Director, Finance Systems Strategy and Transformation

Worldwide Clinical Trials•Carolina, NC

1d•$145,500 - $288,500

About The Position

This role serves as the enterprise leader responsible for evolving the Finance technology stack and data architecture in alignment with the shift to Artificial Intelligence (AI) and intelligent automation. The Director acts as a senior advisor and transformation leader to Finance leadership across Accounts Payable, Procurement, Accounts Receivable, Accounting, Tax, Project Finance, Treasury, and Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A). The Director owns the multi-year Finance transformation roadmap, leads programs and projects focused on delivering measurable business outcomes, and partners closely with process engineers, data engineers, and enterprise architecture to modernize systems, streamline operations, and embed AI-driven capabilities across the finance function. Success in this role requires deep expertise in finance systems architecture, a strong command of AI and automation trends, and the ability to translate complex business requirements into scalable, governed, and high-impact technology solutions within a complex, global enterprise environment.

Requirements

Deep understanding of Finance operations across the various domains, including upstream and downstream process dependencies
Strong working knowledge of AI, machine learning, and intelligent automation applied to Finance, including agentic AI, Robotic Process Automation (RPA), and embedded platform capabilities
Proven ability to architect and evolve enterprise Finance technology stacks and data architectures
Ability to build trusted partnerships with Finance, Information Technology (IT), Data, and business process leaders
Excellent communication skills, with the ability to translate complex technology and data concepts into executive-ready language
Strategic mindset combined with strong systems-thinking and architectural capabilities
Strong program leadership skills, with a track record of delivering measurable outcomes on large, complex initiatives
High attention to detail with a strong focus on governance, data quality, controls, and auditability
Comfortable operating in a global, matrixed organization with multiple stakeholders and competing priorities
Strong problem-solving skills and comfort managing ambiguity in evolving transformation environments
10+ years of experience in finance transformation, finance systems, or enterprise technology leadership roles
Demonstrated experience evolving finance technology stacks and data architectures in support of AI and automation strategies
Deep hands-on experience with one or more core finance platforms (e.g., NetSuite, Certinia, Concur) and supporting ecosystem tools
Proven experience leading process re-engineering efforts in partnership with process engineers and Finance operations
Strong understanding of data governance, master data management, and modern data architectures (data warehouse, lakehouse, integration patterns)
Experience evaluating, selecting, and implementing AI-enabled and agentic Finance solutions
Proven success developing business requirements and delivering technology-based solutions across multiple Finance domains
Excellent project management, communication, and executive presentation skills
Ability to work independently and serve as the design authority for Finance transformation initiatives
Bachelor's Degree in Information Technology (IT), Finance, Accounting, or a related field

Responsibilities

Serve as the primary transformation leader across the Finance front, middle, and back-office Finance domains
Own and maintain the multi-year Finance Transformation roadmap, with a clear focus on evolving the technology stack and data architecture to support AI and automation
Lead complex, cross-functional programs and projects from concept through hypercare, ensuring measurable outcomes tied to efficiency, accuracy, controls, and business impact
Partner closely with process engineers to identify improvement opportunities, eliminate manual effort, reduce cycle times, and re-engineer end-to-end finance processes
Develop and document business requirements, translating Finance leader pain points and strategic objectives into actionable technology-based solutions
Evaluate build versus buy decisions across Finance domains, with a preference for commoditized, proven platforms where appropriate and a clear rationale where custom builds deliver differentiated capability
Partner with Finance leads across the domains to define target operating models, align solution design, and ensure adoption
Collaborate with data engineers and the enterprise data team on data governance, master data management, and data quality standards required to enable trusted analytics, reporting, and AI use cases
Lead forward-thinking AI initiatives across the Finance function, including agentic Finance use cases, predictive forecasting, intelligent document processing, anomaly detection, and automated reconciliations
Ensure alignment to governance, explainability, and control frameworks for AI and automation deployed within the Finance technology landscape
Architect the evolution of the Finance technology stack to ensure scalability, integration, and resilience
Drive vendor evaluations, Requests for Proposal (RFPs), and assessments for new Finance platforms
Work closely with the Finance Systems team to manage relationships with strategic vendors and ensure value realization through renewals and roadmap alignment
Partner with enterprise architecture, integration, and security teams to ensure all solutions adhere to architectural standards, data protection, and compliance requirements
Lead stakeholder communications, executive updates, and steering committee forums, translating technical strategy into clear, business-ready language for Finance leaders and the broader executive team
Define and track Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and benefit realization metrics for each transformation initiative, ensuring measurable outcomes are delivered and reported
Provide day-to-day guidance, coaching, and mentoring for 1-3 direct reports (business analysts/architects)
Perform other duties as assigned.