Associate Director, Financial Planning

Wolters Kluwer•New York City, NY

23h•Hybrid

About The Position

The Associate Director, Financial Planning, leads critical financial planning and business performance activities for Wolters Kluwer’s Legal & Regulatory US (LR) Division. The role is a strategic business partner to the Divisional CEO, CFO, and Business Unit leadership teams, and plays a central part in annual strategy and budget development, quarterly forecasting, business performance analysis, investment prioritization, and improving financial processes, tools, and decision support across the Division. The position calls for a commercially minded, hands-on senior finance leader who develops a detailed understanding of the business, its commercial drivers, operating models, systems, processes, and data. The Associate Director moves between strategic discussions with senior executives and direct involvement in complex analyses and processes. This senior people-leadership role also includes significant individual-contributor responsibility, executive communication, constructive challenge, accountability, and delivery of results in a collaborative and professional manner. The role includes practical use of AI, automation, and emerging analytical tools to improve the quality, efficiency, and scalability of Finance and divisional processes.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in finance, Accounting, Economics, or a related business field.
At least 7 years of experience in finance, financial planning, business operations, or related roles.
Significant progressive experience in financial planning, business partnering, corporate finance, or business operations, including leading and developing professional-level employees.
Ability to operate as both a people leader and an individual contributor, personally engaging in complex analysis and problem-solving when required.
Ability to quickly develop a deep understanding of complex businesses, processes, systems, data, and commercial models.
Strong business analytics capabilities, including identifying root causes, developing insights, and translating analysis into actionable recommendations.
Strong financial analysis, forecasting, scenario modeling, business performance management, and investment evaluation capabilities.
Demonstrated success partnering with executives and senior leaders, influencing decisions without relying solely on positional authority, and driving complex issues toward resolution.
Experience developing and implementing successful financial or operational strategies in a complex, cross-functional organization.
Executive presence and exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to simplify complex topics and communicate a clear point of view.
Confident, constructive communication style, with the ability to ask difficult questions, challenge assumptions, pursue outcomes, and build trusted relationships.
Strong understanding of accounting principles and financial management, and ability to synthesize quantitative and qualitative information into aligned recommendations and action plans.
Self-motivated and comfortable operating with ambiguity, independently identifying needed work and driving it forward without extensive direction.
Approachable and collaborative leadership style, combined with high expectations for quality, accountability, and results.
Advanced proficiency with financial modeling, Excel, PowerPoint, enterprise financial systems, data visualization, and analytical tools; comfort rapidly learning and adopting new technologies.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in business administration, Finance, Accounting, or a related discipline.

Responsibilities

Partner with business and functional leaders to develop processes, governance, and performance frameworks that strengthen ownership, transparency, and accountability.
Support the LR Division’s annual Budget, VSP strategic planning, and quarterly forecasting processes, including full P&L and Cash Flow.
Develop a deep understanding of the Division’s businesses, commercial models, operating processes, systems, and value drivers to identify risks, opportunities, and performance improvements.
Translate complex financial, operational, and commercial information into clear insights, recommendations, and actions for senior leadership.
Investigate performance drivers, challenge assumptions constructively, and connect investments and activities to business outcomes.
Develop business cases for key investment priorities and establish governance and performance tracking to ensure commitments are delivered.
Improve financial insight into operational areas while strengthening financial controls, forecast accuracy, and business accountability.
Lead initiatives to improve management reporting, analytical capabilities, processes, systems, and tools, simplifying complexity and improving decision-making speed and quality.
Identify and implement practical uses of AI, automation, advanced analytics, and related technologies to reduce manual effort, enhance analysis, and create scalable efficiencies across Finance and the Division.
Work across functions to resolve complex business and process challenges and constructively challenge established approaches when improvements are possible.
Manage, coach, and develop a high-performing team of financial professionals while remaining actively engaged in analysis, problem-solving, and execution.
Build an environment where team members understand business context, ask thoughtful questions, develop ideas, and take ownership of outcomes.
Prioritize and drive multiple initiatives in a dynamic environment with competing demands and high expectations for quality and responsiveness.