SAP S​/HANA Finance Principal Architect

About the role

We are seeking a Principal Functional Architect with deep expertise in SAP S/4

HANA Finance, specializing in Accounts Receivable, Cost Center Accounting, and Product Costing. In this role, you will translate complex finance and accounting requirements into scalable, high-quality solutions that enhance data integrity, optimize financial processes, and support business growth in a global environment.

• Lead end-to-end functional architecture for S/4
  
  HANA Accounts Receivable, including invoicing, dispute management, and collections.
• Design and implement Cost Center Accounting solutions to improve cost allocation, budgeting, and variance analysis.
• Develop Product Costing frameworks covering material, labor, and overhead to enable accurate margin analysis.
• Collaborate with finance stakeholders to translate business requirements into compliant and scalable S/4
  
  HANA solutions.
• Define financial data models, including master data, transaction flows, and reporting hierarchies.
• Oversee integrations with upstream and downstream systems (procurement, sales, reporting).
• Perform fit-gap analysis and recommend process improvements aligned with S/4
  
  HANA capabilities.
• Support testing activities including SIT and UAT to ensure accurate financial processing.
• Troubleshoot production issues and implement sustainable solutions in a hybrid work environment.
• Drive knowledge transfer and adoption of best practices across finance teams.

Hybrid - from New Jersey

• 12–14 years of experience in SAP Finance with strong exposure to global S/4
  
  HANA implementations.
• Hands‑on expertise in S/4
  
  HANA Accounts Receivable (credit management, dunning, payment processes).
• Strong experience in Cost Center Accounting (planning, allocations, internal orders).
• Deep knowledge of Product Costing (costing variants, cost components, profitability analysis).
• Solid understanding of finance and accounting principles including GL, AR, and controlling.
• Experience designing scalable financial data models (COA, profit centers, cost centers).
• Strong communication skills with ability to translate functional design to technical teams.

• Experience working in complex, multi-company global environments.
• Strong documentation and stakeholder management skills.
• Proven ability to lead architecture decisions and drive process transformation.
• SAP S/4
  
  HANA Financial Accounting certification.

Please note, this role is not able to offer visa transfer or sponsorship now or in the future.

The annual salary for this position is between $121,126 - $180,000 depending on experience and other qualifications of the successful candidate.

This position is also eligible for Cognizant’s discretionary annual incentive program, based on performance and subject to the terms of Cognizant’s applicable plans.

• Medical/Dental/Vision/Life Insurance
• Paid holidays plus Paid Time Off
• 401(k) plan and contributions
• Long-term/Short-term Disability
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan

The salary, other compensation, and benefits information is accurate as of the date of this posting. Cognizant reserves the right to modify this information at any time, subject to applicable law.