Financial Systems Enterprise Application Owner

Role Description

The Enterprise Application Owner, Finance Systems serves as the strategic and operational leader responsible for the end-to-end lifecycle of the organization’s financial application ecosystem. This role ensures finance platforms operate as systems of record for core financial processes, including:

• General ledger
• Financial planning and analysis (FP&A)
• Consolidation
• Reporting
• Regulatory compliance

The Application Owner is accountable for maintaining data integrity, financial controls, and system reliability while enabling scalable, standardized finance capabilities across the organization. Acting as the primary liaison between Finance, Controllership, and Technology teams, this role aligns system capabilities with business objectives, drives process optimization, supports audit and SOX compliance requirements, and ensures timely, accurate financial reporting.

In addition, the Application Owner leads the roadmap for enhancements, integrations, and automation across finance systems, focusing on:

• Improving close cycles
• Enhancing reporting insights
• Increasing operational efficiency

This person is responsible for vendor management, platform governance, and user adoption, ensuring the finance application landscape evolves in line with organizational growth, regulatory requirements, and industry best practices.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Finance, Accounting, or a related field. Advanced degree (e.g., MBA, CPA) preferred.
• 10+ years of progressive experience in enterprise technology, with at least 5+ years in Finance Systems roles such as Application Owner, Product Manager, Solution Architect, or Business Analyst supporting large-scale ERP and financial platforms (e.g., Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations, OneStream, SAP, Oracle).
• Strong functional knowledge of core finance processes, including Record-to-Report (R2R), general ledger, financial close, consolidation, FP&A, and financial reporting.
• Demonstrated experience defining and executing multi-year application roadmaps aligned to finance transformation initiatives (e.g., close optimization, reporting enhancements, automation).
• Proven experience managing Total Cost of Ownership (TCO), including budgeting, forecasting, licensing, and vendor spend for enterprise finance systems.
• Experience working in regulated environments with a strong understanding of SOX controls, audit requirements, segregation of duties, and financial data governance.
• Hands-on experience with finance platforms such as Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations and OneStream (or comparable ERP/EPM tools), including integrations to upstream/downstream systems (e.g., CRM, payroll, BI/reporting).
• Strong understanding of modern delivery methodologies (Agile/Scrum) and experience working with cross-functional product and engineering teams.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to translate complex technical concepts into business outcomes for Finance leadership (e.g., CFO, Controllership, FP&A) and vice versa.
• Proven leadership, stakeholder management, and vendor management skills, with the ability to influence across Finance, IT, and executive leadership.

Requirements

• Own the Vision: Define, communicate, and secure executive alignment for application’s long-term strategic vision (3-5 years).
• Roadmap Management: Develop and maintain the actionable Application Roadmap.
• Business Partnership: Serve as the primary liaison to designate Business Process Owners.
• Value Rationalization: Continuously measure and report on the application Business Value and Return on Investment.
• Demand Governance: Lead the Intake and Prioritization process for all change requests.
• Financial Management: Own the Total Cost of Ownership, managing the annual operating and capital budgets.
• Vendor Management: Manage key relationships with application software vendors.
• Delivery Accountability: Be ultimately responsible for the successful delivery of all major projects and features.
• Operational Health: Collaborate closely with IT Operations to monitor the application’s performance.
• System Integrity: Ensure the application architecture adheres to enterprise standards.
• Data Stewardship: Act as or closely supports the designated Data Steward.
• Security & Compliance: Ensure the application environment meets all corporate IT Security, Risk, and Audit requirements.
• Documentation: Maintain up-to-date documentation on the application’s business processes.
• Partner, mentor, and develop a high-performing global IT team.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with internal stakeholders, external vendors, and partners.

Benefits

• Medical/dental/vision plans, which start from day one!
• Life and accident insurance
• 401(K) and Roth options
• Tax-advantaged accounts (HSA, FSA)
• Educational expense reimbursement
• Paid parental leave
• Digital mental health services (Talkspace)
• Flexible work hours (availability varies by office and job function)
• Training programs
• Gallagher Thrive program – elevating your health through challenges, workshops and digital fitness programs for your overall wellbeing
• Charitable matching gift program
• And more...