Strategy & Operations Controller

Cisco; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 178,000 - 234,000; Full time

Job summary

Cisco Systems, Inc. is seeking a Strategy & Operations Controller to shape how the Corporate Controllers Group plans, spends, and grows.

You will own the CCG budget, guide requisition processes, and build programs developing our people, while turning data into insights for better leadership decisions. The role emphasizes budget management, talent development, and strategy execution within a multinational tech company, offering opportunities to influence finance operations and drive

Qualifications

• Experience in finance operations, analytics, or process improvement with leadership experience.
• Ability to influence and collaborate in a cross-functional, matrix organization.
• Proficiency with financial planning tools and enterprise systems.

Responsibilities

• Own the CCG budget and track performance against plan.
• Coach leaders on budgeting and forecasting accuracy.
• Run requisition approvals aligned with budget strategy.
• Develop reporting and insights on spend, headcount, and trends.
• Design talent development programs and lead succession planning.
• Partner with People & Communities on recruiting strategies.
• Support engagement and retention initiatives and learning culture.
• Translate goals into priorities and measurable outcomes.

Skills

Financial planning

Analytics

BI tools

Microsoft Office

Cross-functional collaboration

Communication

Talent development

Education

Bachelor's degree in Finance/Accounting/Business Administration

MBA or related master's degree

CPA/CFA/CIA/FP&A certification

Tools

ERP systems

Power BI/BI platforms

Job description

Meet the team

The Strategy and Operations team is a growing, high-impact group that ensures the Corporate Controllers Group's (CCG) vision and organizational goals are executed. We partner across every CCG function and with key business partners, including People & Communities (P&C), IT, and other finance teams, to keep the organization aligned, well-resourced, and moving in the same direction.

Your impact

As Strategy & Operations Controller, you'll shape how CCG plans, spends, and grows. You'll own the CCG budget, guide the requisition process, build programs that develop our people, and support initiatives that modernize how our finance organization works. You'll turn data into insights that help leaders make better decisions, and you'll help build a high-performing, engaged team.

What you'll do

Budget and resource management

• Own the CCG budget, including allocating quarterly commits to each team and tracking performance against plan
• Coach team leaders on managing their budgets and forecasting accurately
• Run the requisition approval process, ensuring hiring decisions align with CCG's budget strategy
• Build reporting and insights that give leadership clear visibility into spend, headcount, and trends

Talent and organizational health

• Design and run talent development programs tied to career growth and CCG's business needs
• Lead succession planning to protect leadership continuity and critical capabilities
• Develop training on emerging finance technologies and professional skills
• Partner with P&C on recruiting strategies that attract and retain top talent
• Support engagement and retention initiatives, and help foster a culture of continuous learning and collaboration

Strategy and transformation

• Support initiatives that modernize CCG's ways of working and drive operational efficiency
• Partner with finance leadership to translate CCG's goals into clear priorities and measurable outcomes

Minimum qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or a related field
• 10+ years of progressive experience in finance operations, financial analysis, or process improvement with 5+ years in a management or leadership role
• Experience with financial planning, analytics, or business intelligence tools; Proficiency with Microsoft Office and enterprise systems
• Experience supporting or leading talent development initiatives
• Validated ability to influence and collaborate in a cross-functional, matrix organization with excellent written and verbal communication skills

Preferred qualifications

• MBA or master's degree in Finance, Business Administration, or a related field
• CPA, CFA, CIA, or FP&A certification
• Background in budget management
• Experience in a large multinational technology company or Fortune 500 organization
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to turn data into recommendations

Why Cisco?

At Cisco, we're revolutionizing how data and infrastructure connect and protect organizations in the AI era - and beyond. We've been innovating fearlessly for 40 years to create solutions that power how humans and technology work together across the physical and digital worlds. These solutions provide customers with unparalleled security, visibility, and insights across the entire digital footprint. Fueled by the depth and breadth of our technology, we experiment and create meaningful solutions. Add to that our worldwide network of doers and experts, and you'll see that the opportunities to grow and build are limitless. We work as a team, collaborating with empathy to make really big things happen on a global scale. Because our solutions are everywhere, our impact is everywhere. We are Cisco, and our power starts with you.

Message to applicants applying to work in the U.S. and/or Canada:

The starting salary range posted for this position is $178,300.00 to $233,900.00 and reflects the projected salary range for new hires in this position in U.S. and/or Canada locations, not including incentive compensation*, equity, or benefits.

Individual pay is determined by the candidate's hiring location, market conditions, job-related skillset, experience, qualifications, education, certifications, and/or training. The full salary range for certain locations is listed below. For locations not listed below, the recruiter can share more details about compensation for the role in your location during the hiring process.

U.S. employees are offered benefits, subject to Cisco's plan eligibility rules, which include medical, dental and vision insurance, a 401(k) plan with a Cisco matching contribution, paid parental leave, short and long-term disability coverage, and basic life insurance. Please see the Cisco car