The Dir. of Finance Transformation & Data leads to the design, execution, and continuous improvement of the finance data and systems. This role is responsible for ensuring a single source of truth across accounting, FP&A, credit, and servicing, enabling faster close cycles, accurate regulatory reporting, and data-driven decision making. This role partners closely with Controllership, FP&A, Treasury, Risk/Credit, and Technology to drive data integrity, process automation, and finance systems modernization, with a strong focus on loan-level data and subledger integration.
Executes Finance Data Strategy & Governance
- Define and implement a finance data strategy aligned to business growth, regulatory requirements, and capital markets expectations
- Establish and maintain data governance frameworks, including ownership, definitions, lineage, and controls across finance data
- Ensure alignment of data definitions across all platforms including but not limited to ERP, Loan Servicing System and Origination system, Data warehouse, and Accounting and FP&A reporting
- Sustain the finance systems roadmap, including ERP, Expense management, and Integration with loan subledger/serving platform, loan origination platform and enterprise data platform
- Drive automation and integration between systems included in the Accounting and Finance technology stack
- Partner with Technology to rationalize system architecture and reduce redundancy across platforms
- Lead initiatives to reduce close cycle
- Automate data integrations, journal entries and reconciliations, consolidations, and reporting workflows
- Improve data readiness for SEC reporting, regulatory filings and Investor and securitization reporting
- Enable fully reconciled product-level P&Ls across Accounting and FP&A
- Support creation of standardized datasets in Snowflake for multiple use cases
- Support improvement of FP&A self-service reporting capabilities and dashboarding
- Identify and eliminate manual processes across accounting cycle and expense management
- Implement automation solutions (reconciliation tools, workflow engines, data pipelines)
- Standardize finance processes across systems and business lines
- Collaborate with cross-functional process owners to translate business requirements into sustainable, scalable reporting solutions across systems
- Lead a portfolio of transformation initiatives with clear prioritization, timelines, and ROI tracking
- Serve as the central point of coordination across Finance, Risk, and Technology
- Manage third-party vendors, system integrators, and implementation partners
- 10--15+ years of experience in finance transformation, data, or finance systems leadership roles in the financial services industry
- Deep understanding of accounting and close processes, FP&A and financial modeling and the loan life cycle (origination → servicing → charge-off)
- Hands-on experience with loan origination and servicing systems, Concur, Data platform/warehouse, and ERP/GL
- Proven track record with system integration across finance and lending platforms, data model standardization and government implementation, and automation of finance processes
- Deep systems orientation with ability to "connect the dots" across platforms
- Highly effective cross-functional influencer (Finance, Risk, Tech). Advanced interpersonal relationship skills at a variety of levels and greatly differing social and business settings
- Demonstrate the ability to analyze relevant information and apply individual judgment
- Ability to organize and lead multiple complex initiatives simultaneously through competing priorities
- Strong attention to detail and action focused
- Strong communication skills (verbal / written)
- Basic understanding with MS Office Suite products
- Experience designing data flows across Loan origination and servicing systems, General Ledger/ERP, data warehouse and FP&A reporting
- Experience supporting CECL/credit loss modeling infrastructure, SEC and Regulatory reporting
- Hybrid background across Finance (Accounting / FP&A), and Data / Technology (architecture, data platforms)
Skills Required
- 10-15+ years experience in finance transformation, data, or finance systems leadership in financial services
- Deep understanding of accounting and close processes, FP&A, financial modeling, and loan life cycle
- Hands-on experience with loan origination and servicing systems, Concur, data platform/warehouse, and ERP/GL
- Proven track record with system integration across finance and lending platforms, data model standardization, and automation of finance processes
- Strong systems orientation and ability to connect disparate platforms and data models
- Highly effective cross-functional influencing and advanced interpersonal skills
- Ability to lead multiple complex initiatives, prioritize, and track ROI
- Strong verbal and written communication skills
- Strong attention to detail and action orientation
- Basic understanding of MS Office Suite (Excel)
- Experience designing data flows across loan origination/servicing, GL/ERP, data warehouse and FP&A reporting
- Experience supporting CECL/credit loss modeling infrastructure, SEC and regulatory reporting
- Hybrid background across Finance (Accounting/FP&A) and Data/Technology (architecture, data platforms)
What We Do
Since 1941, 1st Franklin Financial Corporation has had one goal—Serving communities by offering opportunities to individuals and families through financial services. It’s been over 85 years since Founder Ben F. Cheek, Jr. made his first $34 auto loan. While times have changed, our commitment to customers has not. Our customers know us and more importantly, we know them. This commitment is why we’ve been able to help generations of families in times when they have needed us most. With over 325 loan offices in 8 states, 1st Franklin Financial Corporation continues to provide personal loans, supplying our customers with the cash they need. With offices located primarily in rural locations, we understand the struggles in these areas. We offer loans for auto repairs, home improvements, or debt consolidation. We can help with starter loans, wedding loans, medical expense loans, funeral loans, or a small personal loan to help you meet day to day expenses. We also offer Retail Sales Financing to help our local small businesses grow. Whatever the need, we can answer all of your loan questions and help you find a solution.
