ERP Lead

About the role

The ERP Lead is the most time-sensitive hire in the program. Pilot scope definition, ERP partner selection, RFP issuance, and S/4 design are all blocked until this person is in post. AYNA has a recommendation. The goal is to hire and onboard before end of Q2 2026.

Responsibilities

• S/4 design and delivery
• Own S/4 design end to end — FI, CO, and PS module scope across US pilot and Germany template
• Define pilot entity scope, module configuration, and deployment sequencing in collaboration with the transformation lead
• Lead ERP partner selection — define evaluation criteria, assess partner shortlist, and issue the RFP
• Manage the implementation partner day to day — hold them accountable to scope, quality, and timeline
• Drive data migration planning — legacy data from Elliott and SAP ECC, validation approach, and cutover sequencing
• Own the integration design between S/4, SAP BTP, Tagetik, CRM (C4C), and field service (FSM)
• Finance process translation
• Collaborate with the transformation lead on month-end close redesign — translate agreed process changes into S/4 workflow, journal entry automation, and Financial Closing Cockpit configuration
• Support COA implementation in S/4 — the unified account structure is designed by the transformation lead; the ERP Lead ensures it is configured correctly and consistently across all entities
• Drive resolution of SAP ECC master data gaps — approximately 20 to 25 percent of material costs in Germany are currently flagged due to booking errors; these must be resolved before S/4 configuration begins
• Coordinate with Jan-Niklas and Werner on the SAP PS profitability tracking POC in Rendsburg — they own this work; the ERP Lead ensures S/4 design accommodates their approach and the POC findings feed into the deployment template
• Change management and training
• Work closely with the implementation partner to design the change management approach — impact assessment, stakeholder engagement plan, and readiness checkpoints at each phase gate
• Drive development of training materials with the implementation partner — role-based training covering new workflows in S/4, Financial Closing Cockpit, and reporting
• Ensure training covers both US and Germany teams — account for language, process differences, and the different ERP starting points (Elliott vs SAP ECC)
• Track change readiness across the program — surface adoption risks early and escalate to the transformation lead and steering committee
• Support hypercare after go-live — ensure staff have the support they need to operate confidently in the new system
• Program leadership
• Report to the transformation lead and participate in weekly steering committee
• Own the ERP workstream — track milestones, surface risks early, and drive decisions to closure
• Bridge the US and Germany teams — both entities are in scope and must be aligned on design decisions
• Contribute to the RPA reconciliation bridge and KPI layer design in Phase 2

Requirements

• 8 to 12 years of SAP experience with at least one full S/4HANA Public Cloud implementation delivered as program or workstream lead — not as a team member
• Deep functional expertise in FI and CO — journal entry automation, close process configuration, reconciliation frameworks, consolidation feeds to Tagetik or equivalent
• SAP PS experience — project systems, revenue recognition, POC calculation, profitability reporting
• Experience managing an external SAP implementation partner — RFP process, named resource accountability, and quality management
• Experience working across US and European entities — understanding of statutory reporting differences, multi-entity consolidation, and cross-border close dependencies
• Demonstrated experience designing and delivering change management and end-user training programs as part of an ERP implementation

Strong advantages

• SAP ECC to S/4 migration experience — understanding of the technical delta, data migration complexity, and change impact
• Experience with SAP BTP integration — connecting S/4 to CRM, FSM, and supplier portal
• Familiarity with Tagetik or similar consolidation platforms — direct SAP integration, group account mapping
• Making manufacturing or industrial company background — understanding of SAP PS, contract manufacturing, and WIP reporting
• Experience with RPA tools for close automation and reconciliation bridging
• German language skills

Who you are

• You have led programs, not just participated in them — you know the difference between owning a workstream and contributing to one
• You are comfortable holding a partner accountable by name — scope creep, missed milestones, and named resource gaps do not get past you
• You translate between finance and IT without losing either audience — you can review a BTP integration spec in the morning and discuss close process redesign in the afternoon
• You understand that change management is not a workstream you hand off — you stay close to adoption risk throughout the program
• You surface problems early rather than managing them quietly — the steering committee hears about risks from you before they become issues
• You are organized enough to run a complex program and direct enough to keep a small team moving without bureaucracy

About Lapmaster Wolters

Lapmaster Wolters is a global leader in precision surface finishing and lapping technology, serving semiconductor, aerospace, automotive, and optical industries. With manufacturing operations in the US, Germany, UK, Singapore, and Asia, the company produces precision machines and consumables used in the most demanding surface finishing applications in the world.

The company is privately held and in a period of strategic investment — the finance and digital transformation program is a direct commitment from ownership to build the systems and processes that will support the next phase of growth.