ยท Financeยท Global Business Services

Varun
Nayyar

Globally recognised leader in Global Business Services,
Shared Services & Finance Transformation

A career built on turning complex, global finance and operations functions into world-class organisations. Now sharing those lessons, as a mentor, thought leader, and voice for the next generation of GBS leaders.

Chartered Accountant Cost Accountant Finance Leader GBS Leader Shared Services Startup Mentor
Varun Nayyar
30Years
450+Team Built
Chartered Accountant (ICAI)
Cost Accountant
VP, Visa
Featured in Times of India
Startup Investor & Mentor

Three Decades.
One Constant Thread.

I started my career as a Chartered Accountant, and what began as a grounding in financial rigour evolved into a passion for building organisations that genuinely work. Over 30 years, I have led Finance and Global Business Services functions at some of the world's most respected companies, Ernst & Young, Intel, Juniper Networks, and Visa.

"It's not enough that we do our best;
sometimes we have to do what's required."

At Juniper, I built the GBS function from the ground up into a 450-person global organisation, earning Hackett Group's Digital Best in Class recognition for six consecutive years. At Visa, I lead the newly created Global Finance Shared Services, building strategy, governance, and transformation from scratch.


Today, alongside my professional work, I invest time in mentoring the next generation of finance and GBS leaders, sharing what I have learned, honestly and openly.

Career

A Journey Across
the World's Best Companies

Present

Visa

VP, Global Finance Shared Services

Brought in to design and lead Visa's first-ever Global Finance Shared Services organisation. Building the strategy, governance, and three-year transformation roadmap from scratch. Scope covers Account to Report, Revenue, Client Incentives, AP, T&E, and Sourcing across global teams.

Global Shared Services ยท Finance Transformation ยท Gen AI Adoption

20 Years

Juniper Networks

Head of Global Business Services

Built Juniper's GBS organisation from the ground up into a 450-person global function spanning Finance, Sales Operations, Services Operations, and Procurement. Recognised by The Hackett Group as Digital Best in Class for six consecutive years. Led enterprise-wide ERP deployments, automation programmes, and a cross-functional IEC of 2,600+ members.

Hackett Digital Best in Class ยท 6 Consecutive Years ยท 450-Person Team

Earlier Career

Intel

Finance & Business Services Leadership

Finance and operations leadership roles at one of the world's foremost technology companies, building deep expertise in global financial management and business services delivery.

Career Foundation

Ernst & Young

Audit & Advisory

Built the foundational discipline in financial rigour, audit, and advisory that has underpinned three decades of leadership at scale.

Mentorship

Giving Back What
Experience Has Taught

Having built world-class organisations over three decades, I now dedicate time to helping others navigate their own paths, whether in finance, GBS, startups, or leadership. No agenda. No consulting pitch. Just honest, experienced guidance.

Finance & GBS Leaders

For finance professionals and GBS leaders looking to scale their functions, build world-class operations, or navigate the transition from practitioner to strategic leader.

Startup Founders

For early-stage founders who need a grounded finance and operational perspective, from financial modelling and fundraising to building the right processes for scale.

Young Professionals

For CAs, Cost Accountants, and business graduates at the start of their careers, guidance on what it really takes to build a meaningful, senior career in finance and business services.

Reach Out for Mentorship

Expertise

30 Years of Knowledge
Across These Domains

Global Business Services

Building and scaling GBS organisations from zero to world-class, governance, operating models, service delivery, and performance management at global scale.

Shared Services Leadership

Designing and running shared services organisations that deliver measurable efficiency, quality, and strategic value, covering Finance, Procurement, Sales Ops, and more.

Finance Transformation

End-to-end finance transformation, from account to report redesign and ERP deployments to building finance functions that operate as true strategic partners.

Process Automation & AI

Embedding intelligent automation and Gen AI into business services operations, reducing manual effort, accelerating throughput, and elevating team capability.

People & Org Development

Building high-performance cultures and developing the next generation of leaders, from managing 2,600-person organisations to one-on-one mentorship.

Digital Transformation

Driving enterprise-wide digital transformation, technology strategy, ERP deployments, automation programmes, and building the digital capability within large, complex organisations.

In the Press

Recognised by
Leading Publications

Varun's expertise and perspectives have been featured across leading business and industry publications.

Forbes India ยท Thomson Reuters ยท CNBC TV18 ยท December 16, 2022

The Future of Shared Services โ€” Special Feature

Featured as one of the leading voices in a Thomson Reuters and CNBC TV18 special publication on the Future of Shared Services, published in the Forbes India December 16, 2022 edition alongside global GBS and finance leaders.

"If any employee does not have storytelling skills, how are they going to manage and convey information? Being a storyteller without understanding data analytics is not going to happen."

Varun Nayyar ยท VP Global Business Services, Juniper Networks

Thomson Reuters Future of Shared Services

Varun Nayyar featured on cover ยท 2nd row, far right

Varun Nayyar quote - Thomson Reuters

Times of India ยท Times Techies

Smart Software Bots Surge as Humans Avoid Physical Contact

Featured as Chief Automation Officer at Juniper Networks, discussing how intelligent automation and RPA are transforming business operations.

Industry Recognition

Hackett Group Digital Best in Class

Juniper Networks GBS recognised for six consecutive years under Varun's leadership โ€” one of the highest distinctions in the Global Business Services industry.

Insights

Perspectives on GBS,
Finance & Leadership

๐Ÿ—๏ธ

Global Business Services

What It Actually Takes to Build a World-Class GBS

Six years of Hackett recognition didn't happen by accident. The ingredients most organisations miss, and the ones that truly matter.

๐Ÿค–

Automation & AI

Gen AI in Finance: Beyond the Hype, Into Practice

Where intelligent automation is genuinely transforming finance operations, and where organisations are still getting it wrong.

๐ŸŒ

Leadership

Leading Across Cultures: Lessons from 30 Years in Global Teams

What running 450-person global organisations teaches you about trust, communication, and what leadership really means across borders.

The Person

Beyond the Boardroom

โšฝ

Liverpool FC

A lifelong, passionate supporter. You'll Never Walk Alone.

๐ŸŒŠ

The Ocean

Give me a beach and a few days, complete contentment.

๐Ÿ”ข

Sudoku

The perfect counterpoint to a day of strategy and decisions.

๐Ÿธ

Badminton

On the court, the same instinct applies, move fast, stay sharp.

Let's Have a
Meaningful Conversation

Whether you're a young professional looking for guidance, a GBS or finance leader navigating a challenge, or a founder who needs a grounded perspective, I'm happy to connect. No pitch, no agenda.