Finance Manager

Workday•Pleasanton, CA

18d•$133,100 - $236,500•Hybrid

About The Position

Workday is seeking a highly motivated, intensely curious, and execution-focused Finance Manager to be a key financial partner within our Product Finance organization. This is a role for someone who thrives in ambiguity, moves fast, and knows how to build clarity and structure where none yet exists — bringing a startup operator's mindset into the scale and impact of Workday. You will be responsible for providing financial leadership, strategic support, and operational analysis to drive the growth and success of a Business Unit within our support model. You will serve as a trusted advisor to senior leaders, translating complex financial data into a compelling narrative and influencing strategic outcomes. You won't wait for a perfect playbook — you'll write it. This is a unique opportunity to directly support a high-visibility, high-impact area of Workday's business, where you will be at the forefront of the company's growth story. You will be instrumental in enabling data-driven decisions by providing financial and operational analytics, forecasting, and recommendations — often on tight timelines and evolving problem statements.

Requirements

10+ years of related experience in Finance, Accounting, or a related business function, with a focus on FP&A (Financial Planning & Analysis).
Bachelor's Degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field.
Demonstrated ability to excel in ambiguous, fast-changing, or greenfield environments — startup, scale-up, new business unit, or 0-to-1 initiative experience is highly valued.
Extreme intellectual curiosity — you dig deeper than the ask, learn new domains quickly, and aren't afraid to challenge the status quo.
A strong bias for action and a track record of getting things done without waiting for perfect information, structure, or headcount.
Proven ability to operate as a business partner, with a mindset of co-ownership and a track record of influencing strategic outcomes without formal authority.
Exceptional analytical and financial modeling skills, with expertise in building scalable and repeatable processes from scratch.
Strong proficiency with ERP systems and financial planning tools (e.g., Workday Financials, Adaptive Planning).

Nice To Haves

Experience supporting a GTM or commercial organization is highly desirable.
Master's degree in a business function (e.g., MBA, Master's in Finance) is a plus.
Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to synthesize complex data and effectively communicate with diverse stakeholders — from analysts to executives.
A positive, self-starter attitude with a willingness to adapt to rapid business and organizational changes, and to lead others through them.
Experience supporting a business unit focused on technology, AI, or product development is highly desirable.

Responsibilities

Serve as the primary finance partner for business unit leaders, providing strategic financial input and leadership on issues affecting the organization, including evaluation of potential investments, new bets, and business development initiatives — even when the path forward isn't fully defined.
Partner with the sales, marketing, and GTM strategy teams to drive the commercial success of the business unit portfolio. Provide financial analysis on pricing and packaging strategies, and other revenue-driving initiatives, moving quickly from hypothesis to recommendation.
Lead and manage all financial planning and analysis processes for the business unit, including annual planning, long-range planning, budgeting, and rolling forecasts — while continuously questioning assumptions and stress-testing the model.
Own the preparation of monthly and quarterly financial reporting and analytics packages. Consolidate and report on business activities, translating complex financial data into clear, concise, and actionable insights for business leaders and executive leadership.
Perform qualitative financial analysis of key performance indicators (KPIs), apply financial modeling to generate insights into business performance, and advise on the financial impact of operational decisions. Proactively surface issues, spot patterns others miss, and recommend actions to improve financial performance before being asked.
Drive continuous improvement, standardization, and simplification of financial processes and reporting. Build scrappy solutions when needed, then scale them — with accuracy and attention to detail in a fast-paced environment.
Actively participate in cross-functional initiatives to establish robust measurement and monitoring practices. Collaborate closely with IT, Data, and other finance teams to align system capabilities with business goals.