Lead Finance Applications & Systems Transformation

Vantive•Deerfield, IL

7d•$108,000 - $162,000

About The Position

The FAST Lead is a senior functional leader within the Finance Applications & Systems Transformation (FAST) organization, accountable for designing, operating, and continuously improving finance application and finance master data capabilities across one or more finance domains, including Accounting‑to‑Report (A2R / Close), Procure‑to‑Pay (P2P), Order‑to‑Cash (O2C), Finance Master Data Enablement, and SOX & Controls. Operating within the GFAM organization, this role serves as the functional owner of finance system behavior and outcomes, ensuring finance applications and finance master data are close‑ready, audit‑safe, and change‑disciplined, while enabling ongoing transformation through standardization, simplification, and automation. The FAST Lead translates enterprise standards and finance requirements into disciplined, finance‑specific execution, partnering closely with Finance, IT delivery teams, Enterprise MDM, Internal Controls, FAST Analysts, and managed services to institutionalize knowledge and enable independent, sustainable operations post‑transition.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred
8–12 years of experience in finance systems, ERP enablement, or finance transformation roles (Sr. Manager level)
Strong understanding of finance processes, accounting principles, close, and internal controls / SOX
Hands‑on experience with ERP finance modules and related finance applications
Demonstrated ability to drive knowledge transfer, documentation build‑out, and operating discipline in environments with limited existing documentation
Proven experience balancing operational stability and change delivery in complex environments
Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills, including root‑cause analysis
Effective communicator with the ability to partner across Finance, IT, Data, and Controls
Experience working in global, matrixed organizations preferred

Responsibilities

Act as the functional design authority for finance application configuration, posting logic, integrations, and embedded controls within assigned domain(s)
Lead requirements definition and translate finance business needs into clear, testable functional designs and specifications
Partner with IT delivery teams to ensure solutions are scalable, controlled, and aligned to finance and audit requirements
Lead and support Knowledge Transfer (KT) and TSA Exit enablement within assigned domain(s), ensuring the FAST organization can operate independently
Drive creation and quality of foundational operating artifacts where documentation does not exist, including: Runbooks and playbooks for daily, weekly, monthly, and close‑critical activities, SOPs, job aids, decision trees, and exception‑handling guidance, Documentation and evidence standards aligned to SOX and audit requirements, A sustainable documentation repository with ownership and version discipline
Support establishment of the operational instrumentation required for a scalable service model, including: Definition of KPIs and metrics for KT progress, readiness, stability, and quality, Design and adoption of a case management / intake and logging approach to ensure support interventions are captured, categorized, and traceable
Govern functional testing, UAT coordination, and release readiness for finance‑impacting changes
Ensure enhancements and projects are delivered with minimal risk to close, controls, and financial reporting
Support enterprise initiatives such as entity setup, integrations, system enhancements, and transition‑related stabilization
Own functional stability and predictable behavior of finance applications and finance master data within assigned domain(s)
Ensure repeatable, high‑quality close outcomes, including cut‑off discipline and defect prevention
Safeguard SOX compliance and audit readiness through strong system controls and disciplined execution
Serve as the primary functional escalation point for close‑critical, audit‑impacting, or high‑risk finance system or data issues
Partner with FAST Analysts and managed services to operate a tiered support and escalation model, including: Incident and defect triage and prioritization, Functional root‑cause analysis and impact assessment, Validation of fixes prior to deployment
Use recurring issue trends and logged intervention data to reduce repeat defects and improve stability over time
Continuously identify opportunities to simplify configuration, reduce manual workarounds, and eliminate unnecessary complexity
Drive standardization of finance application and finance master data patterns, controls, and usage
Collaborate with Finance, IT, and Data teams to strengthen embedded controls and data quality
Support automation, analytics, and AI readiness as outcomes of stable operations and strong data discipline
Contribute to FAST roadmap planning, prioritization, and continuous improvement initiatives
Depending on assignment, a FAST Lead may be accountable for one or more of the following domains: Accounting‑to‑Report (A2R / Close): GL, close, valuation, FX, intercompany, transfer pricing, and costing system enablement, Procure‑to‑Pay (P2P): AP, accruals, liabilities, and P2P‑related close dependencies, Order‑to‑Cash (O2C): AR, billing, invoicing, collections, and revenue‑impacting configurations, Finance Master Data Enablement: Enablement and control of finance‑relevant attributes (e.g., GL structures, accounting attributes, reference data) aligned to Enterprise MDM standards, SOX & Controls: Finance application security, access, segregation‑of‑duties, and audit support