Director, AI/ML, GenAI & Intelligent Automation Finance Technology

We are UMG, the Universal Music Group. We are the worlds leading music company. In everything we do, we are committed to artistry, innovation and entrepreneurship. We own and operate a broad array of businesses engaged in recorded music, music publishing, merchandising, and audiovisual content in more than 60 countries. We identify and develop recording artists and songwriters, and we produce, distribute and promote the most critically acclaimed and commercially successful music to delight and entertain fans around the world. Role Overview The Director, AI/ML, GenAI & Intelligent Automation Finance Technology will lead the vision, setup, and execution of AI-driven automation capabilities within the Finance Applications, Systems and Services Technology (FASST) organization, supporting global finance processes such as Record-to-Report (R2R), Order-to-Cash (O2C), and Procure-to-Pay (P2P). This role will establish and lead the AI/ML/IPA Center of Excellence (CoE) a global capability designed to drive automation strategy, innovation, governance, and delivery excellence across Finance. The CoE will enable the intelligent automation of business processes through the application of AI, Machine Learning, Generative AI, and advanced analytics, accelerating digital transformation and operational efficiency across the enterprise. The ideal candidate is a strategic and hands-on technology leader with deep expertise across AI/ML platforms, cloud ecosystems, and automation technologies, coupled with strong knowledge of Finance processes and a proven record in scaling enterprise transformation programs. Key Responsibilities Strategic Leadership Establish and lead the AI/ML/IPA Center of Excellence (CoE) to define the strategy, operating model, and governance for intelligent automation across FASST and Global Finance Technology. Develop and execute a multi-year roadmap to embed AI, ML, and GenAI into Finance processes (R2R, O2C, P2P) to drive measurable business outcomes. Partner with Finance and Technology leadership to identify, assess, and prioritize automation and AI opportunities. Serve as a thought leader on emerging AI, GenAI, and automation trends, ensuring alignment with enterprise digital transformation strategies. CoE Leadership & Governance Build and lead a global, cross-functional CoE team of automation engineers, business analysts and solution architects. Define frameworks and best practices for model management, automation lifecycle, and responsible AI governance. Create reusable assets, reference architectures, and scalable solutions that accelerate delivery and adoption. Lead enablement initiatives to upskill teams and promote a data- and automation-first culture across Finance and Technology. Delivery & Execution Design, develop, and operationalize AI/ML, GenAI, and automation solutions leveraging enterprise-grade platforms such as Azure AI, Google Cloud AI, AWS AI, OpenAI, and related ecosystems. Deliver automation solutions that integrate with ERP, analytics, and workflow systems to improve efficiency, accuracy, and insights. Implement intelligent process automation (IPA) solutions using RPA, NLP, ML pipelines, process mining, and LLM-based copilots. Ensure scalability, reliability, and sustainability of deployed AI/automation systems through continuous monitoring and optimization. Collaboration & Partnership Collaborate with Global Finance Operations (GFO) and regional Finance leaders to align automation initiatives with global business priorities. Partner with FASST delivery teams, data platform owners, and enterprise architects to ensure solutions align with enterprise architecture and security standards. Engage with strategic technology vendors and cloud partners to co-innovate and explore next-generation AI/automation capabilities. Performance & Continuous Improvement Define and monitor KPIs to measure automation adoption, ROI, and business impact across Finance processes. Drive continuous improvement by leveraging data-driven insights and AI performance analytics. Evolve the CoEs strategy and operating model to support scalability, governance, and long-term value creation. Qualifications & Experience Education: Bachelors degree in computer science, Engineering, Finance, or a related field (Masters preferred). Experience: 15+ years of experience in AI/ML, Intelligent Automation, or Digital Transformation, preferably within Finance or Enterprise Technology. Proven success in establishing and leading an AI/Automation Center of Excellence (CoE) within a global organization. Strong expertise across AI/ML and GenAI platforms spanning major cloud ecosystems (Azure, AWS, Google Cloud, OpenAI, etc.). Hands-on experience with RPA tools (UiPath, Automation Anywhere, Power Platform) and AI/ML frameworks (TensorFlow, PyTorch, Scikit-learn, LangChain). In-depth understanding of Finance processes (R2R, O2C, P2P) and ERP platforms (SAP, Oracle .