Manager, Global Card & Expense Operations

Xylem is a Fortune 500 global water solutions company dedicated to advancing sustainable impact and empowering the people who make water work every day. As a leading water technology company with 23,000 employees operating in over 150 countries, Xylem is at the forefront of addressing the world's most critical water challenges. We invite passionate individuals to join our team, dedicated to exceeding customer expectations through innovative and sustainable solutions.

The Manager, Global Card & Expense Operations is responsible for leading and evolving the company’s global Corporate Card and Expense programs across 58 countries. This role goes beyond day-to-day operations and plays a key part in strengthening controls, driving compliance, leading cross-functional projects, and improving the effectiveness of expense and card-related processes.

The role will focus on the ongoing optimization of Corporate Card and Expense programs, with particular emphasis on audit, compliance, controls, policy governance, process improvement, and system enhancement initiatives. This individual will partner closely with Finance, Internal Audit, Tax, IT, Procurement, and shared services teams to identify risks, improve processes, support global consistency, and enhance the employee experience.

Manager, Global Card & Expense Operations Responsibilities:

Corporate Card & Expense Program Management

• Lead the company’s global Corporate Card and Expense programs, including program governance, policy adherence, operational oversight, and ongoing optimization across multiple countries and business environments.

• Oversee card-related processes including program administration, issuance, maintenance, controls, and exception management, while ensuring strong alignment with company policy and financial governance requirements.

• Manage SAP Concur Expense operations, including workflows, audit rules, policy configuration, and issue resolution, with a focus on strengthening efficiency, compliance, and user experience.

Audit, Compliance & Controls

• Lead initiatives related to expense and card audit activities, including pre-payment and post-payment review frameworks, control execution, and policy compliance monitoring.

• Partner with Internal Audit, Controllership, and other stakeholders on audit reviews, remediation plans, and control enhancements. Support the identification, documentation, and resolution of control gaps and compliance risks.

• Drive compliance initiatives related to global expense and card programs, including areas such as policy governance, documentation standards, and applicable tax/VAT considerations in partnership with the appropriate functional teams.

• Analyze program data to identify trends, exceptions, risk areas, and opportunities to improve compliance and strengthen internal controls.

Projects, Process Improvement & Systems Optimization

• Lead and support cross-functional projects related to card and expense transformation, process redesign, automation, and global standardization.

• Partner with IT and Finance systems teams to support SAP Concur Expense and ERP integrations, system enhancements, upgrades, testing, and issue resolution.

• Identify and implement process improvements that reduce manual effort, improve control effectiveness, and create a more scalable global operating model.

• Support change management efforts tied to policy updates, system enhancements, and process changes, including communications, training, and stakeholder alignment.

Reporting, Insights & Program Performance

• Develop and deliver reporting and insights related to spend, policy compliance, operational performance, control effectiveness, and program health.

• Use data and analysis to support decision-making, drive accountability, and recommend improvements to card and expense processes, policies, and controls.

• Track and monitor key operational and compliance metrics, ensuring visibility into performance, trends, and areas requiring corrective action.

Team Leadership & Cross-Functional Partnership

• Lead an offshore/shared services team that supports expense processing, audits, and employee support, helping ensure consistent execution and service quality.

• Establish and monitor service delivery expectations, including relevant SLAs and KPIs, while driving continuous improvement across the support model.

• Serve as a key point of contact for global card and expense matters and collaborate closely with stakeholders across Finance, IT, Procurement, Tax, Internal Audit, and shared services.

Required Qualifications

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

• 6–9 years of experience in Corporate Card, Expense, T&E, finance operations, or a related area, with meaningful experience in card and expense program management, compliance, controls, and process improvement.

• Strong experience with SAP Concur Expense and familiarity with ERP environments such as SAP S/4HANA.

• Experience leading or supporting audit, compliance, and control-related activities, including policy adherence, exception management, and remediation efforts.

• Demonstrated experience leading cross-functional initiatives or projects involving process improvement, systems, governance, or operational transformation.

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to interpret data, identify risks, and recommend practical solutions.

• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to work effectively across global and cross-functional teams.

• Experience working with shared services, offshore teams, or global operations in a complex organization.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting global expense and card programs across multiple countries.

• Exposure to VAT, tax, or regulatory considerations related to expense and card programs.

• Experience with automation, workflow optimization, or large-scale process redesign initiatives.

• Experience developing reporting, dashboards, and operational/compliance insights for leadership and business stakeholders.

• Prior people leadership experience strongly preferred.

The estimated salary range for this position is $125,000 to $145,000 plus bonus.   Starting pay is dependent on multiple factors, such as skills, experience and work location, and is not typically at the top of the range.  At Xylem we offer a competitive compensation package with a generous benefit package, including Medical, Dental, Vision plans, 401(k) with company contribution, paid time off, paid parental leave and tuition reimbursement.

Why Xylem?

We believe in supporting our employees both professionally and personally. Our benefits include:

· Paid parental leave, maternity support, and fertility benefits

· Flexibility and hybrid work options where applicable

· Health, dental, and vision insurance from day one

· Emotional health and wellness programs and Volunteer program (Watermark)

· Paid time off (PTO)/Flexible time off (FTO) and paid holidays

· Career development, advancement, tuition reimbursement, and student loan forgiveness

· Generous retirement savings plan with company contribution

· Employee recognition and discount programs

Ready to grow your career while making a difference? Join a team that values your skills, supports your development, and empowers you to help solve global water challenges.

Xylem does not provide sponsorship for this position.

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Join the global Xylem team to be a part of innovative technology solutions transforming water usage, conservation, and re-use. Our products impact public utilities, industrial sectors, residential areas, and commercial buildings, with a commitment to providing smart metering, network technologies, and advanced analytics for water, electric, and gas utilities. Partner with us in creating a world where water challenges are met with ingenuity and dedication; where we recognize the power of inclusion and belonging in driving innovation and allowing us to compete more effectively around the world.