Workday Financials Functional Architect

The Workday Finance Functional Architect is a senior, client-facing role responsible for designing end to end Workday Financial Management solutions across complex, multi-entity organisations. This role requires deep expertise across Workday Financials functional domains, with the ability to connect data model, processes, reporting, integrations, security and controls into one coherent enterprise design.

The architect provides a global foundation design, legal entity structures, accounting architecture, implementation lessons learnt, operational model impacts, and deployment governance

The role spans presales, solution design, delivery assurance, and executive stakeholder engagement , ensuring solutions are scalable, compliant, and aligned to business outcomes.

Key Responsibilities Solution & Architecture Leadership

• Own the end‑to‑end Workday Finance solution architecture, ensuring functional coherence across all finance modules and integrations.

• Design and govern the Financial Data Model (FDM), including worktags, hierarchies, ledgers, balancing worktags, and reporting structures.

• Provide a holistic solution view, covering:

• Record‑to‑Report

• Procure‑to‑Pay

• Order‑to‑Cash

• Expenses

• Assets

• Projects & Projects Billing

• Accounting Center (where applicable)

• Reporting, Prism, and downstream consumers

• Ensure solutions align with Workday best practices, industry standards, and client‑specific regulatory and audit requirements.

Client & Stakeholder Engagement

• Act as a trusted advisor to CFOs, Finance Directors, Controllers, and Transformation Leads.
• Lead and participate in executive‑level design discussions, articulating solution trade‑offs, risks, and recommendations clearly.
• Translate complex business requirements into practical, scalable Workday solutions.
• Guide clients through design decisions with a long‑term lens on operability, scalability, and future roadmap.

Delivery Oversight & Assurance

• Provide functional design governance across one or more Workday Finance workstreams.
• Review and validate solution designs produced by project teams to ensure architectural integrity.
• Identify cross‑module dependencies and risks early and drive mitigation strategies.
• Support complex problem‑solving scenarios across integrations, accounting treatments, and reporting outcomes.
• Act as a delivery assurance role on high‑risk or complex engagements where required.

Pre‑Sales & Thought Leadership

• Play a key role in pre‑sales activities, including:

• Solution architecture and approach definition

• Estimation and scoping

• RFP responses

• Client orals and solution walkthroughs

• Shape solution options and implementation strategies tailored to client maturity and industry context.

• Partner with sales and practice leadership to articulate value‑based solutions, not just system features.

• Contribute to practice assets, standards, and reusable solution patterns.

Mentoring & Practice Development

• Provide functional leadership and mentoring to Principal Consultants, Senior Consultants, and Consultants.
• Set quality standards for finance design and solution documentation.
• Actively contribute to capability uplift across the Finance practice.
• Share lessons learned and best practices across the organisation.

Education And Experience Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business, or a related discipline (or equivalent experience).
• 10+ years of experience in Finance transformation, ERP implementations, or FP&A/Controllership roles.
• 6+ years of hands‑on experience implementing Workday Financial Management across multiple industries.
• Proven experience designing complex, multi‑entity, multi‑ledger Workday Finance solutions.
• Experience working across end‑to‑end finance processes, not limited to a single module.

Why Choose Cognizant

• Entrepreneurial environment that welcomes your ideas
• Opportunity to do great work
• Outreach programs that support communities and tap into your volunteer spirit
• Learning opportunities to help current needs and advancement
• Global operations, with opportunities in North America, Europe and Asia Pacific
• An abundance of Affinity groups to meet your needs

Cognizant Core Values

• Work as One: We think beyond roles, relying on each other’s strengths to win as a team.
• Raise the Bar: We always aim for excellence in how we work and what we deliver.
• Dare to Innovate: We push boundaries and take chances to reimagine what’s possible.
• Do the Right Thing: We all lead with integrity and always make the ethical choice.
• Own It: We own the outcomes for our company, colleagues, and community.