Executive Head of Finance, UK&I

Job Description

Executive Head of Finance – UK & Ireland

ROLE TITLE

LEVEL

3

LOCATION

London, United Kingdom, with a UK & Ireland remit

REPORTING LINE

Europe CFO

FUNCTION

Finance – NTT DATA UK & Ireland

ROLE TYPE

Enterprise finance, commercial and transformation leadership

Job Description Summary

NTT DATA is seeking an outstanding finance executive to lead the Finance function for its UK & Ireland business. UK&I represents approximately $800m of revenue within a European business of approximately $3.5bn. Reporting to the Europe CFO, the role is a key member of the UK&I Executive Leadership Team and a senior member of the European Finance leadership community.

The Executive Head of Finance will combine financial and commercial leadership with a significant transformation mandate. The role will improve performance, governance and decision support while integrating historically separate finance organisations, processes, data and three ERP environments into a more cohesive, efficient and future-ready function.

Success requires financial rigour, commercial judgement, strategic thinking, transformation leadership and exceptional stakeholder management across UK&I, Europe, Global Practices, Group Finance and the wider NTT DATA matrix.

Role Mandate

• Own – the financial leadership, performance, governance and transformation of the UK&I business.
• Lead – planning, forecasting, performance management, financial control and commercial decision support.
• Transform – disparate finance teams, processes, data and three ERP environments into an integrated operating model.
• Partner – with the UK&I Executive Leadership Team, Europe CFO, Global Practices and Group Finance to shape strategy and improve outcomes.
• Build – a high-performing, commercially focused and technology-enabled Finance organisation with strong succession capability.
• Position – Finance as a trusted adviser and constructive challenger, bringing transparent insight into growth, profitability, cash and risk.

Portfolio and Scope

Leads Finance for an approximately $800m UK&I business within NTT DATA’s approximately $3.5bn European operations. The role leads the UK&I Finance organisation directly and through the matrix, partners with the UK&I Executive Leadership Team, European and Group Finance, Global Practices, sales, delivery, operations, technology and transformation teams, and engages external auditors and advisers.

Business and Financial Leadership

• Provide overall financial leadership and help shape and execute UK&I strategy.
• Translate strategic objectives into clear plans, targets and performance measures.
• Drive profitable growth, margin improvement, productivity, working capital and cash generation.
• Provide timely insight into performance drivers, risks and opportunities.
• Define and execute the roadmap for one integrated UK&I Finance function.
• Integrate teams and establish clear roles, accountability and a shared culture.
• Simplify and standardise processes, controls, reporting, data and ways of working.
• Progress from three ERP environments towards a unified technology and data landscape while protecting control and continuity.

Governance, Matrix and People Leadership

• Support major client opportunities, investments and strategic decisions.
• Strengthen pricing, deal economics, risk-and-return discipline and commercial accountability.
• Lead planning, budgeting and forecasting with clear operating cadence and ownership.
• Identify performance gaps early and establish recovery actions.
• Maintain robust reporting, statutory compliance, internal control and financial risk management.
• Align UK&I, Europe, Global Practices and Group Finance through credibility and influence.
• Lead and develop a diverse, high-performing Finance organisation with strong succession.
• Build capability in commercial finance, analytics, automation, AI and transformation.

Strategic Metrics for the Role

Predictable financial performance

Delivery against revenue, profitability and cash commitments

Revenue growth, margin, cash conversion, working capital

Forecast quality

Reliable outlooks with clear ownership and early recovery actions

Forecast accuracy, variance trends, action closure

Commercial discipline

Improved economics and risk management in major decisions and engagements

Deal quality, pricing discipline, risk exposure, investment returns

Finance integration and transformation

Progress towards one integrated UK&I operating model

ERP roadmap, process standardisation, data quality, automation adoption

Control and governance

Strong, sustainable financial control throughout transformation

Audit outcomes, control issues, statutory compliance, remediation timeliness

People and capability

High-performing integrated team with succession strength

Engagement, retention, succession coverage, capability growth

Executive Success Profile

An exceptional candidate will be a commercially astute senior finance executive who can move confidently between detailed financial issues and the broader enterprise agenda. They will combine strong judgement, executive presence and transformation experience with the ability to build alignment in a complex matrix. The priority leadership attributes are Drive Business Growth and Build Effective Networks, supported by a strong commitment to building leadership capability and continuous learning.

Selection Criteria

Leadership Attributes

1. Build Leadership Capability

2. Drive Business Growth — Priority

Builds diverse, high-performing teams, raises accountability and creates a common Finance identity through change.

Owns business outcomes, masters financial and commercial detail, and uses data, analytics and AI to improve precision and growth.

3. Build Effective Networks — Priority

4. Represent the Company with Credibility

Builds strong cross-functional and cross-company partnerships, resolves complexity and creates alignment across the matrix.

Shows authenticity, executive presence and commercial acumen with senior leaders, clients, partners, auditors and advisers.

5. Commit to Self-Improvement and Learning

Demonstrates resilience, curiosity and adaptability, including active learning about emerging technology, data and AI.

Functional and Technical Criteria

Finance and Commercial Leadership

• Recognised professional accounting qualification such as ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent.
• Strong P&L, planning, forecasting, performance management, cash and control experience.
• Commercial judgement in pricing, investment, deal economics and risk.
• Significant finance and organisational transformation experience.
• Track record integrating teams, processes and ways of working after change or acquisition.
• Experience of ERP consolidation or major finance systems change.

Enterprise and Matrix Influence

Technology and Data Fluency

• Credible adviser and constructive challenger to executive leadership.
• Proven influence beyond direct reporting lines in a multinational matrix.
• Clear, succinct communicator with strong stakeholder judgement.
• Uses data and analytics to improve insight and forecast quality.
• Understands automation, shared services and technology-enabled operating models.
• Champions responsible use of AI to improve Finance productivity and control.

Knowledge, Skills and Attributes

Financial and Commercial Expertise

• Deep knowledge of financial strategy, performance management, planning, forecasting, control, cash and risk in a complex project- and people-based business.
• Ability to translate complex commercial situations into clear choices and actionable insight.

Transformation and Technology

• Expertise in finance operating-model transformation, integration, ERP change, process simplification, data, analytics, automation and AI.
• Ability to maintain business continuity and strong controls while delivering significant organisational change.

Leadership and Influence

• Executive presence and ability to influence senior business leaders, strategic clients, partners and internal stakeholders without relying solely on hierarchy.
• High degree of personal maturity, resilience, ethical judgement and composure in high-pressure situations.
• Strong coaching and mentoring orientation, with a track record of building accountable, diverse and high-performing leadership teams.

Required Experience

• Substantial post-qualification experience in senior finance leadership within a sizeable, complex organisation.
• Experience leading a Finance function, or a major part of one, in a multinational and highly matrixed environment.
• Strong track record of executive business partnering and managing the operational and commercial drivers of significant P&L performance.
• Significant experience leading finance transformation, organisational integration and sizeable teams through change.
• Experience of ERP transformation, consolidation or major finance systems change.
• Experience in technology, IT services, professional services or another complex project- and people-based business is strongly preferred.

Academic Qualifications and Certifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional experience required.
• Recognised professional accounting qualification, such as ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent, required.
• Master’s degree, MBA or equivalent executive education preferred.

PROBLEM SOLVING

Resolves highly complex, ambiguous and interdependent business, transformation and governance challenges using judgement, data and enterprise perspective.

INTERACTION

Influences executive stakeholders across UK&I, Europe, Global Practices and Group functions, including where no direct authority exists.

IMPACT

Directly affects financial performance, cash, risk, strategic decision-making and the future effectiveness of the UK&I Finance organisation.

ACCOUNTABILITY

Accountable for UK&I financial leadership, performance, governance, control, people leadership and Finance transformation.

First 12 Months Priorities

• Build trusted relationships with the Europe CFO, UK&I Executive Leadership Team and key matrix partners.
• Assess financial performance, control, talent, processes, data and the three-ERP landscape.
• Stabilise priorities and establish a clear performance and forecasting cadence.
• Agree the target Finance operating model and sequenced transformation roadmap.
• Clarify leadership accountabilities and launch priority process, reporting and data improvements.
• Strengthen commercial discipline, forecast ownership and recovery planning.
• Demonstrate measurable improvement in predictability, margin, cash, transparency and control.
• Deliver material progress towards an integrated UK&I Finance function and simplified ERP landscape.
• Establish stronger succession, future capability and a shared, high-performance Finance culture.

Internal Approval and Governance Information

• Role owner and approving authority: Europe CFO; additional approval in line with NTT DATA executive hiring governance.
• Job evaluation and career-level confirmation: 3
• Budget and headcount approval reference: Approved

Workplace type:

Hybrid Working

Equal Opportunity Employer
NTT DATA is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer with a global culture that embraces diversity. We are committed to providing an environment free of unfair discrimination and harassment. We do not discriminate based on age, race, colour, gender, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, disability, pregnancy, marital status, veteran status, or any other protected category. Accelerate your career with us. Apply today