Head of Application Development - Corporate Finance

Company Description

Vichara is a Financial Services focused products and services firm headquartered in NY and building systems for some of the largest i-banks and hedge funds in the world.

Job Description

• Define and execute the Finance IT strategy in alignment with corporate objectives and finance transformation initiatives.
• Partner with the CFO, CIO, and executive leadership to identify opportunities where technology can optimize financial processes and decision-making.
• Lead digital transformation initiatives in the finance function, including automation, analytics, and ERP modernization.
• Oversee the design, implementation, and maintenance of core finance systems (e.g., ERP, Treasury, Tax, Procurement, FP&A platforms, Performance Analytics & Reporting).
• Ensure integration between finance systems and other enterprise platforms (HR, CRM, Data Warehouse, BI tools).
• Evaluate and adopt emerging technologies (e.g., AI-driven analytics, RPA, cloud-based finance solutions) to improve efficiency.
• Ensure financial systems comply with regulatory requirements (SOX, GDPR, data privacy, audit standards).
• Implement strong IT controls, cybersecurity safeguards, and data governance frameworks within finance platforms.
• Manage system access controls, segregation of duties, and risk mitigation strategies.
• Build and lead a high-performing Finance IT team, fostering a culture of innovation, accountability, and collaboration.
• Partner with finance stakeholders to understand business needs and translate them into technical solutions.
• Manage relationships with external vendors, consultants, and technology providers.
• Drive continuous improvement of financial processes through automation, standardization, and system enhancements.
• Deliver accurate, timely, and reliable financial data and reporting capabilities to support strategic decision-making.
• Establish KPIs and monitor performance of Finance IT systems and projects.

Qualifications

• Proven track record of managing large-scale finance IT programs and teams.
• Strong knowledge of financial processes (accounting, tax, treasury, FP&A, procurement) and associated technologies.
• Expertise in ERP platforms (SAP, Oracle, Workday, or similar) and financial reporting tools.
• Demonstrated experience in IT governance, compliance, and risk management.
• Exceptional leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
• Strong knowledge of and experience supporting and collaborating with treasury, accounting, accounts payable, middle office, deal operations, performance analytics, and financial reporting teams.
• Strong understanding of LLMs/AI and their applicability to alternative investments industry.
• Solid understanding and knowledge of modern software development frameworks and methodologies
• Experience utilizing cloud-based productivity tools and application management and deployment methodologies.
• Possesses strong software architecture, design, and development skills.
• Experience utilizing CI/CD (continuous integration/continuous deployment) software development methodology.
• Strong knowledge and experience with software development and project management tools such as JIRA, Confluence, GitHub, IDEs, Bitbucket, Redgate, MS SQL Management Studio, PyCharm, etc.
• Experience working with large databases, data lakes, and data warehouses.
• Experience architecting, managing, developing and maintaining multi-tier, web-based applications.

Education And Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Information Technology, Computer Science, or related field; Master’s or MBA is helpful.
• 15+ years of experience in finance technology leadership, ERP/finance system implementations, or digital finance transformation.
• 5+ years of application development experience in investment management/alternative investments industry.

Additional Information