Project Manager

Job Title: Project Manager III Location: Sacramento, CA, 94203 Duration: 12 Months Contract (Good possibilities of extension) Job Description: Experienced Senior IT Project Manager & Scrum Master to join our Enterprise Technology Finance team. This strategic role will lead business-as-usual (BAU) operations, manage incident resolution, deliver small to medium Finance IT projects, and drive Agile transformation within a dynamic, cross-functional environment. You will partner with Finance, Enterprise Technology, and external service providers to implement solutions that enhance operational efficiency, reduce recurring issues, eliminate non-value-added work, improve global service delivery, and enable data-driven financial decision-making. Key Highlights: Manage end-to-end Finance IT projects and day-to-day BAU operations Oversee incident management, root cause analysis, and timely resolution of production issues Provide executive summaries and escalate issues promptly to leadership Ensure the team is focused on the right priorities and eliminate non-value-added work Reduce recurring issues, inefficiencies, and waste through process optimization Lead Agile ceremonies and ensure quality in user stories Maintain data integrity for reporting in Azure DevOps (ADO) Expertise in PeopleSoft Financials, Oracle Cloud Applications, and SDLC Key Responsibilities: 1. BAU Operations & Incident Management Oversee day-to-day Finance IT operations, ensuring stability and performance of critical systems. Manage incident response, including triage, RCA, and resolution to minimize business disruption. Provide timely executive summaries of major incidents and escalate critical issues to leadership. Identify and eliminate non-value-added work, recurring issues, and inefficiencies through process optimization and automation. Track and report on incident trends, implementing preventive measures and continuous improvement. 2. Strategic Project Leadership Own end-to-end delivery of Finance IT initiatives, from planning through deployment, ensuring alignment with business priorities and technology strategy. Drive Agile ceremonies (daily stand-ups, sprint planning, retrospectives) and foster a culture of continuous improvement. Ensure the team is working on the right priorities, balancing BAU and project commitments effectively. Lead cross-functional teams and external vendors to manage dependencies, mitigate risks, and deliver high-quality outcomes on time and within budget. 3. Governance & Delivery Excellence Develop and maintain comprehensive project plans, including WBS, sprint schedules, and dashboards. Ensure PMO rigor through standardized documentation, governance, and compliance with enterprise frameworks. Maintain audit-ready documentation in centralized repositories (Azure DevOps, SharePoint). 4. Risk & Issue Management Proactively identify and resolve risks, issues, and blockers to maintain project momentum. Implement scalable solutions that support critical timelines and evolving business needs. 5. Reporting & Insights Deliver executive-level reporting through KPIs, dashboards, and concise summaries. Ensure data quality and integrity for reporting in ADO and other systems. Required Experience & Qualifications: 10+ years of experience managing BAU and complex IT projects, ideally within Finance or Enterprise Applications. Deep expertise in SDLC methodologies (Waterfall, Agile, Hybrid) and ability to tailor approaches for project needs. Hands-on experience with PeopleSoft Financials and Oracle Cloud Fusion Applications. Proven success in Agile delivery and Scrum leadership across distributed teams. Strong track record of managing external vendors and application service providers. Strong stakeholder management, communication, and influencing skills. Ability to navigate ambiguity, drive consensus, and lead through influence. Demonstrated sound judgment and strong critical analytical skills for effective decision-making. Certifications: PMP and Agile/Scrum Master (CSM, SAFe, or equivalent) strongly preferred. Proficiency in ServiceNow, Azure DevOps, MS Project, Excel, PowerPoint, Power BI, SharePoint, Teams.