At a Glance
- Tasks: Own and improve Workday Financials, connecting finance processes with technology.
- Company: Join McLaren Racing, a leader in innovation and teamwork.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, career development, and a supportive work environment.
- Other info: Inclusive culture focused on growth and high performance.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a dynamic racing environment while enhancing your skills.
- Qualifications: Experience in configuring Workday Financials and strong finance process knowledge.
The predicted salary is between 63000 - 77000 £ per year.
This is a hands-on Workday Finance Product Owner role at the heart of Mc Laren Racing’s Workday Financials landscape.
The role is responsible for owning, configuring and continuously improving Workday Financials so that it supports robust finance processes, high-quality data, strong governance and scalable decision-making across the business.
You will act as the link between Finance, People and Technology teams, taking business requirements and translating them into clear Workday processes, configuration, testing plans and release outcomes.
This role requires strong functional depth, practical configuration experience and the ability to connect Workday Financials with HCM, Adaptive and the wider system ecosystem.
What you'll do
- Own the functional direction, roadmap and backlog for Workday Financials, ensuring priorities are clearly linked to Finance outcomes, business readiness and system value.
- Provide hands-on configuration across Workday Financials, using deep functional knowledge to design, build, test and refine scalable solutions.
- Translate business requirements into practical Workday processes, configuration changes, acceptance criteria and delivery plans.
- Connect process, data and system design across Finance, People, Adaptive and wider enterprise platforms, ensuring changes work end to end rather than in isolation.
- Drive continuous improvement of Workday Financials, identifying opportunities to simplify processes, strengthen controls, improve data quality and increase adoption.
- Act as a credible functional consult for Workday Financials, balancing strategic product ownership with practical delivery and hands-on system execution.
- Business Partnering and Requirements Translation
- Partner with key stakeholders to understand process pain points, capture business requirements and shape fit-for-purpose Workday solutions.
- Facilitate workshops and design sessions that challenge existing ways of working, align stakeholders and ensure decisions are grounded in good process design and data governance.
- Provide clear communication between business users, technical teams, implementation partners and leadership, ensuring requirements are understood and delivered without unnecessary complexity.
- Governance, Testing and Release Management
- Ensure Workday Financials changes follow agreed design principles, governance standards, controls and approval routes.
- Lead and coordinate testing activity across configuration changes, enhancements, integrations and releases, including unit testing, system testing, regression testing and User Acceptance Testing.
- Own release management planning for Workday Financials, assessing Workday release impacts, coordinating business readiness and ensuring changes are adopted safely and effectively.
- Maintain clear documentation of configuration decisions, process changes, testing evidence and release outcomes.
- Support training, change management and user adoption so that Finance teams can use Workday confidently and consistently.
- Integration, Data and End-to-End Process Ownership
- Understand how Workday Financials connects with Workday HCM, Adaptive Planning and wider upstream and downstream systems.
- Ensure system design supports joined-up processes, accurate data flows, clear ownership and strong governance across Finance and People data.
- Work closely with data, integration and reporting teams to improve data quality, resolve integration issues and ensure reporting outputs are trusted.
- Identify risks, gaps or inefficiencies across end-to-end processes and drive practical improvements that strengthen controls and reduce manual work.
What you'll bring
- Strong hands-on functional experience configuring Workday Financials to a high level.
- Strong understanding of finance processes, including record-to-report, procure-to-pay, order-to cash, expenses, supplier management, projects, assets and financial reporting.
- Proven ability to take business requirements and translate them into Workday processes, configuration, functionality and delivery plans.
- Experience leading or supporting Workday testing activity, including regression testing, UAT, release testing and defect triage.
- Experience managing Workday releases, assessing release notes, coordinating impact assessments and planning adoption of new functionality.
- Strong understanding of Workday security, business process configuration, reporting, data structures and integration principles.
- Understanding of the links between Workday Financials, Workday HCM and Adaptive Planning.
- Ability to connect process, data and system design so that solutions are scalable, governed and easy to operate.
- Experience working with Finance, Technology, Data and implementation partner teams in a complex transformation or ERP environment.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the confidence to challenge poor process design and simplify complex requirements.
- Personal Attributes
- Hands-on and delivery-focused, with the confidence to configure, test and problem-solve directly.
- Strong functional thinker who can see how finance processes, data, controls and systems connect.
- Pragmatic and structured, able to turn ambiguity into clear requirements, decisions and action.
- Confident communicator who can translate complex Workday concepts into business-friendly language.
- Collaborative and able to influence across Finance, People, Technology and delivery partners.
- Curious, improvement-focused and comfortable challenging existing ways of working to create better outcomes.
- Additional Information
Success in racing comes from bringing together talented people with different skills, perspectives and experiences.
We're committed to building an inclusive environment where everyone feels supported and empowered to deliver their best work.
Every role has the potential to drive high performance.
You'll be part of a team united by a shared ambition to push boundaries and embody our racing mindset.
We invest in our people through opportunities to develop and grow, creating an environment where individuals and teams can thrive.
Alongside a range of wellbeing initiatives and development opportunities, we're committed to helping you build a rewarding career and make your mark at Mc Laren Racing.
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Senior Specialist, Workday Finance Product Owner in Woking employer: McLaren Racing
McLaren Racing is an exceptional employer that fosters a dynamic and inclusive work culture, where every team member is empowered to contribute to high-performance outcomes. With a strong focus on employee development and growth, the company offers numerous opportunities for professional advancement while ensuring a supportive environment that values diverse perspectives. Located in a vibrant setting, McLaren Racing not only champions innovation in racing but also prioritises the well-being of its employees through various initiatives, making it a truly rewarding place to build a career.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Specialist, Workday Finance Product Owner in Woking
✨Tip Number 1: Tap Into Professional Networks
The finance world loves a good connection, so jump into industry-specific groups on platforms like LinkedIn where you can find discussions on financial controlling. Engaging in these communities can expose you to hidden job leads that aren't openly advertised!
✨Tip Number 2: Attend Finance Events and Conferences
Make it a mission to attend finance-related events and conferences, even virtual ones! This is a golden opportunity to network face-to-face with people from companies like McLaren Racing. You never know who might be your next boss or a crucial contact!
✨Tip Number 3: Showcase Your Expertise
Consider writing articles or sharing insights related to financial controlling or industry trends. Publish these on platforms like LinkedIn to establish yourself as a knowledgeable player in the field. This not only increases your visibility but also catches the attention of recruiters from McLaren Racing.
✨Tip Number 4: Apply Directly on Company Websites
Since you're going for a full-time gig, don't forget to keep an eye on the careers page of companies you're interested in, like McLaren Racing. Many companies prefer candidates who apply through their website as it shows genuine interest and makes your application stand out!
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Specialist, Workday Finance Product Owner in Woking
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Numbers Game:In financial controlling, detail is everything! Make sure your CV showcases your proficiency with numbers—highlight any relevant experience in budgeting, forecasting, or working with financial software. Quantifying your past achievements will make you stand out, so don’t be shy about flaunting those impressive percentages or cost savings you've implemented.
Tailored Cover Letter is Key:Your cover letter is a chance to shine, especially for a full-time role. Use it to express your genuine interest in McLaren Racing and the specific impact you hope to make in financial controlling. Mention any relevant qualifications or experiences that align with the company’s goals, and don’t forget to show that you're ready for a long-term commitment!
Certifications Matter:List relevant certifications such as ACCA or CIMA on your CV. These qualifications not only showcase your dedication to the field but also your technical competence in financial principles. If you have any ongoing training or courses, make sure to mention those as well to demonstrate your commitment to continual learning in financial controlling.
Don’t Overlook Soft Skills:While numbers are crucial, so are those soft skills! Financial controllers need strong communication and analytical reasoning abilities. We recommend embedding examples of these skills in your CV and cover letter, like how you’ve successfully delivered financial reports to stakeholders or collaborated with teams to improve processes. Let’s show McLaren Racing how you can be a team player!
How to prepare for a job interview at McLaren Racing
✨Brush Up on Technical Skills
Make sure you're comfortable with key financial concepts, especially around forecasting, budgeting, and variance analysis. Sometimes, interviewers may throw in technical questions or case studies, so practicing these types of scenarios will help you shine!
✨Showcase Your Financial Acumen
If you've had experience with specific financial software like SAP or Oracle, make it known! Be ready to discuss how you used these tools to improve processes or reporting, as this hands-on knowledge can really set you apart in a full-time role with McLaren Racing.
✨Know Your Numbers
In full-time interviews, especially in financial controlling, be prepared for numerical reasoning tests or questions. Brush up on your mental maths and understand how to interpret and analyse financial statements on the spot, as this may come up during the assessment.
✨Connect with Company Goals
Familiarise yourself with McLaren Racing's financial objectives and any recent developments. During the interview, try to weave your understanding of their business model and challenges into your answers—this shows your genuine interest and alignment with their goals!
