GDS Executive Director - Finance, Digital & Business Transformation
EY · Bangalore, India · 3h ago
At EY, we’re all in to shape your future with confidence.
We’ll help you succeed in a globally connected powerhouse of diverse teams and take your career wherever you want it to go.
Join EY and help to build a better working world.
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.
EY | Building a better working world
EY is building a better working world by creating new value for clients, people, society and the planet, while building trust in capital markets.
Enabled by data, AI and advanced technology, EY teams help clients shape the future with confidence and develop answers for the most pressing issues of today and tomorrow.
EY teams work across a full spectrum of services in assurance, consulting, tax, strategy and transactions. Fueled by sector insights, a globally connected, multi-disciplinary network and diverse ecosystem partners, EY teams can provide services in more than 150 countries and territories.