Manager Sr, Fleet Finance Operations

The Sr Manager, Fleet Finance Operations provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for all shipboard finance, financial technology (ATMs, Kiosks, etc.) and payroll functions across the fleet. This role is accountable for establishing efficient, standardized, and well‑controlled business processes that support financial integrity, crew experience, and guest operations. 

The Sr Manager, Fleet Finance Operations drives continuous improvement by redesigning and optimizing end‑to‑end finance and payroll processes, defining performance metrics, and building scalable operating models that enable consistent execution across a diverse, multinational shipboard workforce. Acting as a senior business partner to Hotel, Guest, and Marine Operations leaders, the role ensures finance and payroll processes enhance onboard service delivery while meeting regulatory, audit, and internal control requirements. This role serves as the lead business authority for requirements related to system enhancements, and partners with Financial Systems and IT teams to deliver on technology projects, ensuring business readiness, adoption, and value realization.

The Sr Manager, Fleet Finance Operations is responsible for talent acquisition and performance management for Finance Specialists, Paymasters, Inventory Managers and Financial Directors across a fleet of 29 vessels and new builds joining the Carnival Cruise Line fleet.

Essential Functions:

• Establish fleetwide strategy, governance, and standards for shipboard finance and payroll operations, ensuring alignment with corporate objectives, internal controls, SOX requirements, and regulatory obligations. Define and maintain clear operating models, roles, policies, procedures and accountability frameworks across shipboard and shoreside teams. Define and maintain clear operating models, roles and accountability frameworks across shipboard and shoreside teams.

• Lead the identification, design, and implementation of business process improvements that increase efficiency, accuracy, compliance, and scalability across fleet finance and payroll activities.

• Drive simplification and standardization across vessels, and operational contexts. Identify and leverage opportunities to incorporate AI, automation, and advanced analytics into finance and payroll processes to improve cycle times, reduce manual effort, enhance accuracy, and drive data‑driven decision‑making. Optimize cash utilization onboard, ATM and cash kiosk operations.

• Serve as a trusted strategic partner to shipboard and shoreside Hotel Operations, Guest Operations, Marine Operations, HR, and Finance leadership to ensure finance and payroll processes support onboard execution, crew and guest experience. Influence outcomes through collaboration and strong stakeholder management across global and multicultural teams.

• Lead the identification, design, and implementation of business process improvements that increase efficiency, accuracy, compliance, and scalability across fleet finance and payroll activities.

• Serve as a trusted strategic partner to shipboard and shoreside Hotel Operations, Guest Operations, Marine Operations, HR, and Finance leadership to ensure finance and payroll processes support onboard execution, crew and guest experience. Influence outcomes through collaboration and strong stakeholder management across global and multicultural teams..

• Establish and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) for shipboard finance and payroll functions, linking operational performance, service quality, and financial outcomes.

• Use data and insights to proactively identify gaps, trends, and improvement opportunities and to support executive decision‑making.

• Talent acquisition and performance management of all fleet finance teams, both shipboard and shoreside.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Scope:Enterprise level influence across shipboard and shoreside operations.

• Problem-solving: Expert ability to diagnose complex, cross-functional operational and financial challenges and design effective, sustainable process and system based solutions. Solid understanding and use of data science for decision making.

• Impact: Ability to establish enterprise standards for Fleet Finance systems, controls, and operating practices by driving consistent, scalable solutions that strengthen financial integrity, enhance operational reliability, enable data‑driven decision‑making, and support long‑term business growth across the fleet.

• Leadership: Ability to lead large teams and influence senior stakeholders through credibility, communication, and strategic insight, rather than direct authority alone.

For all roles:

• Knowledge: Understanding of workplace policies and procedures / Familiarity with team collaboration tools and techniques.

• Skills: Strong time management and organizational skills

• Abilities: Ability to maintain reliable and consistent attendance / Capacity to be punctual and meet deadlines / Ability to collaborate effectively with colleagues and work as part of a team / Demonstrated professionalism in all interactions and tasks.

Essential/Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, Business Informatics, or a related field.

• Master’s degree or MBA preferred.

• Microsoft Office Suite, advanced Excel skills, versed in PowerPoint and creation of executive level presentations.

• Skilled in developing business cases, executive‑level analyses, reporting, and presentations to support decision‑making and strategic initiatives.

• Highly desired: Working knowledge of emerging AI and automation capabilities and the ability to identify practical applications within finance and payroll operations.

Essential Experience Required:

• 15+ years of progressive experience in finance operations, financial systems, or business process management, within a complex, highly regulated, or operationally intensive environment (e.g., maritime, hospitality, transportation, or large‑scale services). 

• 5+ years people leadership experience managing large, diverse and multinational teams in the cruising industry. 

• Demonstrated experience acting as a business sponsor and subject matter expert for financial applications, including business requirements definition and change managment. Project Management Professional certification is a plus.

• Strong foundation in finance and accounting principles, payroll operations, internal controls, and compliance requirements.

• Proven track record of business process improvement, operational transformation, and efficiency creation at enterprise scale.

• Proven ability to lead through influence, partnering effectively with IT, Operations, Analytics, and Finance leadership to drive outcomes.

Travel:25-50% with shipboard travel likely

Work Conditions:Work primarily in a climate-controlled environment with minimal safety/health hazard potential.

Physical Demands:Must be able to remain in a stationary position at a desk and/or computer for extended periods of time.

This position is classified as “remote.”  As a remote role, it allows employees to work full-time from their home. It may also require regular travel to Carnival headquarters in Miami, FL for in-office collaboration.  Sourcing of candidates is primarily done in Carnival’s remote hubs of Orlando, Tampa, Atlanta, Houston, and Dallas.  If the search is extended past those areas, candidates must be located in one of the following U.S. states:  FL, GA, TX and NC 

Offers to selected candidates will be made on a fair and equitable basis, taking into account specific job-related skills and experience.   

At Carnival, your total rewards package is much more than your base salary. All non-sales roles participate in an annual cash bonus program, while sales roles have an incentive plan. Director and above roles may also be eligible to participate in Carnival’s discretionary equity incentive plan. Plus, Carnival provides comprehensive and innovative benefits to meet your needs, including: 

• Health Benefits: 

  • Cost-effective medical, dental and vision plans 
  • Employee Assistance Program and other mental health resources 
  • Additional programs include company paid term life insurance and disability coverage  
• Financial Benefits: 
  • 401(k) plan that includes a company match 
  • Employee Stock Purchase plan 
• Paid Time Off 
  • Holidays – All full-time and part-time with benefits employees receive days off for 8 company-wide holidays, plus 2 additional floating holidays to be taken at the employee’s discretion.  
  • Vacation Time – All full-time employees at the manager and below level start with 14 days/year; director and above level start with 19 days/year.  Part-time with benefits employees receive time off based on the number of hours they work, with a minimum of 84 hours/year.  All employees gain additional vacation time with further tenure. 
  • Sick Time – All full-time employees receive 80 hours of sick time each year.  Part-time with benefits employees receive time off based on the number of hours they work, with a minimum of 60 hours each year.   
• Other Benefits 
  • Complementary stand-by cruises, employee discounts on confirmed cruises, plus special rates for family and friends 
  • Personal and professional learning and development resources including tuition reimbursement  
  • On-site Fitness center at our Miami campus 

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