Role Overview
Our client is seeking a Finance Transformation Lead to drive multiple strategic finance transformation initiatives within a complex Financial Services environment.
This role requires a unique combination of executive-level stakeholder management, finance transformation expertise, and hands-on program delivery leadership. The successful candidate will work closely with Finance executives, Operations leaders, Technology teams, and US-based stakeholders while maintaining accountability for day-to-day execution, governance, risk management, and successful delivery of multiple concurrent initiatives.
The ideal candidate will have a proven track record leading large-scale finance transformation programs, modernizing finance processes and systems, managing cross-border stakeholder groups, and delivering measurable business outcomes across multiple workstreams.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead multiple concurrent finance transformation initiatives impacting critical business processes, finance operations, and financial systems.
- Drive modernization and optimization of finance processes, controls, reporting, and data management capabilities.
- Lead end-to-end redesign of finance operating models and business processes to improve efficiency, governance, scalability, and business outcomes.
- Partner with Finance, Operations, Technology, and Executive Leadership teams to define and execute transformation roadmaps.
- Provide local leadership while ensuring alignment with US-based stakeholders and global program objectives.
- Establish and manage governance structures, executive reporting, risk management, issue resolution, and program controls.
- Drive stakeholder engagement and secure buy-in across all levels of the organization, including C-level executives.
- Manage cross-functional and cross-border dependencies across multiple workstreams.
- Lead organizational change management and adoption activities.
- Remain actively involved in delivery execution, including planning, issue resolution, dependency management, milestone tracking, and program oversight.
- Drive measurable business outcomes and ensure successful realization of transformation objectives.
Required Qualifications
- 12+ years of experience leading large-scale finance transformation, finance modernization, or enterprise transformation programs.
- Demonstrated success delivering complex finance transformation initiatives involving process redesign, systems modernization, and operating model improvements.
- Strong understanding of:
- Finance operations
- Financial reporting
- Accounting processes
- Financial controls and governance
- Finance data management
- Finance process optimization
- Proven experience managing multiple concurrent initiatives and interdependent workstreams.
- Strong executive stakeholder management experience, including engagement with CFOs, Controllers, Finance VPs, and C-level leadership.
- Experience working within global organizations and managing cross-border stakeholders, particularly US-based teams.
- Strong program and project leadership experience with direct accountability for delivery outcomes.
- Ability to operate strategically with senior executives while remaining hands-on in program execution.
- Excellent communication, presentation, facilitation, and influencing skills.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience within Property & Casualty (P&C) Insurance.
- Experience within Insurance, Banking, Capital Markets, or broader Financial Services organizations.
- Experience leading finance systems transformation initiatives involving:
- SAP
- Oracle
- Workday Finance
- OneStream
- Hyperion
- BlackLine
- Other enterprise finance platforms
- Big 4 consulting experience (Deloitte, PwC, EY, KPMG) is considered an asset.
- PMP, CPA, MBA, Lean Six Sigma, or equivalent certifications are considered strong assets.
Key Success Factors
- Finance Transformation Leadership
- Executive Stakeholder Management
- Cross-Border Program Delivery
- Finance Process Redesign
- Financial Systems Modernization
- Organizational Change Management
- Multi-Workstream Program Leadership
- Hands-On Delivery Execution
- Measurable Business Outcomes
This role is best suited for a senior transformation leader who combines deep finance and operational knowledge with strong program delivery capabilities and a proven ability to influence executives while driving successful execution across multiple complex initiatives.
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Toronto, ON (Toronto District)
