Finance Selection Partner

Anchor is mobilising a Finance Future State Systems programme as part of its wider Finance transformation and Corporate Systems agenda. The programme is intended to establish a modern, scalable and sustainable Finance technology architecture, supported by appropriate processes, data, controls, integration and operating-model arrangements. Key information about the requirement: Anchor is seeking to appoint an independent and experienced Finance Systems Selection Partner to support the controlled definition, market assessment and selection of its future core Finance technology solution. The appointment is an enabling stage within Anchor’s wider Finance Future State Systems programme. It is not an appointment to supply the Finance software itself or to act as the subsequent implementation partner. Considerable preparatory work has already been undertaken (via a consultant PwC and internally), including:

• assessment of the current Finance technology estate;

• documentation of current processes;

• finance maturity and capability assessments;

• stakeholder-alignment activity;

• high level functional requirements

• high-level fit-gap and options work;

• development of a Finance systems roadmap and programme charter; and

• initial consideration of system, data, reporting, integration and organisational dependencies. The selected partner will be expected to build on and critically assess and revalidate this existing evidence rather than repeat work unnecessarily. The anticipated scope may include:

• reviewing and assuring existing discovery, fit-gap, process, capability and requirements material;

• working with Finance, Change, IT and other relevant business stakeholders to validate and deepen functional and non-functional requirements;

• supporting the definition of future-state Finance capabilities and ensuring alignment with the emerging Finance Target Operating Model;

• assessing relevant Finance systems and market options without predetermining a supplier or product;

• helping Anchor distinguish essential requirements from areas where processes could be standardised or redesigned;

• developing a proportionate and defensible evaluation framework;

• supporting market engagement, longlisting and shortlisting;

• designing structured supplier demonstrations, use cases, workshops, scenarios and, where appropriate, testing or sandbox activity;

• supporting supplier evaluation, moderation, due diligence and reference activity;

• providing independent challenge concerning product fit, implementation implications, integration, data, architecture, security, controls and deliverability;

• supporting commercial and procurement activity alongside Anchor’s Procurement team;

• producing a clear, evidence-based recommendation for the preferred future Finance solution; and

• supporting the development of the subsequent investment business case and transition into implementation mobilisation. The initial programme scope is expected to include core Finance capabilities such as:

• core accounting and general ledger;

• procure-to-pay and purchasing;

• accounts payable and receivable;

• income-related Finance processes;

• fixed assets;

• cash, treasury interfaces and banking;

• financial reporting, controls and auditability;

• financial planning and analysis;

• relevant data, master-data and integration requirements; and

• interfaces with Finance-adjacent and wider corporate systems. The work must consider dependencies across Finance, Procurement, Technology, Data, People, Housing, Care and other relevant services. It must also recognise that the Finance technology solution and the Finance Target Operating Model will evolve iteratively, with operating-model decisions informing technology requirements and technology opportunities informing future processes, roles and ways of working. Anchor is not seeking a simple product comparison based on a large static list of features. We are interested in a structured, outcome-led and evidence-based selection approach that uses representative business scenarios and stakeholder participation to test how potential solutions would operate in Anchor’s environment. The detailed specification will be available on Monday 26th October.