Principal, Planning Process

UKG (Ultimate Kronos Group); Phoenix (AZ); On-site; USD 130,000 - 186,000; Full time

Job summary

UKG is seeking a Principal, Planning Process to design and lead our integrated enterprise planning process, linking long-range and annual planning with in-year execution. You will collaborate with Corporate FP&A to align investments and outcomes across functions and product lines.

You will translate priorities into frameworks, guide cross-functional discussions, and deliver executive-ready materials that translate complex input into a clear enterprise narrative.

Qualifications

• 10 years of experience in enterprise strategy, enterprise planning, business operations, or strategic finance in a SaaS company.
• Experience coordinating enterprise-wide planning cycles and cross-functional inputs across multiple functions.
• Experience connecting long-range planning, annual planning, portfolio prioritization, and in-year performance management in a tech/SaaS environment.
• Ability to influence outcomes in a highly matrixed organization with strategic thinking and executive presence.
• Analytical capability to structure ambiguous problems, model scenarios, evaluate trade-offs, and formulate recommendations.
• Experience creating and presenting executive-ready materials that translate detailed inputs into concise insights for senior leaders.
• Proven track record collaborating with Corp FP&A and cross-functional teams.
• Proficiency in Excel modeling and data analytics.
• Experience planning workflow tools that improve decision quality and adoption across the organization.
• MBA preferred, consulting background preferred

Responsibilities

• Design and manage the end-to-end enterprise planning process, governance, milestones, and decision points.
• Translate priorities into planning frameworks, templates, and analytical requirements.
• Analyze functional and product plans, identify inter-dependencies, surface gaps, risks, and trade-offs.
• Create executive-ready presentations and concise recommendations for senior leaders.
• Facilitate cross-functional planning sessions, document outcomes, and drive deliverables with owners.
• Continuously improve planning processes, tools, and measures through stakeholder feedback.

Skills

Excel modeling

Data analytics

Executive presence

Strategic thinking

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

MBA degree

Tools

Excel

Job description

Why UKG:

At UKG, the work you do matters. The code you ship, the decisions you make, and the care you show a customer all add up to real impact. Today, tens of millions of workers start and end their days with our workforce operating platform. Helping people get paid, grow in their careers, and shape the future of their industries. That’s what we do.

We never stop learning. We never stop challenging the norm. We push for better, and we celebrate the wins along the way. Here, you’ll get flexibility that’s real, benefits you can count on, and a team that succeeds together. Because at UKG, your work matters—and so do you.

About the Team:

The Enterprise Strategic Programs and Business Operations team develops enterprise integrated planning process and operating rhythm with coordinated plans, disciplined execution, and transparent performance management. We partner across functions and product lines to orchestrate enterprise planning, lead high-priority cross-functional initiatives, and build company-level execution management framework to ensure seamless execution. The team is uniquely positioned at the intersection of enterprise strategy, planning, operating cadence, and transformation, with broad visibility across UKG functions and direct exposure to senior leaders.

About the Role:

The Principal, Planning Process will design and lead UKG's integrated enterprise planning process, connecting long-range planning, annual planning, strategic priorities, and in-year execution management into one operating rhythm. This role will collaborate closely with Corp FP&A to connect strategy with planning and execution through an integrated process, guide cross-functional planning discussions, and equip executives with the analyses and materials needed to align investments, resources, and outcomes.

• Design and manage the end-to-end enterprise planning process, governance, milestones, and decision points to ensure functions and product lines operate with one coordinated process


• Translate enterprise priorities into planning frameworks, templates, decision criteria, and analytical requirements that improve the quality and comparability of submissions


• Analyze functional and product plans, build connections, identify inter-dependencies, and surface gaps, risks, and trade-offs to support data-driven investment prioritization and trade-off decisions


• Create executive-ready presentations and concise recommendations that synthesize complex planning input into a clear enterprise narrative


• Facilitate cross-functional planning sessions, drive focused discussions, frame the decisions required, document outcomes, and follow through deliverables across accountable owners


• Continuously improve planning processes, tools, and measures by gathering stakeholder feedback, identifying friction points, and implementing scalable solutions

Qualifications:

• 10 years of experience in enterprise strategy, enterprise planning, business operations, or strategic finance in a SaaS company


• Demonstrated experience in leading complex, enterprise-wide planning cycles and coordinating inputs, dependencies, and decisions across multiple functions or business units


• Experience connecting long-range planning, annual planning, portfolio prioritization, and in-year performance management within a technology or SaaS environment


• Ability to combine strategic thinking, analytical rigor, and executive presence to influence outcomes in a highly matrixed organization.


• Demonstrated analytical capability to structure ambiguous problems, develop scenario modeling, evaluate scenarios and trade-offs, and develop recommendations


• Demonstrated experience creating and presenting executive-ready materials that translate detailed business inputs into concise insights, choices, and decisions for senior leaders


• Demonstrated track record in collaborating with Corp FP&A and cross-functional teams


• Proficient in excel modeling and data analytics


• Experience in planning workflow tools that improved decision quality and organizational adoption


• MBA preferred, consulting background preferred

Company Overview:

UKG is the Workforce Operating Platform that puts workforce understanding to work. With the world's largest collection of workforce insights, and people-first AI, our ability to reveal unseen ways to build trust, amplify productivity, and empower talent, is unmatched. It's this expertise that equips our customers with the intelligence to solve any challenge in any industry — because great organizations know their workforce is their competitive edge. Learn more at ukg.com.

Equal Opportunity Employer

UKG is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, disability, religion, sex, age, national origin, veteran status, genetic information, and other legally protected categories.

View The EEO Know Your Rights poster (https://www.eeoc.gov/sites/default/files/2022-10/EEOC_KnowYourRights_screen_reader_10_20.pdf)

UKG participates in E-Verify. View the E-Verify posters here (https://www.e-verify.gov/sites/default/files/everify/posters/EVerifyParticipationPoster.pdf) .

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Disability Accommodation in the Application and Interview Process

For individuals with disabilities that need additional assistance at any point in the application and interview process, please email [e-mail] .

The pay range for this position is $129,500 to $186,100. The actual base pay offered may vary depending on skills, experience, job-related knowledge and work location. In addition to base pay, employees may be eligible to participate in a performance-based bonus plan and to receive restricted stock unit awards as part of total compensation. Learn more about UKG’s benefits and rewards at https://www.ukg.com/about-us/careers/benefits

It is the policy of Ultimate Software to promote and assure equal employment opportunity for all current and prospective Peeps without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, disability, marital status, familial status, sexual orientation, pregnancy, genetic information, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, veteran status, and any other legally protected status entitled to protection under federal, state, or local anti-discrimination laws. This policy governs all matters related to recruitment, advertising, and initial selection of employment. It shall also apply to all other aspects of employment, including, but not limited to, compensation, promotion, demotion, transfer, lay-offs, terminations, leave of absence, and training opportunities.