Editor’s note: In today’s A Day in the Life, Krishna Kumar Sivaraman (pictured), senior vice president, Finance, Oracle JAPAC, and chief financial officer, Oracle Japan, shares with FutureCFO audiences how engaging in meaningful dialogue with CFOs and finance leaders who are driving transformation within their organisations energises him and how sports has taught him invaluable lessons about leadership.
FutureCFO: What does a typical day look like for you?
Krishna Kumar Sivaraman (KKS): There is no typical day in my role, which is part of what makes working at Oracle so energising.
I usually start with an early morning walk or a run, giving me a moment to focus and get set for the day.
Because Oracle operates across multiple geographies, mornings often begin with calls from colleagues in the US. My day is focused on aligning finance and business strategy - reviewing performance, supporting innovation initiatives, and ensuring organisational priorities drive long-term growth across Oracle’s business.
Staying connected with our teams is essential. I regularly meet with team members across the region to understand their work, challenges, and opportunities. These conversations ensure that our decisions support both our people and Oracle’s broader mission to deliver innovative cloud and AI solutions to customers worldwide.
Evenings are often for reflection, fitness, or family, though some days include late calls. I end each day knowing every conversation and decision contributes to Oracle’s continued growth, innovation, and global impact.
FutureCFO: What excites you the most when you work with the Finance Function?
KKS: What energises me most is engaging in meaningful dialogue with CFOs and finance leaders who are driving transformation within their organisations.
These conversations go beyond technology--they are about reimagining the role of finance as a strategic partner to the business in shaping business outcomes.
At Oracle, we have undergone a long‑term finance transformation guided by a clear philosophy: centralise, standardise, simplify, and automate. Over the past three decades our approach has evolved, and today AI is accelerating that transformation even further.
Krishna Kumar Sivaraman, senior vice president, Finance, Oracle JAPAC, and chief financial officer, Oracle Japan
Being both a global enterprise and a technology company gives us a unique perspective – we not only build innovative solutions, but also operate at scale on them.
For example, Oracle’s global finance organisation uses AI-powered Oracle Fusion Cloud ERP to enhance decision making and strengthen controls, reducing manual accounting by 60% and automating 70% of purchase orders. By closing our books and releasing earnings within just 10 days, we enable our finance teams to move from hindsight to foresight – rethinking processes, strengthen controls, and applying AI to continuously improve how we operate.
Yet, access to advanced technology alone is not enough. Real impact comes from challenging the status quo, continuously redefining processes, and redefining hat finance can achieve.
These dialogues are energising because they are reciprocal. While I share Oracle’s journey, I also learn from how other organisations are approaching their transformations. Every conversation leaves me with fresh insights, new ideas and renewed momentum.
FutureCFO: Can you share an experience which was key to your professional growth?
KKS: A defining element of my career has been a willingness to embrace complex challenges and continuously learn. Over nearly 30 years at Oracle, I’ve progressed from an accountant in India to global finance and strategy leadership roles, always seeking opportunities to drive impact.
Over the years, finance itself has transformed dramatically – from manual, transactional work to cloud-based models and now AI-powered operations. At Oracle, we operate our own finance on Oracle Fusion Cloud ERP, enabling faster decisions, stronger controls, and insights that help fuel growth.
Seeing how thousands of organisations leverage our technology firsthand strengthens our focus on helping customers innovate and scale globally.
For me, progress comes from staying open to change, learning continuously, and maintaining a growth mindset. Every challenge, every conversation with customers and teams, is an opportunity to refine processes, embrace new technologies, and expand the value finance can deliver – not just within Oracle, but across the businesses we serve worldwide.
FutureCFO: Is there anything outside work—such as a travel experience, a book, participation in a sport event or any volunteering experience—that serves as an important inspiration to your work or life?
KKS: Sport has taught me invaluable lessons about leadership, teamwork, and accountability. Outcomes are never the result of individual effort alone – success comes from trust, collaboration, and a shared sense of purpose.
Staying active and spending time outdoors helps me clear my mind, reflect, and return to work with renewed focus. This is essential in a role that balances strategy and execution at scale.
