GDS Executive Director - Finance, Digital & Business Transformation
EY
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Executive Director – Enterprise Finance Transformation, GBS and FinTech Enablement
Consulting | Finance, Digital & Business Transformation
Role Purpose
The Executive Director will own the strategy, growth, and delivery of enterprise-wide finance transformation programs, integrating finance operating model redesign, GBS/SSC transformation, FP&A modernization, digital finance, and FinTech enablement.
This role is accountable for identifying transformation opportunities, shaping value-led business cases, designing future-state operating models, leading complex multi-year implementations, and ensuring sustainable performance improvement across global clients.
The Executive Director serves as a trusted C-suite advisor while building high-performing solution leadership teams and scaling market-leading transformation offerings.
As part of the Finance Consulting leadership team, the Executive Director will own and drive large-scale, end-to-end finance and business transformation programs across global clients. This role will oversee multiple solution towers including:
- Finance Transformation & Target Operating Model (TOM)
- Global Business Services (GBS) / Shared Services
- FP&A, BPRA & Enterprise Performance Management (EPM)
- Finance Process Optimization (R2R, O2C, P2P)
- Digital Finance, Automation, Analytics & FinTech Enablement
Key Accountability Areas & Detailed Responsibility Statements
Enterprise Assessment & Opportunity Identification
- Lead enterprise-wide finance maturity assessments across strategy, processes, technology, governance, and talent
- Identify cost, efficiency, control, and value creation opportunities across finance functions and shared services
- Quantify transformation benefits including productivity uplift, working capital impact, margin improvement, and risk reduction
- Benchmark clients against industry-leading practices and digital maturity standards
- Translate diagnostic insights into prioritized transformation portfolios
Strategy, Roadmap & Business Case Ownership
- Define multi-year finance transformation visions aligned to enterprise strategy
- Design target operating models including:
- Centralized, hybrid, and GBS structures
- Process ownership frameworks
- Digital-first finance architectures
- Develop detailed transformation roadmaps with sequencing, investment phasing, and benefit realization plans
- Own complex financial business cases including:
- Capex/Opex modeling
- ROI, NPV, and payback analysis
- Risk and sensitivity modeling
- Present executive-ready transformation recommendations to boards and C-suite leadership
End-to-End Transformation Delivery Leadership
- Lead large-scale, multi-workstream programs covering:
- Finance TOM & organizational redesign
- GBS/SSC setup, migration, and optimization
- Core process transformation (R2R, O2C, P2P)
- FP&A and performance management modernization
- Digital automation and analytics enablement
- Establish strong governance models, program controls, and benefit tracking
- Manage complex stakeholder landscapes across finance, IT, operations, and executive leadership
- Ensure on-time, on-budget delivery with measurable value realization
Digital Finance & FinTech Integration
- Define digital finance strategies integrating ERP, EPM, automation, analytics, and emerging FinTech solutions
- Lead implementations of:
- SAP S/4HANA, Oracle, Workday Finance
- EPM platforms (Anaplan, Tagetik, OneStream, Board, Oracle EPBCS)
- Intelligent automation (RPA, AI-driven close, continuous accounting)
- Advanced analytics and real-time reporting platforms
- Leverage FinTech ecosystems for:
- Treasury digitization and real-time payments
- Embedded finance models
- Automated controls and compliance
- Cloud-native financial platforms
- Drive measurable digital ROI and adoption across transformed finance organizations
CFO Advisory & Strategic Leadership
- Serve as trusted advisor to CFOs, COOs, CIOs, and business leadership
- Shape CFO agendas across:
- Cost transformation and productivity
- Performance management and profitability
- Digital finance modernization
- Risk, compliance, and governance enhancement
- Lead executive workshops on finance strategy, operating model evolution, and digital roadmaps
- Support strategic decisions on capital allocation, investment prioritization, and enterprise transformation
Business Development & Market Leadership
- Own revenue growth targets across finance transformation and digital finance portfolios
- Originate and close large multi-year transformation programs
- Lead complex proposal pursuits, RFP/RFI responses, and executive deal shaping
- Develop market-leading offerings, frameworks, accelerators, and thought leadership
- Build long-term strategic client relationships and cross-service collaboration
People, Capability & Solution Leadership
- Lead solution heads across GBS, FP&A, Process Transformation, and Digital Finance
- Build and scale multidisciplinary transformation teams
- Drive capability development across consulting, digital, and industry expertise
- Mentor high-potential leaders and create strong succession pipelines
- Foster a culture of innovation, accountability, and delivery excellence
Required Experience & Qualifications
- 18–25+ years in finance transformation consulting and/or senior finance leadership roles
- Proven leadership of large-scale enterprise transformation portfolios
- Deep expertise across:
- Finance operating models & shared services
- FP&A/EPM modernization
- Core finance process transformation
- Digital finance and automation
- Strong track record of business case creation and value realization
- Extensive C-suite advisory experience
Education & Certifications (preferred):
- MBA or Master’s degree in Finance/Business/Technology
- CA, CPA, ACCA, CFA, CMA, PMP or equivalent
Key Leadership Competencies
- Enterprise transformation strategy
- Executive communication & influence
- Commercial growth leadership
- Complex program governance
- Digital innovation mindset
- Talent development and coaching
- Results-driven execution
What Success Looks Like in This Role
- Delivery of measurable financial and operational value across transformation portfolios
- Strong client trust and long-term advisory relationships
- Consistent revenue growth and market expansion
- High-performing solution leadership teams
- Recognized market leadership in finance transformation and digital finance
In essence:
This Executive Director is the architect, value creator, deal shaper, delivery owner, digital enabler, and people builder across the entire finance transformation ecosystem.
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