Principal Controls Specialist (ESG)

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.

About the Team

We are professional accountants who have a passion for what we do and strive for operational efficiency through system optimization and process automation. We prioritize the development and training of team members so that they become well-rounded accounting professionals with the skills vital for the next generation. We are also committed to working hard and having fun while maintaining a culture of work-life balance!

About the Role

Workday is seeking a Principal Controls Specialist who wants to make their mark on a growing organization and Workday’s Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) program. The candidate should be a self-starter, an excellent communicator, and enjoy collaborating with people with a diverse set of talents, in an ambitious, fast-paced environment.

Job Duties include and are not limited to:​

• Directly supporting the team’s mission to develop compliant, comparable, and reliable Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) disclosures required by governing bodies
• Designing and implementing controls throughout the ESG reporting process, working with Internal Controls on the ESG control framework and governance
• Be a trusted advisor and liaison between Controllership, Sustainability, Legal, and various other business functions to provide leadership and guidance to advance the Company’s ESG strategy while delivering timely and accurate reporting
• Maintaining a broad understanding of the ESG reporting landscape, working with Legal, including various reporting frameworks and standards and disclosure legislation, and participating in external benchmarking
• Executing against and supporting a clear project plan and organizational roadmap for new ESG reporting requirements including identifying and remediating gaps, driving accountability, drafting disclosures, and communicating status to all key stakeholders
• Participate in ESG materiality assessment and scoping deliverables
• Ensuring third-party assurance readiness of ESG data, including sufficient documentation of completeness and accuracy, collaborating with internal and external assurance providers, etc.
• Participating in information gathering and supporting third-party assurance engagements of ESG disclosures
• Implementing a framework for evaluation of changes in information
• Developing and presenting training to diverse cross-functional business partners and stakeholders on control requirements and ESG standards
• Identifying process improvements and automation opportunities to drive positive change and create efficiencies

About You

Basic Qualifications

• 8+ years related experience
• Direct experience with internal control and process design and implementation
• Direct experience in ESG accounting
• Proficient in US GAAP Accounting and solid understanding of general ledger/financial statements
• Direct experience in a compliance-focused area of responsibility
• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Accounting or Finance
• Master's Degree or CPA license

Other Qualifications

• Experience executing strategic processes and initiatives within a fast-paced, deadline-oriented, and complex environment
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills with high attention to details
• Ability to effectively identify and scope issues, apply the relevant knowledge base and make decisions with conviction and/or escalate as needed
• Enjoys navigating ambiguity and creating infrastructure that is appropriate for current needs and scalable for future requirements
• Business partnering and cross-group collaboration skills; ability to steward large groups of diverse stakeholders, gather different points of view, and create recommended approaches, influencing across multiple functions
• Ability to succinctly synthesize vast amounts of information and distill relevant facts
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; proven ability to tailor communication to various audiences
• Sophisticated skills in Excel and ability to deal with high volume of data
• Strong project management skills and experience
• A highly productive self-starter with very strong work ethic and dedication to excellence
• Experience in software, technology industry
• Agile and flexible
• Growth and continuous improvement mindset, including strategic automation
• Experience with a publicly traded company in the technology industry
• Passion for ESG