Technical Product Owner, SAP RTR​/RAR

** We believe in the power and joy of learning*
* At Cengage, our employees have a direct impact in helping students around the world discover the power and joy of learning. We are bonded by our shared purpose - driving innovation that helps millions of learners improve their lives and achieve their dreams through education.

Cengage's portfolio of businesses supports student choice by providing a range of pathways that help learners achieve their goals and lead a choice-filled life.

** Our culture values inclusion, engagement, and discovery*
* Our business is driven by our strong culture, and we know that creating an inclusive workplace is absolutely essential to the success of our company and our learners, as well as our individual well-being. We recognize the value of diverse perspectives in everything we do, and strive to ensure employees of all levels and backgrounds feel empowered to voice their ideas and bring their authentic selves to work.

We achieve these priorities through programs, benefits, and initiatives that are integrated into the fabric of how we work every day. To learn more, please see   .

Cengage requires a Technical Product Owner possessing proven experience in SAP Record-to-Report (RTR), Revenue Accounting & Reporting (RAR), and deep familiarity with SAP S/4 Finance. This role oversees advancements across our enterprise financial systems. You will work alongside Finance business leads and multifunctional peers to guarantee all solutions implement to Cengage's process standards, architectural frameworks, and strategic ERP roadmap.

This role is crucial to strengthening our RTR/RAR capabilities and ensuring a stable, scalable, compliant, and audit‑ready financial foundation for the business.

** What You'll Do*
* As the Technical Product Owner, you will be accountable for the advancement and optimization of our financial systems. Your knowledge will link finance and technology, providing seamless integration and reliable functionality.

** Drive RTR/RAR Strategy, Standards, and Requirements*
* + Collaborate with Controllership, Revenue Accounting, FP&A, Finance, and Technology leaders to collect requirements, validate business needs, and ensure alignment with standard RTR/RAR processes and enterprise build principles.

+ Translate business needs into clear user stories, acceptance criteria, and functional specifications that safeguard system integrity and compliance.

+ Ensure solution suitability by verifying that all RTR / RAR modifications follow SAP guidelines, internal controls, accounting standards (GAAP/ASC 606/IFRS 15), and global templates.

** Lead the RTR/RAR Product Roadmap and Governance*
* + Lead and prioritize the product backlog for SAP RAR, RTR, GL accounting, financial close, and revenue workflows.

+ Build and maintain a multi-quarter roadmap that improves financial accuracy, automation, controls, audit readiness, and operational scale.

+ Ensure that backlog items align with Finance leadership priorities, compliance requirements, and Cengage's broader ERP transformation strategy.

+ Facilitate establishing authority and conducting development governance reviews, ensuring all RTR/RAR solutions meet the necessary quality and compliance standards.

** Ensure Delivery of High‑Quality SAP Finance Improvements*
* + Partner 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 test outcomes to guarantee financial accuracy, data integrity, and alignment with RTR/RAR standards.

+ Lead root-cause analysis, defect management, and long-term stabilization of RTR and RAR processes.

** Lead Agile Execution*
* + Own sprint planning, backlog refinement, and release readiness in partnership with IT delivery teams.

+ Ensure visibility, clear prioritization, and timely delivery across internal IT teams and external implementation partners.

+ Champion quality and accountability across all stages of composing, building, testing, and releasing cycles.

** Optimize End-to-End RTR & RAR…