Global, Finance Operations Transformation Leader

Location: Gurgaon, India

Leading at Cognizant
This is a Leadership role at Cognizant. We believe how you lead is as important as what you deliver. Cognizant leaders at every level: Drive our business strategy and inspire teams around our future. Live the leadership behaviors , leading themselves, others and the business. Uphold our Values , role modeling them in every action and decision. Nurture our people and culture , creating a workplace where all can thrive.
At Cognizant, leadership transcends titles and is embodied in actions and behaviors. We empower our leaders at every level to drive business strategy, inspire teams, uphold our values, and foster an inclusive culture.
About the role
As a Global , Finance Operations Transformation Leader you will make an impact by steering enterprise-wide digital transformation across finance record-to-report, order-to-cash and procure-to-pay functions in an MNC environment, while ensuring resilient operations and strong governance. You will be a valued member of the IOA team and work collaboratively with senior finance and technology sponsors, controllership, treasury, tax and business operations teams, and clients.
In this role, you will:
Drive digital transformation programs across integrated finance processes (record-to-report, order-to-cash and procure-to-pay) to deliver measurable efficiency gains and better data integrity for enterprise-wide decision making
Oversee the end-to-end design of target operating models and workflows that bring together financial policies, systems and controls, with seamless hybrid collaboration across global stakeholders
Lead the implementation of advanced technology and automation in core finance cycles to reduce manual effort, minimize risk and speed up close and settlement activities
Manage governance frameworks for finance operations so that digital initiatives reinforce standardized processes, accurate reporting and strong audit readiness
Partner with senior finance and technology sponsors, and with controllership, treasury, tax and business operations teams, to prioritize investments and align transformation roadmaps with strategic priorities and regulatory expectations
Consistently demonstrate the Cognizant Way to Lead, which means operating with Personal Leadership (building trust, collaboration, and inclusion), Organizational Leadership (driving vision and purpose, demonstrating a strategic and enterprise mindset, and creating and communicating a bold direction that inspires purpose), and Business Leadership (exemplifying client focus, managing ambiguity with accountability and results, and operating with financial acumen)
What you need to have to be considered
20+ years of experience in digital transformation across enterprise finance, with a proven track record of implementing automation and data-driven solutions that scale
Deep operational knowledge of record-to-report, including general ledger reconciliations, period close and financial statement preparation in complex environments
Strong expertise in order-to-cash operations, such as billing, credit management, collections and cash application, with a focus on cash flow accuracy and customer satisfaction
Comprehensive understanding of procure-to-pay, from requisition and sourcing to purchasing, invoicing and payment, to improve compliance and supplier collaboration
Program and project management office experience, including setting governance cadence, reporting and risk management for large, multi-stream finance transformation programs
Advanced stakeholder management and negotiation skills, with the ability to align finance, technology, operations and external partners on high-impact initiatives
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills to interpret complex financial data, find root causes of operational issues and recommend practical improvements
Experience in process reengineering and continuous improvement, designing practical solutions that balance innovation, user adoption and regulatory expectations
High standards of integrity and control orientation, so that process changes and digital solutions continue to support accurate reporting and compliance across jurisdictions
Ability to work effectively in hybrid models, using collaboration platforms and structured communication to keep distributed teams transparent and accountable
Embodiment of the Cognizant Way to Lead : Leading Self, Leading Others, & Leading the Business
The embodiment of Cognizant’s Values of: Work as One, Dare to Innovate, Raise the Bar, Do The right Thing, & Own It
These will help you succeed
PMP or PgMP certification
Finance or transformation credentials, such as CPA, ACCA or Certified Digital Transformation Professional
Proficiency in documenting process flows, business requirements and operating procedures to support training and smooth handover t operations teams.
Work model
We believe hybrid work is the way forward as we strive to provide flexibility wherever possible. Based on this role’s business requirements, this is a hybrid position requiring 4 days a week in a client or Cognizant office in India. Regardless of your working arrangement, we are here to support a healthy work-life balance though our various wellbeing programs.
The working arrangements for this role are accurate as of the date of posting. This may change based on the project you’re engaged in, as well as business and client requirements. Rest assured; we will always be clear about role expectations
We're excited to meet people who share our mission and can make an impact in a variety of ways. Don't hesitate to apply, even if you only meet the minimum requirements listed. Think about your transferable experiences and unique skills that make you stand out as someone who can bring new and exciting things to this role.