Associate Director - Product Management

Associate Director, Product Management – Finance Location: Chicago, IL (hybrid) About The CompanyWe are a leading global law firm dedicated to excellence and innovation in serving our clients. Our culture emphasizes collaboration, continuous improvement, and forward-thinking approaches. We leverage advanced technology and data intelligence to drive operational excellence and deliver superior outcomes.Job SummaryWe are seeking an Associate Director of Product Management for Finance to join our Data Solutions product team. The successful candidate will demonstrate strong product leadership capabilities combined with solid business judgment and a history of successfully implementing product-focused organizational models. In this position, you will act as the key product management liaison for our Finance function—a critical and sophisticated business area. Leading a team of 5-10 professionals, you will connect strategic business goals with technology implementation, revolutionizing our approach to financial operations, reporting, analytics, and strategic decision-making through contemporary product methodologies and artificial intelligence-powered solutions.Key Responsibilities Strategic Product Planning: Establish and maintain the product vision, strategic direction, and development roadmap for Finance solutions, ensuring coordination with broader enterprise data initiatives and organizational priorities. Convert sophisticated financial needs into concrete, valuable product programs spanning financial planning, accounting, reporting, analytics, and operational processes. Advocate for product-centric approaches within Finance, working with stakeholders to evolve from traditional project delivery toward durable, scalable product frameworks. Product Development & Delivery: Oversee complete product development cycles from initial discovery through final implementation, utilizing proven product management methodologies such as user research, hypothesis validation, prioritization models, and incremental delivery approaches. Work directly with Finance partners to identify challenges, discover opportunities, and transform unclear or complicated requirements into clearly defined, actionable problems. Curate and advance the Finance product pipeline, ensuring alignment with strategic objectives, user requirements, and technical viability. People Management & Growth: Recruit, coach, and nurture an exceptional team of Product Managers while cultivating an environment of partnership, responsibility, ongoing development, and results focus. Establish transparent goals, deliver consistent mentorship and constructive feedback, and build a workplace that inspires and acknowledges excellent performance. Exemplify product management excellence and act as a strategic advisor to the team on sophisticated challenges. Partnership & Coordination: Collaborate effectively with Engineering and Design organizations to guarantee smooth execution of superior solutions that satisfy business requirements and technical excellence standards. Work alongside Data & AI teams to harness enterprise information assets, sophisticated analytics, and artificial intelligence functionalities. Develop robust partnerships with Finance leadership and partners, functioning as a reliable consultant and maintaining clear, honest communication about expectations. Align with other product teams throughout the organization to promote consistency, integration, and unified direction. Financial & Analytical Expertise: Demonstrate comprehensive knowledge of finance, accounting, reporting, and analytics principles to inform product choices and engage effectively with Finance colleagues. Employ insights derived from data to shape product strategy, evaluate outcomes, and illustrate business value. Remain informed about developing trends in financial technology, artificial intelligence, and product management approaches, converting knowledge into practical enhancements. Leadership Communication & Influence: Create and present persuasive updates to Finance executives, senior leadership, and cross-functional collaborators. Bridge technical and business perspectives by converting complex technical concepts into accessible business terminology and translating business requirements into technical specifications. Shape decision-making processes and foster agreement among varied stakeholder communities, skillfully managing complexity and conflicting priorities with tact and strategic insight.Requirements Education: Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Computer Science, Engineering, Business Administration, or related discipline. Experience: Minimum 10 years of professional experience with at least 5 years focused on product management and 5+ years in leadership positions. Documented success guiding products from concept through launch while achieving quantifiable business results in sophisticated, multi-stakeholder environments. Skills: Comprehensive mastery of product management fundamentals including user research methodologies, roadmap creation, backlog administration, prioritization techniques, and agile delivery frameworks. Substantial experience partnering with Engineering and Design functions to develop scalable, high-caliber products. Capacity to rapidly grasp financial operations and specialized terminology. Outstanding stakeholder engagement and persuasion capabilities, including building credibility, setting appropriate expectations, and creating alignment among executive leaders and diverse teams. Executive-level presence with refined communication and presentation abilities. Robust analytical and critical thinking skills with ease operating in uncertain environments and making evidence-based decisions. Personal Attributes: Intellectually curious approach with inclination toward challenging existing practices, pursuing ongoing improvement, and investigating innovative approaches. Exceptionally organized, initiative-taking, and internally driven; capable of balancing competing demands and tight timelines while sustaining clarity and concentration. Ability to maintain confidentiality and demonstrate sound judgment. Exhibits ownership mentality, accountability, and reliable follow-through. Adaptable and goal-focused, with capacity to manage complexity and produce results in dynamic, fast-moving environments.Preferred Qualifications Advanced degree (Master's or MBA) in Business, Finance, Computer Science, or related area. Background in establishing or strengthening product-oriented organizational cultures. Verified success helping organizations adopt product-focused approaches, evolving from traditional project-based models to sustainable product thinking. Knowledge of artificial intelligence concepts and hands-on experience delivering AI-powered products or capabilities. Understanding of contemporary data platforms, data-as-a-product frameworks, and enterprise-scale data environments. Familiarity with legal industry or professional services sector. Track record working with distributed teams across multiple locations and using agile methodologies.