group (NPSG). In this capacity the Operations Associate will provide support to leadership with planning, coordination, and execution of all aspects of assigned projects through the project life cycle. Working with assigned leadership, this position is also responsible for facilitating the creation, revision, and implementation of practice processes and policies. The Operations Associate will also support leadership with team meetings, and, in conjunction with leadership, support the execution of strategic or tactical initiatives.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES:

Project Management & Planning

• Executes on project scope, and manage to objectives, schedule, and deliverables that support  business goals.
• Tracks project progress using project plans, activity logs and status reports.
• Assists project teams in identifying roadblocks and project risks.
• Identifies activities as either in or out of scope per the initial project charter and works directly with the project team to determine whether a change in scope is necessary.
• Provides activity oversight for completion of established objectives and activities.
• Schedules and facilitates meetings, prepares meeting materials, and facilitates meeting while documenting key meeting topics for distribution to attendees afterwards.
• Sends appropriate communications using standard templates and processes.•    

Project Documentation

• Uses established project or operations management templates to document project goals, scope, assumptions, constraints, dependencies, risks and roles within the project charter.
• Develops and maintain a detailed project plan/schedule, according to standard templates, using natural language simply, clearly, unambiguously, and concisely.
• Creates the communication plan and the activity log.
• Responsible for the accuracy and completion of all project documentation.
• Develops and maintains the department's operational processes and the supporting documentation.

Stakeholder Management

• Works with project sponsor and stakeholders to document the projects vision and scope.
• Works with project team to ensure proposed solutions align with requirements and maximizes value to stakeholders.
• Sends appropriate communications to all levels including sponsors and senior leadership.
• Works with project sponsor and stakeholders to identify appropriate project team members for each key activity or milestone and discuss their involvement in the requirements process, weigh in on deliverables, execute on training/change management.
• Provide vendor relationship management support including managing contracts, coordinating discussions, managing communications, billing coordination, etc.

EDUCATION/CERTIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in business related field, or equivalent experience - required
• CPA and / or PMP certification - preferred
• Agile/Scrum Master certification - preferred

TECHNICAL/SOFT SKILLS

• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office skills - required
• Azure DevOps or Jira experience - preferred
• Experience with Smartsheet, MS Project or related tools highly - preferred
• SharePoint experience preferred            

EXPERIENCE

• Minimum of 3 years of project management experience -   preferred
• Experience managing technology projects using waterfall and/or agile methodologies - preferred
• Experience managing multiple projects of moderate to high risk - preferred
• Experience working in a highly collaborative and cross-functional environment preferred

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS SPECIFIC TO JOB

• Effectively manages and prioritizes workload of self/team to meet and/or exceed expectations
• Ability to influence all levels of staff to accomplish project goals
• Ability to influence all levels of staff to accomplish project goals
• Ability to communicate verball