Application Guide
How to Apply for Senior Lead Business Systems Analyst, Finance Systems
at Workiva
🏢 About Workiva
Workiva is a unique company specializing in integrated ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) reporting, helping organizations achieve transparent climate impact reporting and compliance. Their focus on streamlining complex reporting processes makes them a leader in the sustainability and financial transparency space. Working at Workiva means contributing to solutions that help businesses navigate evolving regulatory landscapes while promoting corporate responsibility.
About This Role
This Senior Lead Business Systems Analyst role involves serving as a strategic advisor to Finance, Accounting, and Business Technology leadership while defining and executing the Finance systems roadmap. You'll architect scalable solutions across ERP, procurement, close, and expense platforms, directly impacting how Workiva manages its financial operations and supports its ESG reporting mission. The role requires balancing technical configuration with strategic business alignment in a SaaS environment.
💡 A Day in the Life
A typical day might involve collaborating with Finance leadership to prioritize system enhancements, analyzing requirements for a new procurement module, and configuring solutions in the ERP platform. You'd balance strategic roadmap discussions with hands-on solution design, ensuring financial systems support both operational efficiency and compliance with ESG reporting requirements.
🚀 Application Tools
🎯 Who Workiva Is Looking For
- Has 8+ years specifically in Finance Systems or Business Systems Analysis supporting Finance/Accounting functions within SaaS or enterprise environments
- Possesses deep, practical knowledge of Record-to-Report (R2R) and Source-to-Pay (S2P) lifecycles, with understanding of Order-to-Cash (O2C)
- Has hands-on experience implementing or optimizing at least one major ERP platform (Sage Intacct, Oracle, Workday, NetSuite, or SAP)
- Can demonstrate experience translating business goals into technical roadmaps and leading complex Finance system solution delivery
📝 Tips for Applying to Workiva
Quantify your 8+ years of experience with specific examples of Finance systems projects in SaaS environments, not just listing years
Explicitly mention which ERP platforms you've worked with (Sage Intacct, Oracle, Workday, NetSuite, or SAP) and describe your implementation/optimization role
Connect your experience to ESG or compliance reporting contexts, showing understanding of Workiva's business domain
Highlight specific examples where you served as a strategic advisor to Finance or Accounting leadership, not just technical execution
Demonstrate knowledge of how Finance systems support business goals in a growing SaaS company environment
✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter
["Your strategic advisory experience with Finance/Accounting leadership and how you've influenced business decisions", 'Specific examples of defining and executing Finance systems roadmaps aligned to business objectives', 'Experience with ESG, compliance, or transparency reporting systems and how they intersect with Finance operations', 'Your approach to architecting scalable solutions across multiple financial platforms (ERP, procurement, close, expense)']
Generate Cover Letter →🔍 Research Before Applying
To stand out, make sure you've researched:
- → Workiva's Wdesk platform and how it supports integrated ESG reporting
- → The company's recent ESG and sustainability reports to understand their reporting framework
- → How SaaS companies typically structure their Finance systems and challenges they face
- → Regulatory trends in ESG reporting that might impact Finance systems requirements
💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics
Based on this role, you may be asked about:
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Presenting only technical implementation experience without demonstrating strategic advisory capabilities
- Failing to show specific knowledge of R2R, S2P, or O2C lifecycles in your application materials
- Applying with generic Business Analyst experience that isn't specifically tied to Finance/Accounting systems
📅 Application Timeline
This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.
Typical hiring timeline:
Application Review
1-2 weeks
Initial Screening
Phone call or written assessment
Interviews
1-2 rounds, usually virtual
Offer
Congratulations!