Finance Master Data Governance Architect
Insurance Pharmacy Industry | SAP S/4HANA Finance Transformation
Position Overview
We are seeking an experienced Finance Master Data Governance Architect to lead the strategy, design, and governance of enterprise finance master data across a complex insurance and pharmacy business environment. This is a highly visible leadership role requiring deep expertise in SAP S/4HANA Finance architecture, finance data governance, and executive stakeholder engagement.
The successful candidate will serve as a trusted advisor to senior Finance, FP&A, and executive leadership teams, helping define and implement best-in-class master data governance capabilities that support financial integrity, regulatory compliance, enterprise reporting, planning, and digital transformation initiatives.
This role is ideally suited for professionals coming from a Big Four or top-tier management consulting background with extensive experience leading large-scale finance transformation and SAP S/4HANA programs.
Key Responsibilities
Finance Master Data Strategy & Governance
- Define and implement enterprise-wide finance master data governance frameworks, policies, standards, and controls.
- Establish governance processes for critical finance master data domains, including:
- General Ledger Accounts
- Cost Centers
- Profit Centers
- Internal Orders
- Business Partners
- Legal Entities
- Organizational Structures
- Chart of Accounts
- Product and Service Hierarchies
- Develop data ownership and stewardship models across Finance, FP&A, IT, and business functions.
- Drive data quality, consistency, completeness, and compliance initiatives across the enterprise.
SAP S/4HANA Finance Architecture
- Design and govern finance master data architecture within SAP S/4HANA.
- Lead architecture decisions related to:
- Universal Journal (ACDOCA)
- Financial Accounting (FI)
- Controlling (CO)
- Group Reporting
- Central Finance
- SAP Master Data Governance (MDG)
- Profitability Analysis (CO-PA)
- Planning and Consolidation environments
- Provide guidance on master data design principles supporting enterprise reporting, planning, forecasting, and analytics.
- Ensure alignment between finance processes and SAP data architecture.
Executive Advisory & Stakeholder Management
- Partner directly with CFOs, Finance Executives, FP&A leaders, Controllers, and senior business stakeholders.
- Facilitate executive workshops to define governance priorities, operating models, and transformation roadmaps.
- Influence strategic decisions through data-driven recommendations and industry best practices.
- Act as the primary liaison between business leadership, enterprise architecture, and program delivery teams.
Insurance & Pharmacy Industry Transformation
- Advise leadership on finance data governance requirements specific to:
- Pharmacy Benefit Management (PBM)
- Health Insurance
- Claims Processing
- Rebate Management
- Regulatory and Compliance Reporting
- Revenue Recognition
- Cost Allocation and Profitability Analysis
- Ensure finance master data structures adequately support complex business models and reporting requirements.
Program Leadership
- Lead finance master data workstreams within large ERP transformation programs.
- Develop governance operating models, implementation roadmaps, and organizational change strategies.
- Mentor business and technical teams on SAP finance data governance best practices.
- Identify risks, dependencies, and opportunities for process standardization and automation.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Information Systems, Business, or related field.
- 12+ years of experience in Finance Transformation, Enterprise Data Governance, or SAP Architecture roles.
- 8+ years of hands-on SAP Finance experience, including SAP S/4HANA implementations.
- Deep expertise in:
- SAP S/4HANA Finance
- SAP FI/CO
- SAP MDG
- Finance Data Governance
- Enterprise Data Management
- Financial Reporting Architecture
- Demonstrated experience designing finance master data models and governance frameworks for large enterprises.
- Proven success working directly with C-suite executives and senior finance leadership.
- Strong understanding of FP&A processes, management reporting, planning, budgeting, and forecasting.
- Experience leading global or multi-business-unit transformation initiatives.
Preferred Qualifications
- Management consulting experience with a Big Four firm (Deloitte, PwC, EY, or KPMG) or other leading strategy/technology consulting organization.
- Experience within the insurance, healthcare, PBM, or pharmaceutical sectors.
- SAP S/4HANA Finance certification(s).
- Experience with:
- SAP Analytics Cloud (SAC)
- SAP Datasphere
- SAP Group Reporting
- SAP Central Finance
- Enterprise Data Governance Platforms
- MBA, Master's degree, or CPA preferred.
Critical Success Factors
The ideal candidate will bring a unique combination of:
- Executive presence and boardroom-level communication skills.
- Deep SAP S/4HANA Finance architecture expertise.
- Strong understanding of finance and FP&A operating models.
- Enterprise master data governance leadership experience.
- Consulting-driven problem-solving and transformation leadership capabilities.
- Ability to influence senior leaders and drive consensus across complex stakeholder groups.
- Industry knowledge across insurance, pharmacy, or healthcare ecosystems.
