Technical Product Owner, SAP RTR/RAR

Cengage is seeking a Technical Product Owner to advance SAP Record-to-Report (RTR) and Revenue Accounting & Reporting (RAR) capabilities within SAP S/4 Finance. This role partners with Finance and technology teams to deliver compliant, audit-ready, scalable workflows using an Agile approach.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with Controllership, Revenue Accounting, FP&A, Finance, and Technology leaders to gather requirements, validate business needs, and ensure alignment with standard RTR/RAR processes and enterprise build principles.
• Convert business requirements into user stories, acceptance criteria, and functional specifications that protect system integrity and compliance.
• Validate that all RTR/RAR modifications follow SAP guidelines, internal controls, and accounting standards including GAAP, ASC 606, and IFRS 15, consistent with global templates.
• Own and prioritize the product backlog for SAP RAR, RTR, GL accounting, financial close, and revenue workflows.
• Develop and maintain a multi-quarter roadmap focused on improving financial accuracy, automation, controls, audit readiness, and operational scale.
• Run development governance reviews to confirm RTR/RAR solutions meet required quality and compliance standards.
• Define and track success through measurable outcomes such as financial accuracy, faster close, increased automation, fewer reconciliation exceptions, improved controls, and reduced operational risk.
• Work with SAP functional analysts, developers, and architecture teams to deliver improvements across revenue recognition, contract asset/liability calculations, GL posting logic, period-end close processes, reconciliations, and reporting structures.
• Confirm functional builds and testing results to ensure financial accuracy, data integrity, and adherence to RTR/RAR standards.
• Lead root-cause analysis, defect management, and long-term stabilization efforts for RTR and RAR processes.
• Partner with IT delivery teams on sprint planning, backlog refinement, and release readiness.
• Maintain visibility into prioritization and delivery across internal IT teams and external implementation partners.
• Support quality and accountability across composing, building, testing, and releasing cycles.
• Identify and resolve issues that impact revenue accuracy, subledger-to-ledger alignment, period-end close timing, and consistency with financial policies.
• Coordinate cross-team problem-solving and ensure remediation plans result in durable process improvements.
• Partner across platforms to optimize integrations between SAP, revenue engines, data platforms, consolidation tools, and downstream reporting systems.
• Ensure consistent and accurate data flow from order intake through revenue, subledger, and general ledger workflows.
• Monitor SAP feature updates, regulatory changes, and revisions to accounting standards including ASC 606 and IFRS 15.
• Apply lessons learned from large-scale ERP transformation programs to strengthen decision-making, risk mitigation, and solution reliability.

Requirements

• 10–12 years of experience as a Technical Product Owner, Business Analyst, or functional lead supporting SAP RTR, RAR, or financial ERP processes.
• Strong expertise in SAP S/4HANA Finance, including FI/CO, RAR, financial posting logic, and close processes.
• Demonstrated ability to maintain alignment with finance process standards, accounting policies, and SAP guidelines.
• Strong analytical capability to diagnose system, process, and data issues affecting financial accuracy.
• Agile delivery experience using tools such as Jira or Monday.com (or similar platforms).
• High-performing communication and interpersonal skills to translate Finance and Accounting needs into scalable technical specifications.

Technologies

• SAP
• SAP S/4HANA
• SAP S/4HANA Finance
• FI/CO
• RAR
• RTR
• Jira
• Monday.com
• GAAP
• ASC 606
• IFRS 15

Benefits

• Eligible to participate in the company’s discretionary incentive bonus program.
• 15% annual: Individual Target.
• Company provides a comprehensive and rewarding Total Rewards package.
• Reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities, including during the job application process.

Preferred Qualifications

• Deep experience with SAP S/4HANA RAR, compliance frameworks, and financial controls.
• Experience supporting multi-entity, multi-product, or global financial operating models.
• Background supporting ERP transformation, stabilization, or financial modernization programs.
• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business, Information Systems, or equivalent experience.
• SAP Finance certifications.

Why This Role Matters

This position directly supports the reliability of Cengage’s financial reporting system. The work contributes to accurate revenue recognition, credible financial statements, smooth period-end close execution, and ongoing consistency with evolving accounting standards. By strengthening financial controls and reducing operational risk, the role increases clarity across a complex global environment.