Freelance Consultant – Application Support Externalisation (Finance & Supply Chain Systems)

📍 Location: Paris (On-site with flexibility)

📄 Contract Type: Freelance / Interim (6–12 months)

🚀 Start Date: ASAP

🌍 Industry: Technology-Enabled Business Services

What is the role and company?

A global organisation operating across finance and supply chain domains is seeking an experienced Freelance Consultant to lead the transition of application support and maintenance activities to external service providers. The company has implemented several key platforms and is now looking to externalise ongoing support and development for these systems.

This Paris-based role is part of a broader operational optimisation initiative and will focus on setting up the framework for outsourced support, selecting and evaluating partners, and establishing service agreements.

What will I be doing?

As the appointed consultant, you will:

• Lead the externalisation strategy for support and maintenance of several business-critical applications, including finance and supply chain tools.
• Define the operational framework for outsourced services, including governance, escalation paths, and performance tracking.
• Manage the selection process for new service providers, including running RFI and RFP processes.
• Evaluate potential partners based on capability, cost-effectiveness, and alignment with business needs.
• Draft and negotiate Service Level Agreements (SLAs) to ensure quality and accountability.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders across IT, finance, and operations to ensure a smooth transition.
• Oversee knowledge transfer and onboarding of selected partners.
• Monitor progress and provide regular updates to senior leadership.

What profile will I require?

Required:

• Proven experience in managing outsourcing or externalisation projects, ideally within finance or supply chain environments.
• Strong understanding of support models and vendor management.
• Familiarity with platforms such as SideTrade, Generix, and Ivalua is highly desirable.
• Experience running structured RFI/RFP processes and negotiating SLAs.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and drive results in a complex, multi-stakeholder environment.
• Fluent in English and French.

Preferred:

• Background in IT service management or application lifecycle support.
• Experience working with international teams or multi-country operations.
• Knowledge of procurement or contract management processes.

Why should I take this role?

• Strategic Impact: Play a key role in shaping the future of application support for a global organisation.
• Autonomy: Lead a high-visibility project with ownership from start to finish.
• Flexibility: Freelance contract with a clear scope and timeline.
• Collaboration: Work with cross-functional teams and external partners.

How do I apply?

For more information on this opportunity, please do not hesitate to get in touch with Geoff Coleman from SA via email: Geoff@systemsaccountants.com.

Who we are?

SA is a leading global Financial Systems, Analytics, and Transformation recruitment company. We provide permanent & contractor recruitment solutions to enable clients to implement, support, develop, run & optimise, ERP, ERP and Analytics systems as well as finance transformation programmes including ESG topics. We source and screen finance systems professionals on a global basis. Unlike typical search & selection firms, our consultants have an international reach, which ensures that our clients and candidates receive market insight along with a tailored service.