James Wagner

Vice President Enterprise Applications - IT @ Qualfon

About

I am a senior IT executive with deep experience leading enterprise applications, global HRIS, and digital transformation initiatives that enable scale, control cost, and reduce operational risk. My background spans ownership of SAP and enterprise HR platforms, complex system integrations, and multi-region environments supporting thousands of users. I partner closely with CIOs, CHROs, CFOs, and executive leadership teams to align technology strategy with business priorities — balancing speed, security, and financial discipline. I am known for: • Translating business strategy into executable technology roadmaps • Leading large-scale system transformations and vendor ecosystems • Driving cost optimization through platform rationalization and automation • Building and mentoring high-performing global IT teams • Serving as a trusted executive partner during growth, restructuring, and change My leadership style is pragmatic, outcome-driven, and grounded in accountability. I believe IT succeeds when it is measurable, resilient, and clearly tied to enterprise value — not when it is invisible or reactive.

Country

United States

City

Spartanburg

Industry

Information Technology & Services

Skill

Kronos Timekeeping, SAP HANA, SAP HR, SAP Implementation, Business Analysis, Management, Program Management, Change Management, Quality Assurance, Business Process, Leadership, Software Development, Project Management, Requirements Analysis, Vendor Management, Agile Methodologies, Disaster Recovery, Software Project Management, SDLC, Risk Management

Experience

Vice President Enterprise Applications - IT

Qualfon

2019-6 - Present · 7 yrs 4 mos

Spartanburg, SC

• Report directly to the Chief Information Officer, owning enterprise applications strategy and execution for a global organization operating across 8 countries. • Lead 100 employees supporting 16,000+ users, delivering stable, scalable enterprise platforms across HR, Finance, and Operations. • Serve as executive owner for enterprise application portfolios, ensuring alignment with business growth, compliance, and operational resilience. • Drive enterprise-wide system optimization and digital transformation initiatives, delivering $3.5M in annualized cost savings through application rationalization, automation, and vendor optimization. • Partner closely with the CIO, CHRO, CFO, and senior business leaders to translate strategic objectives into executable technology roadmaps. • Lead global vendor ecosystems and service partners, balancing cost control, performance, and long-term platform sustainability. • Establish governance models, operating standards, and performance metrics to reduce risk and support scalable global operations.

Vice President Application Systems

American Credit Acceptance

2015-3 - 2019-6 · 4 yrs 4 mos

Spartanburg SC

• Led enterprise application systems strategy for a complex, regulated financial services organization, aligning technology platforms with business growth, compliance, and operational efficiency objectives. • Executed a large-scale application portfolio consolidation, reducing the overall application footprint by 35%, improving system reliability while lowering cost and technical risk. • Owned and directly managed a $4M annual applications budget, balancing investment, cost control, and long-term platform sustainability. • Partnered with executive leadership and business stakeholders to rationalize systems, eliminate redundancy, and modernize legacy platforms. • Established application governance, lifecycle management, and vendor oversight frameworks to ensure scalability and operational discipline. • Served as a senior technology advisor in a regulated environment, ensuring systems supported compliance, audit readiness, and data integrity.