GDS Executive Director - Finance, Digital & Business Transformation

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.