Vice President, Finance & People Systems and Strategy

Job TitleVice President, Finance & People Systems and StrategyJob Description SummaryCushman & Wakefield is seeking an accomplished technology executive to serve as Vice President, Finance & People Systems and Strategy — a global leadership role with enterprise-wide responsibility for the strategy, systems operations, data, and innovation agenda spanning both the Finance and People (HR) technology landscapes. Reporting to the SVP & CIO, Enterprise Technology, this leader will act as the primary technology partner to both the CFO and CHRO organizations, unifying what have historically been two adjacent domains into a single, cohesive technology and data strategy. This mandate requires a commercially minded, transformation-oriented leader who can operate with credibility in senior Finance, HR, and C-suite forums while translating enterprise priorities into scalable, resilient technology solutions across two of the company's most complex application portfolios (a combined ~95+ applications). The successful candidate will bring the strategic range to define a multi-year, cross-functional roadmap, the delivery discipline to execute complex programs in parallel across both domains, and the executive presence to influence across a highly matrixed global organization. Critical to this role is a sustained focus on four pillars: Systems Operations (reliability, governance, and service excellence across the Finance and People technology estates), Data (a unified, trusted data foundation feeding both functions and the enterprise Data Lake), Strategy (a coherent, multi-year roadmap connecting Finance and People technology to enterprise architecture and business outcomes), and Innovation (responsible, high-impact AI and automation adoption). The VP will partner closely with the Senior Director, Enterprise AI to define and deliver the AI roadmap for the Finance and People team, ensuring AI investment is coordinated, governed, and jointly owned across both functions rather than developed in silos.Job DescriptionKey ResponsibilitiesFinance & People Technology Vision & PlanningDevelop and maintain multi-year Finance & People Systems roadmaps that aligns to Cushman's enterprise architecture, ERP and HCM modernization programs, and corporate AI strategyLead investment prioritization across the combined ~95+ application Finance and People portfolio — balancing innovation, risk reduction, compliance, employee experience, and operational continuity in a globally complex environmentPartner with Enterprise Data, Governance & Risk functions to ensure Finance and People technology decisions align to Cushman's broader platform strategy, data governance standards, and privacy requirementsDrive rationalization and consolidation of the Finance and People systems portfolios with a bias toward capability, scalability, and cost efficiency — including particular focus on the multi-payroll landscape (30+ payroll systems globally)Ensure data model alignment and seamless, well-governed integration between Workday Financials and Workday HCM, eliminating the historical seams between Finance and People technology decision-makingSystems Operations, Data & Delivery GovernanceOwn end-to-end systems operations across the combined Finance and People technology estates, ensuring system reliability, data integrity, and operational continuity for a global user base of approximately 50,000 employees across 60+ countriesEstablish a unified data foundation spanning Finance and People — overseeing the Finance and People Data Lake buildout on Databricks in partnership with our Internal Data Team, ensuring structured, trusted data readiness for analytics and AI use casesMaintain SOX compliance and Finance security model integrity, and ensure data privacy, security, and compliance across People systems (including GDPR and regional data residency requirements); serve as Technology's primary liaison to Internal Audit on financial controls and access governanceOversee program delivery across all Finance and People technology initiatives — from ERP and HCM enhancements to payroll technology programs and AI use case launches — ensuring governance, risk management, and milestone disciplineDefine and achieve Service Level Agreements and Key Performance Indicators across all Finance and People technology platforms; drive continuous service improvement proactivelyManage Finance and People technology vendor relationships for key vendors like Workday, OneStream, GEM, Alteryx, plus the broader combined vendor portfolio (+30) -negotiating value, driving accountability, and ensuring contractual performanceStrategy & Innovation — AI LeadershipServe as a thought partner to Finance and HR leadership on how AI reshapes their respective operating models — advancing how each function operates, not merely adding toolsPartner closely with the Senior Director, Enterprise AI to jointly define and deliver the AI roadmap for the Finance and People team, ensuring a coordinated intake process, shared governance standards, and a single view of AI investment across both functionsLead identification, validation, and delivery of AI and intelligent automation use cases across Finance (FP&A forecasting agents, variance analysis automation, close management intelligence, spend analytics) and People (workforce analytics, talent acquisition intelligence, attrition modeling, skills mapping, HR service delivery automation, manager insights)Drive embedded AI capability within core Finance platforms (Workday Financials, OneStream EPM) and People platforms (Workday HCM, ServiceNow HR), governed through appropriate intake and risk frameworks in partnership with the Senior Director, Enterprise AIChampion responsible, governance-aligned AI adoption in partnership with the Enterprise AI Governance Council and Cushman's AI ethics and compliance frameworkMaintain ongoing partnerships with Finance and HR leaders to drive continuous improvement across the entire combined ecosystemC-Suite & Senior Stakeholder EngagementServe as the primary technology relationship owner for the CFO, CHRO, Divisional CFOs, Global Controller, Global FP&A leadership, HR Leadership Team, and regional HR Operations — operating as a trusted advisor and peer, not a service providerPresent a unified Finance technology strategy, investment cases, and program status in clear, business-framed narratives that reflect cross-functional dependencies and wholistic enterprise outcomes for CFO and other C-suite forumsPresent a unified People technology strategy, investment cases, and program status in clear, business-framed narratives that reflect cross-functional dependencies and wholistic enterprise outcomes for CPO and other C-suite forumsDrive consensus across competing Finance and HR functional priorities with directness and transparency, ensuring technology resources are allocated to highest-impact work across both domainsRepresent Enterprise Technology in Finance- and HR-led governance forums, steering committees, and the Finance and People AI Council meetingsBuild stakeholder trust through consistent delivery credibility, proactive communication, and genuine understanding of both Finance and HR business objectivesTeam Leadership & Organizational DevelopmentLead, develop, and scale a high-performing global team spanning business analysis, platform management, delivery, Workday configuration (Financials and HCM), payroll technology, and AI strategy across both Finance and People domainsOperate within a bimodal organizational model — maintaining and developing delivery capability while simultaneously building strategic and innovation capacity within the teamFoster a culture of accountability, innovation, and continuous learning — setting high performance expectations while investing in team growth and AI literacy across both functionsBuild and maintain a talent pipeline for critical Finance and People technology roles; invest in succession planning and upskilling across Workday, payroll technology, and AI domainsFinancial ManagementOwn the combined Finance & People Systems technology budget — opex and capex — ensuring disciplined financial governance and maximum return on investmentDevelop annual budget plans and multi-year financial forecasts in partnership with the CIO, CFO, and CHRO, clearly articulating investment cases and expected outcomes across both portfoliosDrive cost optimization through vendor consolidation, license and payroll platform rationalization, and operating model efficiency across the combined technology portfolioRequired Qualifications & ExperienceBachelor's degree in Finance, Human Resources, Information Technology, Computer Science, Business, or a related field; Master's degree or MBA preferred15+ years of progressive technology leadership experience with a minimum of 5 years in senior Finance and/or HR technology leadership roles at global enterprise scale; experience spanning both domains strongly preferredDemonstrated experience owning Finance technology platforms (Workday Financials, JDE, OneStream, Hyperion, Essbase, or equivalent) and People technology platforms (Workday HCM — Core HR, Recruiting, Talent, Payroll, Absence, Learning) across multiple geographiesProven track record delivering complex, multi-stakeholder technology transformation programs on time and within budget across a global, geographically distributed organizationDemonstrated ability to manage and influence CFO-level, CPO-level, and broader C-suite stakeholders with credibility, gravitas, and commercial acumenExperience driving AI adoption within Finance and/or HR functions — including familiarity with AI use case development, governance frameworks, and responsible AI practices; experience partnering with a dedicated Enterprise AI function is a plusStrong understanding of financial close, consolidation, planning, and reporting processes, and/or HR processes across the employee lifecycle; ability to speak the language of both Finance and HR leadershipExperience managing SOX compliance and financial controls, and/or HR data privacy requirements (GDPR, regional data residency); working knowledge of Internal Audit requirements for in-scope systemsStrong financial acumen with experience managing multi-million-dollar technology budgets across opex and capexKey Competencies & Leadership AttributesExecutive PresenceCommands respect and confidence in CFO-level, CHRO-level, and C-suite forums; communicates with clarity, authority, and authentic credibility across both technology, Finance, and People contextsStrategic ThinkingConnects Finance and People technology decisions to business and workforce outcomes; sees the multi-year roadmap while managing near-term complexity across a large, combined system portfolioInfluence Without AuthorityBuilds genuine trust and drives alignment across Finance, HR, and Technology boundaries without relying solely on positional powerAI LeadershipChampions AI adoption with practical judgment — identifying high-value use cases across Finance and People, governing risk appropriately, and partnering closely with the Senior Director, Enterprise AI to bring both functions on the journeyDelivery DisciplineCombines strategic vision with a relentless focus on execution, pace, and outcomes across a complex global Finance and People technology portfolioCommercial AcumenMakes sound investment decisions, drives value realization, and holds vendors and partners to commercial accountabilityPeople ChampionDevelops talent, builds bimodal teams with delivery and strategy capability, and creates environments where technology professionals thriveChange LeadershipChampions transformation with energy and resilience; guides teams and stakeholders through significant platform transitions and AI adoption journeys across two functionsCollaborative PartnershipLeads through co-creation and shared accountability; partners with Finance and HR leadership, and the Senior Director, Enterprise AI, as a peer rather than directing from aboveIntellectual CuriosityStays ahead of Finance, HR, and AI technology trends; continuously challenges the status quo to find better ways of workingCushman & Wakefield also provides eligible employees with an opportunity to enroll in a variety of benefit programs, generally including health, vision, and dental insurance, flexible spending accounts, health savings accounts, retirement savings plans, life, and disability insurance programs, and paid and unpaid time away from work. In addition to a comprehensive benefits package, Cushman and Wakefield provide eligible employees with competitive pay, which may vary depending on eligibility factors such as geographic location, date of hire, total hours worked, job type, business line, and applicability of collective bargaining agreements.The compensation that will be offered to the successful candidate will depend on factors such as whether the position is covered by a collective bargaining agreement, the geographic area in which the work will be performed, market pay rates in that area, and the candidate’s experience and qualifications.The company will not pay less than minimum wage for this role.The compensation for the position is: $ 212,500.00 - $250,000.00Cushman & Wakefield is an Equal Opportunity employer to all protected groups, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities. Discrimination of any type will not be tolerated.In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act (ADAAA), if you have a disability and would like to request an accommodation in order to apply for a position at Cushman & Wakefield, please call the ADA line at View phone number on click.appcast.io or email View email address on click.appcast.io. Please refer to the job title and job location when you contact us.INCO: “Cushman & Wakefield”SummaryLocation: Chicago, Illinois, USAType: Full time