Director, Data and Automation Strategy

What is the Opportunity?

The Director, Data and Automation Strategy is a senior leadership role responsible for defining and driving the Finance data and automation strategy across the CFO group. This role bridges business strategy, data architecture and automation enablement, ensuring Finance data is reliable, scalable, and fit-for-purpose to support financial and regulatory reporting, ERP transformation, and future analytics.

What will you do?

You’ll work alongside a diverse team of experts in Technology, Data Office, Enterprise transformation teams and finance to translate business priorities into actionable data and automation roadmaps.

Finance Data Strategy Leadership

• Establish and own the Finance Data Strategy, in close partnership with Finance IT and the Chief Data Office (CDO), ensuring alignment to CFO priorities and enterprise data strategy.
• Define how data should be structured, governed and integrated across ERP, subledgers, data foundation layer, and reporting systems to enable Finance’s long-term reporting and analytics goals.
• Define foundational data principles for Finance, including:
  • Data architecture and provisioning approaches that enable scalable, strategic data pipelines
  • Clear authoritative data ownership to eliminate fragmentation, ambiguity, and inconsistent interpretations of Finance Data
• Translate strategic Finance objectives into target-state data capabilities and roadmaps that improve data quality, lineage, accessibility, and trust across Finance.
• Work closely with the CDO and Finance Data Governance team to align Finance data strategy with enterprise data policies, standards and governance frameworks.

ERP and Global Design Enablement

• Represent Finance data requirements in ERP and global design initiatives, ensuring downstream reporting, controls, and automation needs are embedded upfront.
• Partner with ERP program leads, Finance IT and CDO to shape target-state data models, integration patterns, and information flows.
• Ensure the ERP solution enables data lineage, traceability and reconciliations to meet audit and regulatory expectations.
• Advise CFO leadership on data implications of ERP design decisions

Automation Strategy & Enablement

• Define the Finance automation strategy, including where automation should be centralized, federated, or self-service.
• Guide the evolution of advanced automation capabilities to enable Finance teams while maintaining appropriate controls.
• Establish value tracking and benefits realization for automation initiatives.
• Prepare executive-level materials, recommendations, and updates for senior stakeholders.

What do you need to succeed?

Must-Have Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in data strategy, finance transformation, and process re-engineering
• Strong understanding of RBC Finance data domains and architecture
• Experience in Finance processes, such as Month end closing and reconciliation, financial and regulatory reporting, legal entity reporting, planning and forecasting, and management reporting.
• Experience supporting or shaping ERP or large-scale system transformations
• Proven ability to translate complex technical concepts into clear business insights.
• Strong executive communication, stakeholder management and change leadership skills.
• 6+ years of managerial or mentorship experience, leading technical teams or guiding junior professionals.

Nice-to-Have Qualifications

• Strong knowledge of RBC business lines, products and systems.
• Familiarity with enterprise data governance frameworks and operating models
• Experience in automation technologies (RPA, low-code, Power Automate, Alteryx)
• Track record of building roadmaps and driving outcomes.

What’s in it for you? 

It provides the opportunity to be a part of a high performing experienced team with progressive thinking to deliver trusted advice to help our clients thrive and communities prosper.

• Opportunities to do challenging work utilizing latest technologies
• Opportunities to see measurable results in relatively short term
• Opportunities to take on progressively greater accountabilities    
• Opportunities to building close relationships with counterparts across the bank

Job Skills

Architectural Modeling, Architecture Strategy, Automation Technology, Critical Thinking, Data Architecture, Data Governance, Data Warehousing (DW), Decision Making, Enterprise Data Strategy, Enterprise IT Architecture, Information Technology Consulting, Information Technology Trends, Leadership, Multi-Level Communication, Robotic Process Automation, Strategy Facilitation

Additional Job Details

ROYAL BANK PLAZA, 200 BAY ST:TORONTOTorontoCanada37.5Full timeOFFICE OF THE CFORegularSalaried2026-01-152026-01-30

Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the day prior to the application deadline date above

Inclusion and Equal Opportunity Employment

At RBC, we believe an inclusive workplace that has diverse perspectives is core to our continued growth as one of the largest and most successful banks in the world. Maintaining a workplace where our employees feel supported to perform at their best, effectively collaborate, drive innovation, and grow professionally helps to bring our Purpose to life and create value for our clients and communities. RBC strives to deliver this through policies and programs intended to foster a workplace based on respect, belonging and opportunity for all.

RBC is presently inviting candidates to apply for this existing vacancy. Applying to this posting allows you to express your interest in this current career opportunity at RBC. Qualified applicants may be contacted to review their resume in more detail.