Workday Adaptive Planning Solution Architect

When you join Kainos, you get to think beyond limitations to make an immediate and positive impact – like transforming digital services for millions of citizens or helping Fortune 500 companies get live and thrive on Workday.You’ll be part of a people-first culture that is growing around the world. We’re a creative, committed, and diverse group of individuals who succeed as a team.At Kainos your ideas are heard and valued and you’ll leave a legacy that you can feel proud of. Join us and discover how our people write our story.

Main purpose of the role & responsibilities in the business:

As an Adaptive Planning Solution Architect at Kainos, you will be fully accountable for the quality of how we deliver, implement and configure Workday Adaptive Planning solutions for our global customer base. You’ll use your technical expertise to engage directly on high profile projects, to handle any significant challenges, and will be an important senior liaison and escalation for our clients. As an expert in the Workday Adaptive Planning solution, you’ll share knowledge and direct thought leadership both internally and externally. 

You will be responsible for:

• Providing technical expertise on the Workday Adaptive Planning solution – you will be expected to be a technical expert by maintaining proficiency and certification in the Workday Adaptive Planning solution suite

• Managing implementations for our clients – you will manage all phases of Workday Adaptive Planning implementation projects, including:

  • Working with clients to understand their current planning process, and taking a consultative approach to move legacy models into Workday Adaptive Planning

  • Leveraging your expertise to recommend the best solution based on the client’s requirements, budget, and timeframe, with the flexibility to adapt the scope as additional needs are identified

  • Guiding clients through facilitated design sessions and configuration decisions based on best practices and an understanding of each client’s unique business requirements at all stages of the project

• Contributing to business development – you will take part in business development activities, working with the sales team on opportunities within your area and will be jointly accountable for achieving sales targets, providing commercially competitive estimates and content to support the sales process.

• Putting people first & developing others – you’ll manage, coach and develop a small number of staff, with a focus on managing employee performance and assisting in their career development.

• Contributing to developing the capability – you will be key to developing the capability in your area and/or your local region, in attracting, recruiting, developing and mentoring senior talent.

Minimum (essential) requirements:

• Excellent customer focus, able to build open and trusted client relationships assess customer needs and manage and challenge customer expectations. You will be able to intervene effectively and resolve customer escalations appropriately

• Extensive experience in accounting/financial management – particularly budgeting and planning and management reporting

• Extensive experience with implementing at least one Enterprise Performance Management (EPM) system (e.g. Workday Adaptive Planning, Host Analytics, Anaplan, Oracle Hyperion)

• Proven ability to lead teams of consultants in delivering complex technology solutions

• Expert proficiency in Excel, in particular designing and building complex financial planning models

• Exceptional understanding of and experience in Workday or SaaS delivery methodologies and models

• Excellent understanding of project methodologies, how to manage to them and an expert appreciation of why and how they contribute to successful projects

• Excellent leadership skills, including ability to delegate, motivate, lead, attract and develop staff 

• Excellent customer management experience, working with senior executives in customer organisations with the ability to formally present to senior client and conference audiences

• Excellent skills in managing conflicting demands and performing effectively in complex and difficult situations, including negotiation, conflict resolution and relationship management 

• Sound commercial understanding of utilisation within a services organisation and the importance of these targets

• Excellent written and oral communication skills

• A recognised role model and integrations expert within Kainos but also in the wider Workday ecosystem where Kainos’ excellence in this capability is actively promoted

• An effective people manager, mentoring and developing junior to mid-level Workday Adaptive Planning Consultants generally as well as leading them on projects

• Able, if required, to travel to customer sites in the same region (minimal out of region travel may also be required)

Desirable:

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance or Accounting or Business

• Professional accounting qualification(s) such as CPA, CMA, CIA or ACCA

• Develop and deliver products/offerings and services that differentiate Kainos in the marketplace

• Identify talent for rapid development within the capability