Director, Finance - Legal & Strategy

The application window is expected to close on: 05/08/2026 Job posting may be removed earlier if the position is filled or if a sufficient number of applications are received . Meet the Team The Legal & Strategy Finance team serves as the financial backbone for the organization’s most critical executive functions. We act as a bridge between complex financial data and high-level business strategy, in this case partnering directly with the Chief Legal Officer and Chief Strategy Officer . Our team is dedicated to operational excellence, providing the insight, modeling, and financial rigor vital to drive enterprise-wide initiatives and ensure the fiscal health of the Legal and Strategy departments. Your Impact As the Finance Director, you will blend executive-level partnership with hands-on financial execution. You will own the financial planning, reporting, and analysis for these functions, ensuring accuracy while providing the strategic narrative that guides leadership decision-making. Financial Leadership: Oversee monthly, quarterly, and annual close processes, ensuring compliance and accuracy in partnership with accounting teams. Strategic Advisory: Serve as a trusted advisor to the C-suite, translating financial results into actionable business narratives and providing mentorship on legal spend and strategic investments. Operational Excellence: Drive process improvements, lead system transformations, and champion the adoption of AI-driven financial tools. Executive Communication: Prepare and deliver high-impact briefing documents and presentations, distilling complex data into clear insights for senior stakeholders. Team Development: Mentor and lead a high-performing finance team, encouraging a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous professional growth. Basic Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, or a related field or equivalent combination of skills and experience. 10 years of progressive finance experience, including significant time in leadership roles. 3 years of experience supporting executive leadership (e.g., CFO, CLO, CSO, SVP, EVP or equivalent) within a large, complex organization. 10 years of expertise in corporate finance, FP&A, or strategic finance. 10 years of experience in financial modeling, budgeting, and forecasting processes. Preferred Qualifications Master’s degree in Business Administration (MBA) or a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) designation. Prior experience supporting Legal or Strategy business functions. Outstanding emotional intelligence (EQ) with a proven track record to influence and navigate sophisticated organizational dynamics. Consistent track record of driving process transformations and implementing new financial technologies. Ability to balance tactical in the weeds execution with high-level strategic thinking. High level of integrity, professionalism, and discretion when handling sensitive data. Note: This role requires a highly collaborative leader who can seamlessly shift between detailed execution and executive-level strategy. Why Cisco? At Cisco, we’re revolutionizing how data and infrastructure connect and protect organizations in the AI era – and beyond. We’ve been innovating fearlessly for 40 years to create solutions that power how humans and technology work together across the physical and digital worlds. These solutions provide customers with unparalleled security, visibility, and insights across the entire digital footprint. Fueled by the depth and breadth of our technology, we experiment and create meaningful solutions. Add to that our worldwide network of doers and experts, and you’ll see that the opportunities to grow and build are limitless. We work as a team, collaborating with empathy to make really big things happen on a global scale. Because our solutions are everywhere, our impact is everywhere. We are Cisco, and our power starts with you. Message to applicants applying to work in the U.S. and/or C ... (truncated, view full listing at source)