Associate Director, Financial Systems

Grant Thornton is seeking an Associate Director of Financial Systems to join the team in Downers Grove, IL.

The Associate Director of Financial Systems provides strategic leadership for the organization's financial technology ecosystem, including financial applications, ERP platforms, integrations, and reporting solutions. This role partners across Finance, Accounting, Technology, and business operations to ensure financial systems support business objectives, regulatory requirements, operational efficiency, and scalability.

The Associate Director leads financial systems governance, administration, process optimization, data management, and transformation initiatives, including SAP S/4HANA Public Cloud.

Key Responsibilities

Financial Systems Leadership

• Develop and execute the strategic roadmap for financial systems and related technologies.
• Establish the governance framework, operating standards, and best practices for financial applications and platforms.
• Partner with senior Finance and Technology leaders to align system capabilities with business objectives.
• Evaluate emerging technologies and recommend solutions that improve operational effectiveness.

ERP and SAP S/4HANA Ownership

• Provide strategic and operational leadership for SAP S/4HANA Public Cloud and related financial applications.
• Oversee system configuration, testing, enhancements, upgrades, and release management.
• Ensure ERP functionality supports accounting, billing, project accounting, procurement, revenue management, and financial reporting.
• Define requirements and priorities for major ERP initiatives and transformation programs.
• Manage external consultants and vendors delivering financial system improvements.

Business Process Optimization

• Lead finance and accounting process improvement, automation, and control-enhancement initiatives.
• Partner with stakeholders to redesign and standardize processes across business units and geographic locations.
• Maximize financial system capabilities to improve efficiency, scalability, and business value.

Financial Data and Reporting

• Establish governance standards for the integrity, availability, and management of financial and operational data.
• Oversee financial systems support for management reporting, regulatory reporting, and analytics.
• Partner with Finance leadership to define reporting requirements and performance metrics.
• Lead financial systems participation in enterprise data governance and master data management.

Program and Project Leadership

• Lead cross-functional delivery of major financial system implementations, upgrades, and enhancement projects.
• Manage project portfolios, budgets, timelines, risks, dependencies, and resource allocation.
• Establish project governance, decision-making, and executive reporting structures.
• Deliver strategic initiatives while managing operational risk and business disruption.

Internal Controls and Compliance

• Ensure financial systems support internal controls, audit requirements, and regulatory compliance.
• Partner with Internal Audit, Risk, Compliance, and external auditors to address system-related requirements.
• Oversee segregation of duties, security access controls, and related financial system controls.
• Implement monitoring controls that support auditability and regulatory compliance.

Team Leadership and Development

• Lead, mentor, and develop financial systems professionals, analysts, and system administrators.
• Establish clear objectives and development plans for team members.
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, innovation, and continuous learning.
• Build effective cross-functional partnerships that support financial systems strategy and delivery.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Information Systems, Business Administration, or a related field.
• 10+ years of experience with financial systems, ERP platforms, or finance technology solutions.
• 5+ years of progressive leadership experience managing teams and cross-functional initiatives.
• Experience leading enterprise financial system implementations or large-scale transformation programs.
• Strong knowledge of financial processes, accounting principles, billing operations, and reporting requirements.
• Demonstrated project, stakeholder, and third-party vendor management skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with SAP S/4HANA Public Cloud and cloud ERP modernization.
• Experience supporting professional services, consulting, project-based accounting, or shared-services organizations.
• Knowledge of finance transformation, process redesign, and change management methodologies.
• Experience with financial controls, reporting, analytics, data governance, or master data management.
• PMP, CPA, SAP, CBAP, or a related certification preferred.

The base salary range for this position is between $136,000 and $175,000. Placement within the pay range is at Grant Thornton's discretion, and it is based on multiple factors, including but not limited to, job-related knowledge/skills, experience, business needs, progression within the role, geographic location, and internal equity. At Grant Thornton, compensation decisions are dependent upon the facts and circumstances of each position and candidate.