Principal, AI Innovation Lead

Your work days are brighter here.

At Workday, it all began with a conversation over breakfast. When our founders met at a sunny California diner, they came up with an idea to revolutionize the enterprise software market. And when we began to rise, one thing that really set us apart was our culture. A culture which was driven by our value of putting our people first. And ever since, the happiness, development, and contribution of every Workmate is central to who we are. Our Workmates believe a healthy employee-centric, collaborative culture is the essential mix of ingredients for success in business. That's why we look after our people, communities and the planet while still being profitable. Feel encouraged to shine, however that manifests: you don't need to hide who you are. You can feel the energy and the passion, it's what makes us unique. Inspired to make a brighter work day for all and transform with us to the next stage of our growth journey? Bring your brightest version of you and have a brighter work day here.

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About the Team

The Finance AI (FinAI) Innovation Center at Workday is a dedicated group of experts – data scientists, machine learning engineers, data engineers, and Tech Program Managers – operating with a startup-like drive to create significant value for Finance through innovative AI solutions. We go beyond incremental improvements, aiming to reimagine finance processes and drive strategic decision-making with innovative AI applications. We are a highly accountable team dedicated to identifying and delivering high-impact AI use cases.

About the Role

As our Principal AI Innovation Lead - Finance Solutions, you will lead the end-to-end lifecycle of impactful AI/ML solutions for Workday's internal Finance organization. This encompasses the entire lifecycle, from initial ideation and detailed requirements gathering with internal business function owners, through the documentation of functional specifications and technology solution architecture, to successful implementation and ongoing optimization. This role involves proactively identifying and championing AI opportunities to optimize internal finance operations, enhance strategic insights, and improve efficiency by translating partner needs into innovative AI solutions. We seek a candidate with a solutions consulting attitude, eager to drive tangible business outcomes.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Apply expertise in finance functions (e.g., Accounting, Tax, Treasury, Procurement, FP&A) to identify AI opportunities for process enhancement, problem-solving and insights generation.

• Drive AI Strategy & Innovation: Proactively research and apply the latest AI/ML trends relevant to finance, identify strategic opportunities for significant improvement, and articulate the vision with clear implementation plans and quantifiable value.

• Lead Requirements & Design: Facilitate workshops with finance partners to elicit and analyze their needs, translating them into clear functional specifications, user stories, and AI/ML process flows. Critically evaluate existing processes to design optimized, AI-driven future states.

• Technical Solution Design & Collaboration: Conceptualize and architect innovative AI/ML technical solutions tailored to internal finance needs and infrastructure. Collaborate closely with data science, data engineering, and Business Technology teams to ensure alignment, effective implementation of designs, and provide ongoing functional/architectural guidance during execution.

• Validation & Communication: Participate in testing and validation to ensure AI solutions meet partner expectations. Effectively present proposed solutions and their benefits to finance teams and leadership.

• Impact Measurement: Quantify the financial benefits of internal AI initiatives through rigorous data analysis and ongoing performance monitoring.

• Stay Ahead Of: Continuously learn about advancements in AI/ML relevant to finance applications.

About You

You are a highly driven and experienced functional leader with a strong passion for applying AI/ML to solve complex finance challenges and drive innovation. You excel at understanding intricate finance processes, envisioning AI-powered solutions, and effectively collaborating with technical teams to deliver tangible results. You possess excellent communication skills to articulate the value of AI and a focus on achieving measurable improvements in finance operations. You thrive in a dynamic, startup-like environment and are adept at influencing business outcomes through data-backed proposals.

Basic Qualifications:

• 12+ years of experience in a functional/technology consulting or solution architect role within the finance domain, with significant exposure to and understanding of AI/ML applications.​

• Functional Expertise: Domain knowledge in core finance areas and related business processes (ideally for a SaaS company); proven ability in business analysis, requirements gathering, and process optimization for technology solutions. Ability to conceptualize innovative solutions based on business needs and technical understanding.

• Technical Proficiency: Solid understanding of software architectures and data management; familiarity with AI architectures and data analysis tools; ability to understand technical implementation and solve issues; awareness of security principles.

• Soft Skills: Strong critical thinking and financial foresight for identifying and evaluating AI opportunities; exceptional communication, presentation, and collaboration skills; strong critical thinking, decision-making, and intuition for business.

Other Qualifications:

• Master's degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, Information Technology, or a related field with a focus on AI, data science or solution development, or equivalent experience.

• Preferably have some scripting skills (e.g., SQL, Python) or a fundamental understanding of software development methodologies.

• Experience working in startups, consulting firms, or small enterprises a strong plus.

• CPA, CFA or equivalent experience, or relevant AI/ML certifications a strong plus.

Our Approach to Flexible Work
 

With Flex Work, we're combining the best of both worlds: in-person time and remote. Our approach enables our teams to deepen connections, maintain a strong community, and do their best work. We know that flexibility can take shape in many ways, so rather than a number of required days in-office each week, we simply spend at least half (50%) of our time each quarter in the office or in the field with our customers, prospects, and partners (depending on role). This means you'll have the freedom to create a flexible schedule that caters to your business, team, and personal needs, while being intentional to make the most of time spent together. Those in our remote "home office" roles also have the opportunity to come together in our offices for important moments that matter.

Are you being referred to one of our roles? If so, ask your connection at Workday about our Employee Referral process

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