JOB SUMMARY
The Director, Finance Transformation & Systems plays a key role in modernizing the company’s financial systems, processes, and data environment. This role serves as the bridge between Finance, IT, and business stakeholders by owning core financial applications, driving process optimization, and ensuring scalable, well-controlled systems that support timely and accurate financial reporting. The ideal candidate combines strong accounting process knowledge with systems expertise and a continuous-improvement mindset. This senior leader will establish and execute the Finance systems strategy, lead enterprise transformation initiatives, and oversee programs that enhance automation, strengthen controls, and improve efficiency across the Finance organization.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Financial Systems Ownership & Governance:
- Own the strategic direction, governance, and optimization as the subject-matter expert for key financial systems (ERP, subledgers, reporting tools).
- Oversee system configurations, upgrades, enhancements, and integrations, ensuring proper testing, documentation, and change controls.
- Partner with IT to manage issue resolution, system performance, and reliable data flows across platforms.
- Collaborate with IT to establish and maintain governance standards, including user access protocols, data integrity controls, and system documentation.
Transformation & Process Optimization:
- Lead enterprise-wide finance transformation initiatives focused on automation, simplification, and standardization.
- Evaluate current processes and identify opportunities to leverage technology to reduce manual work and streamline close activities.
- Provide executive program leadership for system implementations, new module deployments, or integration efforts with other business systems.
- Drive adoption of new system functionalities and ensure proper training for end users.
Systems Strategy & Roadmap:
- Document and maintain the full financial systems landscape, including integrations, data flows, and dependencies.
- Develop, own, and govern the multi-year Finance technology roadmap aligned with business growth, accounting needs, and internal controls.
- Influence and partner with executive leadership (Controller, CFO, IT, FP&A) to assess future-state requirements and translate them into prioritized initiatives.
- Track ongoing system performance metrics and ensure continuous improvement.
Controls, Compliance & IT General Controls:
- Partner with the SOX Senior Manager to oversee design and performance of ITGCs across financial applications.
- Coordinate and support internal/external audit requests related to system controls, configurations, and change management.
- Maintain process and system documentation to support compliance requirements.
- Monitor risks related to system access, segregation of duties, and data security.
- Lead remediation efforts for any system-related control deficiencies.
QUALIFICATIONS
- 10+ years of progressive experience in finance, accounting, financial systems, consulting, or finance transformation, including leadership of complex cross-functional initiatives.
- Demonstrated experience leading at least one enterprise ERP implementation or large-scale finance transformation program.
- Strong understanding of accounting processes, internal controls, financial reporting, and finance operating models.
- Proven ability to influence executive stakeholders and lead cross-functional teams in a matrixed organization.
- Experience developing technology roadmaps, business cases, and governance models.
- Must be available to work onsite at least 3 days per week in our New York City-area office.
DISCLAIMER STATEMENT
This job description is intended only to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by an employee in this position. It is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills or abilities required or persons so classified or assigned.
Skills Required
- 10+ years of progressive experience in finance, accounting, financial systems, consulting, or finance transformation, including leadership of complex cross-functional initiatives.
- Demonstrated experience leading at least one enterprise ERP implementation or large-scale finance transformation program.
- Strong understanding of accounting processes, internal controls, financial reporting, and finance operating models.
- Proven ability to influence executive stakeholders and lead cross-functional teams in a matrixed organization.
- Experience developing technology roadmaps, business cases, and governance models.
- Knowledge of SOX requirements and IT General Controls (ITGC), and experience supporting internal/external audits.
- Available to work onsite at least 3 days per week in the New York City-area office.
What We Do
In 1958 Lars-Eric Lindblad, considered the father of eco travel, founded Lindblad Travel and pioneered the first non-scientific expeditions to Antarctica (1966) and Galápagos (1967), subsequently opening the Amazon, Papua New Guinea, China, Bhutan, and more to curious, respectful travelers. In 1979, his son Sven-Olof Lindblad founded Special Expeditions, eventually re-named Lindblad Expeditions, specializing in ship-based expedition travel. In 2004 Lindblad Expeditions forged an unprecedented alliance with National Geographic with a joint mission “to inspire people to explore and care about the planet through expedition travel.” Today the company operates a fleet of 10 ships, including the 148-guest National Geographic Explorer, the world’s ultimate expedition ship, and the 106-guest National Geographic Orion, the newest ship in the Lindblad-National Geographic fleet. All ships sail equipped with sophisticated exploration tools, to provide unique, immersive experiences in the planet’s capitals of wildness and culture. Our expedition ships regularly explore Galápagos, Antarctica, Alaska, Arctic Norway, Baja California, Costa Rica and Panama, Europe, the Baltics, Vietnam and Cambodia, and more.








