Sr Manager, Portfolio Management - job 19 of 20

As a Senior Manager, Portfolio Management at Visa, key responsibilities include translating the finance vision into a world-class technology architecture, developing and managing the roadmap for this architecture, and conducting sessions for alignment with stakeholders. You'll also be responsible for driving major initiatives, creating strategic communications for Finance Leadership, analyzing current business needs, and supporting quarterly business reviews that optimize technology portfolios.

To be considered for the Senior Manager, Portfolio Management role at Visa, candidates typically need a strong background in finance, technology, or IT project management. Experience with overseeing large, complex global transformations, a solid understanding of Agile frameworks, and the ability to work in a matrixed environment are crucial. Strong analytical skills and the capacity to influence without authority are also essential for success in this role.

The Senior Manager, Portfolio Management plays a critical role in Visa's Finance Technology modernization by collaborating with key stakeholders to identify improvement opportunities and develop a comprehensive roadmap. This involves leveraging industry best practices to deliver recommendations, implementing a clear program management approach, and driving strategic initiatives that align with the overall vision for a world-class finance function.

The work environment for a Senior Manager, Portfolio Management at Visa is dynamic and collaborative. It's hybrid, allowing for flexibility between office and remote work. You'll work closely with various teams across Finance, IT, and the broader business, ensuring that you engage effectively with stakeholders at all levels to foster a culture of innovation and continuous improvement.

Essential skills for success in the Senior Manager, Portfolio Management role at Visa include strategic thinking, problem-solving capabilities, strong communication skills, and expertise in project management methodologies. Additionally, a background in finance systems, technology transformations, and the ability to influence in a matrixed environment are critical for effectively navigating this position.

In answering this question, highlight specific projects where you led transformation initiatives. Discuss your role, the challenges faced, and how your strategic decisions led to successful outcomes. It's important to showcase your ability to manage cross-functional teams and to illustrate your understanding of the factors that contribute to successful transformations.

When addressing this question, mention methodologies like Agile or PMO frameworks that you've effectively utilized in your projects. Explain how you adapt these methodologies to best fit team needs and project goals, ensuring that all stakeholders are aligned and engaged throughout the process.

Share examples of how you've successfully influenced stakeholders across different functions without direct authority. Discuss the communication strategies you employed, the importance of relationship-building, and how understanding their concerns helped drive your initiatives forward.

In response, focus on your analytical techniques, including data analysis, stakeholder interviews, and benchmarking against industry best practices. Highlight specific tools or frameworks you've used to gather insights and make informed recommendations.

Offer a specific example of a strategic deck or communication that you created for a leadership audience. Explain the context, the key messages you conveyed, and how it impacted decision-making or stakeholder engagement.

Discuss your familiarity with Product Lifecycle Management and how it relates to project management in finance technology. Provide examples where you've applied these principles to improve efficiency or outcomes in previous roles.

Address this by illustrating your method for compiling necessary data quickly while ensuring a thorough understanding of the context. Discuss tools or processes you’ve implemented to facilitate quick yet informed decision-making.

Explain how you’ve applied Agile principles to finance projects, including how it improved collaboration, responsiveness to changes, and stakeholder satisfaction. Make sure to provide examples of specific Agile practices you have implemented.

When answering this, provide an overview of your experience in developing compelling business cases, including what key elements you focus on to ensure that they resonate with decision-makers. Discuss how you've utilized these business cases to secure funding or approval for initiatives.

Conclude with how you establish metrics for evaluation at the onset of projects, using KPIs and success metrics tied to strategic goals. Discuss any tools you utilize for tracking progress and the importance of iterating on processes based on feedback and outcomes.