Global Service Lines-GIFT-Associate Director

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Revised draft role description
FP&A, Global Service Lines (GIFT) – Associate Director

Join Global FP&A and work with Service Line CFOs and leadership teams to support execution of the All In strategy and key Finance priorities. The Global Service Line Finance teams’ partner across a diverse portfolio, with a strong focus on client needs, transformation, innovation and sustainable stakeholder value.

The opportunity

As an Associate Director within Global Service Line FP&A, you will be a critical finance adviser to Service Line CFOs and senior leaders across Assurance, Consulting, Strategy and Transactions, and Tax.

You will combine FP&A discipline, commercial interpretation and performance insight to help leaders understand what is driving results, where risks and opportunities are emerging, and which actions will improve business outcomes. By connecting financial, operational and market information to business priorities, you will support the design and execution of Service Line strategy.

We are looking for a proactive, credible and insight-led finance professional who can translate complex data into clear leadership narratives and practical recommendations. You will bring discipline, judgement and curiosity to strengthen planning, forecasting and management information, identify performance trends and shape timely, evidence-based decisions.

Working in a global, matrixed organization, you will collaborate across Finance, Service Lines, Regions and other functions to develop forward-looking insight, improve reporting quality and usability, and support strategic and operational initiatives.

Your key responsibilitie

• Act as a trusted finance adviser and first point of contact for assigned Service Line leaders, connecting financial results to commercial, operational and strategic performance drivers.
• Support Service Line CFOs and senior leaders with analysis, modelling and practical recommendations that inform planning, performance management and decision-making.
• Deliver accurate, concise and action-oriented weekly, monthly and quarterly performance reporting and insight.
• Support planning, forecasting and budgeting by translating strategy, market context and operational assumptions into robust financial plans, projections and performance targets.
• Analyse revenue, margin, cost, pipeline, backlog, wins, losses, utilisation and productivity to identify trends, risks, opportunities and corrective actions.
• Provide scenario and option analysis, clearly setting out assumptions, sensitivities, trade-offs, risks and recommended actions.
• Prepare leadership updates, performance reviews and executive presentations that turn complex financial and operational information into decision-ready narratives.
• Partner with Finance, Reporting and Data Analytics, GDS and other teams to improve reporting, automate routine outputs, strengthen data quality and increase the usability of management information.
• Promote the effective use of AI, analytics and Global Finance tools to improve insight, efficiency, forecasting and decision support.
• Provide Finance expertise to strategic and cross-functional initiatives, while supporting the integrity of Service Line financial structures, hierarchies and service codes.
• Promote collaboration, knowledge-sharing and capability-building by coaching colleagues and modelling strong business-partnering behaviours.

Skills and attributes for success

• Success in this role requires a commercially minded finance professional who can turn complex financial, operational and market information into clear insight, practical recommendations and confident leadership conversations.
• Strong FP&A, financial analysis and performance management capability, with the ability to connect results to business drivers, risks and opportunities.
• Commercial judgement and curiosity to understand market context, Service Line priorities and the actions needed to improve performance.
• Clear and credible executive communication, with the confidence to engage senior stakeholders, challenge constructively and influence through evidence-based insight.
• Strong problem-solving, financial modelling and analytical capability, including the ability to evaluate options and develop practical recommendations.
• Proficiency in reporting, data visualization and analytical tools, with a practical approach to AI, automation, simplification and continuous improvement.
• A collaborative, ownership-led style, with the ability to build trusted relationships and manage ambiguity and competing priorities in a global matrix.
• A commitment to knowledge-sharing, coaching colleagues and contributing to an inclusive, high-performing Finance team.

To qualify for the role, you must have
·      

• A degree in Finance, Accounting, Business, Economics or a related discipline, preferably supported by a relevant professional qualification.
• At least 10 years of relevant experience in FP&A, business analysis, commercial finance, management reporting, strategy, analytics or finance business partnering within a complex organisation.
• Strong knowledge of financial management, planning, forecasting, performance analysis and management reporting.
• Proven ability to deliver financial and operational insight, modelling and stakeholder-ready recommendations that inform business decisions.
• Experience working with senior stakeholders and cross-functional teams, with evidence of influencing through commercial judgement and clear communication.
• Strong capability in Excel, PowerPoint and relevant reporting, analytics and data visualisation tools, with the ability to learn and apply new technologies.
• Ability to work independently across multiple priorities and collaborate effectively across cultures, locations and time zones.
• Side-by-side comparison of recommended changes

Area

Original emphasis

Revised emphasis

Reason for change

• Role positioning and tone
  • Broad adviser supporting Service Line CFOs and leadership teams.
  • Critical finance adviser focused on FP&A, commercial insight and business outcomes.
  • Clarifies the role’s purpose and senior leadership value.
• FP&A and performance insight
  • Financial analysis, planning, projections and KPI insight.
  • Clearer reporting, planning and forecasting responsibilities, linked to key performance drivers.
  • Makes the FP&A remit more specific and action-oriented.
• Decision support and communication
  • Modelling, recommendations, updates and executive briefings.
  • Scenario analysis and decision-ready narratives, presentations and reviews.
  • Strengthens commercial judgement and executive communication.
• Technology, reporting and data
  • AI awareness and advanced technical-tool capability.
  • Practical use of AI, analytics and automation to improve insight, reporting and efficiency.
  • Positions technology as a business enabler.
• Scope, collaboration and people
  • Strategic projects, financial structures, cross-functional working and team coaching.
  • Retains the scope while adding reporting improvement, clear governance and capability-building.
  • Preserves breadth while clarifying accountability.

Skills and experience

• 10 years’ experience, FP&A knowledge, technical skills and global flexibility.
• Clearer focus on commercial judgement, influencing, modelling, technology and matrix working.
• Creates a more coherent and assessable candidate profile.
• Original role description
• FP&A, Global SL– Associate Director
• We have an opportunity to join Global FP&A working with the SL CFOs to support the Global SL leadership. We work closely with business leaders across a diverse client portfolio to inform and execute on our strategic priorities under All In. The SL Finance teams in Global are client led, focused on transformation and innovation, and committed to delivering value to our stakeholders.

The opportunity:

With the opportunity to work across Assurance, Consulting, SaT and Tax SLs, we are looking for business advisers to support the SL CFOs and broader SL Leadership Teams to enable the execution of the All In strategy and key Finance priorities. You will work closely with a broad range of internal clients to develop improved business insights that inform timely business decisions.  In Global SL Finance we work as a collaborative team of innovative thinkers, connecting with colleagues across the matrix to help EY gain competitive advantage and achieve commercial success. We provide critical thinking to support Service Line Strategy design and activation, including developing insight led solutions to Service Line Challenges and leveraging business and operational KPIs to understand performance. We help to develop forward-looking projections, understand market trends, and provide functional expertise for business initiatives.

What we look for:

• Confidence and skills to drive interactions that build trust and manage expectations with stakeholders; ability to influence senior stakeholders across the organization.
• Experience of effectively managing and coaching a virtual team of finance professionals, and the ability to lead and operate across multiple projects and priorities.
• A successful track record of supporting key business change initiatives, with experience in supporting strategy development and execution
• Able to challenge assumptions and take decisions in an appropriate manner, focusing on analysis, advice, and solutions to support All-In strategy design and activation
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to interpret and convey complex data in a clear, concise manner and provide recommendations
• Strong problem-solving skills and business acumen including ability to develop best in class solutions and recommendations.
• Proven experience in a strategy, analytics, or business modelling role.
• Ability to leverage AI insights to provide actionable recommendations and drive strategic initiatives.
• Commitment to continuous learning including staying updated with the latest AI advancements and their applications in finance.
• Global mindset – ability to work effectively as a virtual team member.  Ability and willingness to work in a multicultural and diverse environment and flex style as appropriate.

Responsibilities include:

• Provide support to SL CFOs and SL Leaders, developing insights and making recommendations based on financial analysis and modeling activities in support of business planning and decision-making.
• Serve as ‘go-to’ contact for your primary stakeholders, which might include SSL Leaders, Smart Delivery Leaders, or Solution Leaders, to enable delivery of SL strategic objectives.
• Lead initiatives that drive higher quality of insight into forward-looking projections based on evolving market trends, and that increase use of technology and innovation in finance (e.g., predictability analysis, normative model analysis to support/inform integrated workforce planning, etc.)
• Provide regular updates to SL Leadership including briefing ahead of executive meetings. Make recommendations on focus areas and share commentary that offers insights.
• Promote and foster a mindset of collaboration across Finance, with other functions (Industry, Quality, Talent) and with colleagues in the Regions. Drive connectivity, enable knowledge-sharing and help develop awareness and understanding of SL strategic initiatives and priorities.
• Manage the SL hierarchy in Mercury (SL/SSL/competencies) and the Global Service Codes to ensure structure is maintained efficiently and managed tightly to avoid potential risks with future business evolution. This requires close collaboration with SSL and FOP Leaders, Markets, Quality, Talent, GDS Operations, Mercury Support Team, FR and Markets Reporting leaders.
• Provide functional expertise on strategic projects
• Promote adoption of AI and Global tools and technology
• Act as mentor and coach to others on the finance team to help support development and demonstration of Trusted Business Advisor competencies.

Skills and attributes for success

• Graduate and/or professional certification in a business-related subject matter (i.e. Accounting, Finance) is required to perform this position.
• A minimum of 10 years of relevant experience.
• A strong understanding of corporate financial management and financial planning and analysis.
• Excellent communication skills – written and verbal; excellent presentation
• A highly team-oriented approach, with flexibility regarding tasks undertaken and the ability to prioritize conflicting demands to meet exacting deadlines.
• Strong technical skills with the ability to analyze problems, design and implement solutions independently.
• Strong interpersonal skills - can work alongside and gain the trust and respect of stakeholders at all levels of seniority and within different functions
• Strong understanding of AI and machine learning algorithms, with experience in applying these technologies to financial data.
• Advanced Excel skills (e.g, pivot tables, v-lookups, charts/graphs), with ability to manipulate and draw trends from vast amounts of data as well as for sensitivity analysis and scenario modeling
• Advanced PowerPoint skills, with ability to summarize clearly and succinctly for leadership what insights and observations are being recommended for leadership materials that is easy to read and understand by a combination of taglines, comments, and data visualization.
• Advanced EY reporting tool skills (e.g., FR/Markets/Revenue Analyzer cubes, Essentials tools, ThoughtSpot, etc.)
• Understanding of the key issues and opportunities relating to Technology, AI and Automation both for finance transformation and for EY overall – technology skillsets or willingness to develop required
• Credibility and confidence to challenge and propose better ways of doing things, build bridges and harmonize divergent interests and priorities.
• Ability to be flexible for meetings and work to be performed outside of standard working hours to accommodate a global audience
• Ability to work in a self-sufficient manner, operating across multiple projects and managing conflicting priorities

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