Finance Data and Transformation Leader

BDO USA, Llp; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 120,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

ESOP ownership

Total Rewards benefits

Job summary

BDO is seeking a Finance Data & Transformation Leader to head the Data Stewardship, AI Solutions, and Automation Governance within Finance. This role ensures accurate, defined, and governed Finance data across downsteam systems and supports AI-enabled solutions and automation initiatives.

The leader partners with Data Engineering to develop Finance data assets, maintains the data catalog, and drives governance and lifecycle practices for Finance automation.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; focus on Finance, Accounting or Data/Analytics, preferred.
• Five (5) or more years of SQL experience writing queries and reports, required.
• Experience developing or implementing AI agents or other AI-enabled business solutions, required.
• Experience with data governance, data stewardship, data engineering, or related disciplines, required.

Responsibilities

• Lead Data Stewardship & Governance for Finance data and assets.
• Oversee Finance-owned AI agents and AI-enabled solutions.
• Governance for workflow and process automation, especially Power Automate.
• Collaborate with Data Engineering and technology teams to deliver data, AI, and automation solutions.

Skills

Data governance

SQL proficiency

AI-enabled solutions

Analytical ability

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Power Automate

Power BI

Oracle ERP

Job description

Job Summary:

The Finance Data & Transformation Leader leads the Data & Transformation function within Finance, with responsibility for three core capabilities: Data Stewardship & Governance, AI Solutions & Innovation, and Automation Governance & Enablement.

The role serves as Finance's primary liaison for enterprise data and is responsible for ensuring Finance data is accurate, consistently defined, well documented, and appropriately governed across downstream systems and solutions. This includes partnering with Data Engineering to procure and develop new Finance data assets, maintaining the Finance data catalog, establishing trusted sources of data, and reducing unnecessary duplication of data.

The role also leads Finance's adoption of responsible AI, including identifying and developing AI-enabled solutions for Finance and overseeing Finance-owned AI agents that support the broader firm. The leader continuously evaluates emerging AI capabilities and identifies opportunities to responsibly apply new technology to Finance processes, services, and information delivery.

Additionally, the role serves as Finance's subject matter expert and solution steward for workflow and process automation, establishing appropriate governance and providing technical direction for Finance-owned automation solutions.

The Finance Data & Transformation Leader works closely with technical resources across the Finance technology organization, including shared development resources, to deliver SQL, data, AI, and automation solutions while maintaining clear ownership of strategy, priorities, governance, and solution requirements.

Job Duties:

Data Stewardship & Governance

• Serves as Finance's primary liaison with Data Engineering for new and enhanced data tables, views, and reusable data assets
• Owns and maintains the Finance data catalog, including key data definitions, sources, ownership, and documentation
• Establishes trusted sources of Finance data and minimize unnecessary duplication of data assets
• Ensures Finance data and business definitions are accurate and consistent across CPM, BI reporting, and other downstream solutions
• Identifies data gaps and inconsistencies and coordinate with Finance, Data Engineering, and other technology teams to resolve them
• Provides functional direction to technical resources supporting Finance data and SQL development

AI Solutions & Innovation

• Leads Finance's adoption of responsible AI and emerging AI capabilities
• Identifies and develops AI agents and other AI-enabled solutions that improve Finance processes and services
• Develops, maintains, and governs Finance-owned AI agents that support Finance and the broader firm
• Establishes appropriate ownership, documentation, and lifecycle practices for Finance AI solutions
• Stays current on emerging AI technologies and evaluate their potential application within Finance

Automation Governance & Enablement

• Serves as Finance's subject matter expert and solution steward for workflow and process automation, with particular expertise in Microsoft Power Automate.
• Establishes governance, documentation, ownership, and lifecycle standards for Finance-owned automations
• Identifies opportunities to automate and improve Finance processes
• Provides functional direction to shared technical resources supporting automation development
• Promotes reusable, scalable automation solutions while minimizing unnecessary duplication

Cross-Functional Leadership

• Partners within the Finance BI team to promote consistent and accurate Finance data across reporting tools and systems
• Provides functional direction and prioritization to shared technical resources supporting Data & Transformation initiatives
• Coordinates with Finance, Data Engineering, and technology teams to deliver scalable, sustainable solutions

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• Coaches, advises, and develops staff within the Finance BI team
• Supports the Finance BI Leader in developing team capability and capacity through training, documentation, and continuous improvement
• Provides mentorship, SQL best-practice guidance, and report/code review to ensure quality and consistency

Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Education:

• Bachelor's degree required; focus on Finance, Accounting or Data/Analytics, preferred

Experience:

• Prior experience with data governance, data stewardship, data engineering, or related disciplines, required
• Five (5) or more years of SQL experience writing queries and reports, required
• Experience developing or implementing AI agents or other AI-enabled business solutions, required
• Prior experience working within a professional services firm such as accounting, financial services, business advisory, and/or banking industries, preferred

Software:

• Highly proficient in the use of Microsoft Office Suite, advanced Excel, required
• Experience with Power Automate, required
• Experience with Power BI, preferred
• Experience with Oracle or similar ERP systems, preferred

Other Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Strong analytical abilities, including ability to interpret financial results
• Excellent verbal and written communication; able to translate to non-technical audiences
• Demonstrates ability to successfully collaborate with other departments
• Effectively interacts with internal customers at all levels
• Ability to coach and develop analysts/developers; provides quality review and promotes best practices
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment
• Ability to successfully multi-task and advance projects throughambiguity
• Strong attention to detail
• Experience working across business, data engineering, and technology teams

National Range: $120,000 - $140,000

Maryland Range: $120,000 - $140,000

NYC/Long Island/Westchester Range: $120,000 - $140,000

At BDO, how we show up matters. We build strong relationships by supporting one another, our clients, and our communities with care, curiosity, and a commitment to helping one another grow and succeed. Here, you'll find meaningful work, leaders invested in your success, and opportunities to build a career around what matters most to you.

Our purpose is to be the people our clients count on to grow with confidence and achieve what matters most. Our values guide how we bring that purpose to life each day. Together, they shape how we work with one another, serve our clients, and create meaningful impact.

BDO provides assurance, tax, and advisory services to clients across the U.S. and around the world. No matter your role, you'll be part of a team helping clients navigate complexity and move forward with clarity.

As technology continues to shape how we work, BDO values the ability to apply generative and agentic AI solutions to develop work products, improve workflows and identify potential risks. Across our firm, we emphasize professional judgment in validating AI-generated outputs for accuracy, quality, and compliance.

We are proud to be an ESOP company, offering participants a stake in the firm's success through beneficial ownership and a unique opportunity to enhance their financial well-being. As a qualified retirement plan, the ESOP is a meaningful addition to our comprehensive compensation and Total Rewards benefits* offerings. It also reinforces an ownership mindset that strengthens our connection to one another, our clients, and the future we're building together.

Learn more about our benefits: BDO Total Rewards encompass more than traditional benefits.

*Benefits may be subject to eligibility requirements.

Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability/vets