Job Title: Finance Executive
Location: Mumbai, India
Job Purpose:
We are seeking a Finance Executive to join our centralized finance team, responsible for the meticulous preparation of financial statements, governance of financial processes, and effective balance sheet management. This role is crucial for ensuring the accuracy, timeliness, and compliance of financial reporting while promoting process discipline and continuous improvement within the finance control environment. The Finance Executive will lead a small team and utilize SAP and related reporting tools, with some engagement in Power BI for insights and analytics.
Key Responsibilities:
- Financial Statement Preparation: Lead the preparation, review, and submission of periodic financial statements in compliance with Unilever policies, local GAAP/IFRS, and internal deadlines.
- Governance Over Financial Processes: Ensure accuracy and control over core financial processes, including closing, reconciliations, provisions, accruals, intercompany transactions, and fixed assets.
- Balance Sheet Management: Drive balance sheet hygiene through regular reviews, aging analysis, and timely resolution of outstanding items.
- Close Activities Coordination: Oversee month-end, quarter-end, and year-end closing activities, ensuring adherence to timelines and quality standards.
- Account Reconciliation Review: Review and approve key account reconciliations, promptly identifying and resolving any issues.
- SAP Utilization: Use SAP extensively for postings, reporting, analysis, and controls, ensuring data integrity across systems.
- Power BI Dashboard Development: Leverage Power BI to create or enhance dashboards and reports that provide insights into financial performance and process KPIs.
- Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with various finance teams (e.g., Controllership, FP&A, Tax, Treasury, Business Partnering) and relevant stakeholders to address issues and implement improvements.
- Audit Support: Facilitate internal and external audits by preparing schedules, responding to queries, and ensuring remediation of audit observations.
- Process Improvement Initiatives: Identify opportunities for simplification, standardization, and automation in financial reporting and control processes.
- Team Leadership: Lead, coach, and develop a small team of finance professionals, ensuring clear goals, strong performance, and learning opportunities.
Key Interfaces:
- Central Finance / Controllership Teams
- FP&A / Performance Management
- Finance Business Partnering Teams
- Shared Services / Global Operations (if applicable)
- Internal and External Auditors
- Tax, Treasury, and Specialist Finance Teams
Required Qualifications and Experience:
- Professional qualification preferred (e.g., CA, CMA, ACCA, MBA in Finance) or equivalent finance qualification.
- Significant experience in financial reporting, controllership, or related finance roles, preferably in a large or multinational organization.
- Hands-on experience with SAP (FI/CO or equivalent modules) in a financial reporting or controlling context.
Key Skills and Competencies:
- Strong technical understanding of accounting principles and financial reporting (local GAAP and/or IFRS).
- High attention to detail with a strong control and governance mindset.
- Proficiency in SAP for financial postings, reconciliations, and reporting.
- Ability to work with and interpret large data sets; familiarity with Power BI or similar tools is advantageous.
- Strong problem-solving skills and ability to drive issue resolution across multiple stakeholders.
- Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively in a centralized or virtual team environment.
- Ability to plan and prioritize under tight month-end and year-end deadlines.
- Potential for people leadership with a willingness to coach and develop team members.
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs):
- Timeliness and accuracy of financial statement submissions.
- Quality of balance sheet management (aging, open items, provisions, reconciliations).
- Number and severity of audit observations and timely closure of actions.
- Effectiveness of process governance (on-time close, adherence to controls, KPI performance).
- Feedback from stakeholders and auditors.
- Team engagement and performance.
Commitment to Equality, Diversity & Inclusion:
We embrace diversity and encourage applicants from all backgrounds. We ensure fair consideration for all candidates and support the development of all employees, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, or pregnancy and maternity.
Note: All official offers are issued exclusively through our Applicant Tracking System (ATS). Offers from unofficial sources may be fraudulent—please verify before proceeding.
