Head of Finance Systems

Brooks Macdonald Group plc is one of the UK's leading wealth management firms, recognised for investment performance and client service. We offer leading multi-asset investment services to intermediaries, and high-quality financial planning advice to private clients, benefitting from a strong local presence across the UK. We offer fulfilling careers in an inclusive culture that values diversity, ambition and rewards high performance. Our values (we call them our guiding principles) underpin our culture and are at the heart of everything we do: we do the right thing, we are connected, we care, we make a difference.

We welcome talented people from all backgrounds who live our guiding principles and are focused on ensuring good outcomes for our clients.

Role Overview

We are a growing wealth management business that has recently implemented Workday Financials, Workday HCM and Adaptive Planning. We are now entering a critical post-implementation phase and are seeking a Head of Finance Systems to take ownership of our finance technology landscape and act as the subject-matter expert for Workday within the finance function. This is a hands-on role and an excellent opportunity for someone with strong Workday experience who is looking to step up into a leadership position. You will be the sole finance systems specialist in the team, playing a key role in stabilising, optimising and enhancing our Workday Financials and Adaptive environment while guiding finance stakeholders through best practice usage and future development.

Role Responsibilities

• Workday Financials & Adaptive Planning Ownership: Act as the primary owner and administrator of Workday Financials and Adaptive Planning, ensuring systems are stable, accurate and well-controlled. Provide expert support across core financial processes including GL, AP, AR, assets and reporting. Own Adaptive Planning models, including forecasting, budgeting and scenario planning.
• Prism Analytics & Accounting Centre: Manage and develop Workday Prism Analytics to enable enhanced reporting and analysis, including complex data sets and external data sources. Own and maintain Workday Accounting Centre, ensuring accurate and efficient accounting for non-standard or high-volume transactions.
• Post-Implementation Optimisation: Lead the finance function through the post-implementation phase, embedding Workday best practices and improving adoption across the team. Identify configuration improvements, control enhancements and process efficiencies. Act as a bridge between finance, IT and any external implementation or AMS partners.
• Reporting & Visualisation: Support the use of Power BI for finance reporting and dashboards, primarily consuming and shaping data from Workday Financials, Adaptive Planning and Prism Analytics. Work collaboratively with finance stakeholders to ensure reports are accurate, well-designed and aligned to management and regulatory reporting needs. Ensure consistency between Workday-native reporting and Power BI outputs, with appropriate controls and data governance.
• Stakeholder Management & Change Leadership: Partner closely with Finance leadership and operational teams to understand business requirements and translate them into system solutions. Provide training, guidance and ongoing support to finance users to build confidence and capability in Workday. Play a key role in change management for system enhancements and new releases.
• Integration & Data Governance: Oversee integrations between Workday Financials, Adaptive Planning and upstream/downstream systems. Ensure strong data governance, auditability and alignment with regulatory and control requirements appropriate for a wealth management environment.
• Future Roadmap: Contribute to the longer-term systems roadmap, including further automation, enhanced reporting and potential extension of Workday functionality. Liaise with the HR team where required, with some involvement in Workday HCM data, structures and integrations.

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• Essential: Minimum 2 years' practical experience with Workday Financials in a hands-on role. Experience with Adaptive Planning. Experience with Workday Prism Analytics and Workday Accounting Centre. Experience supporting finance teams through system change, stabilisation or post-implementation phases. Strong understanding of finance processes and controls.
• Desirable: Exposure to Workday HCM, particularly around organisational structures, costing allocations or integrations. Experience working in financial services, wealth management or a regulated environment. Prior experience working closely with external implementation or AMS partners.

We value different ways of working and actively promote flexible working across our business. Collaboration is important to us as a firm, with employees required to be in the office 3 days a week, and each team having a core in-office day per week. We're committed to promoting equal employment opportunities and positively encourage applications from suitably qualified candidates regardless of race, religion or belief, sexuality, age, disability, gender, gender identity, marital status or pregnancy and maternity.