Accountant Lead

Orcapod Consulting Services; Bengaluru; On-site; INR 1,800,000 - 2,400,000; Full time

Job summary

General Mills Bengaluru is seeking a Lead Accountant to oversee high-risk accounting entries, SOX controls, and reconciliations. You will review and approve transactions, coach team members, and ensure compliance with corporate policies and GAAP.

The role requires strong technical accounting skills, proactive issue resolution, and collaboration with Controllership to improve processes.

Qualifications

• Strong understanding of financial accounting principles and practices.

Responsibilities

• Serve as independent approver for medium/high-risk accounting transactions, journals, and reconciliations.
• Develop understanding of General Mills operations to ensure compliance with SOPs and policies.
• Identify and report control deficiencies; work with management to implement remediation plans.
• Coach junior accountants and provide technical guidance while ensuring accurate financial reporting.
• Facilitate clear communication between preparers and management regarding accounting treatments.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Problem solving

Leadership

Independent worker

Detail oriented

Communication across teams

Coaching juniors

Education

B.Com/M.Com/MBA Finance

Tools

SAP

Hyperion (HFM)

Blackline

OneStream

Job description

Job Description-

• The Lead Accountant is a highly experienced and technically proficient member of the General Mills accounting ONE TEAM, playing a crucial role in ensuring the accuracy and integrity of financial transactions and reporting. This position is responsible for the independent review and approval of medium to high-risk accounting entries, owning and executing SOX relevant controls, and serving as a vital link between Accountants/Sr. Accountants and the Accounting Manager/Controllership team. The Lead Accountant will leverage their extensive accounting knowledge to monitor compliance with General Mills policies and accounting standards, proactively identify and resolve issues, coach team members whose work you are reviewing, and contribute to the continuous improvement of financial processes.
• Demonstrates the attributes of an accountant:
• Commitment, ownership of the teams work, a collaborative approach, and curiosity to understand accounting transactions and their relation to General Mills business and industry.
• Apply strong technical accounting acumen and analytical skills to interpret financial data, investigate variances, and ensure the integrity of financial information through understanding and ability to teach the “WHY”.
• Identify errors upfront and execute effective preventive controls that provide confidence in the team’s work product and overall financial results.
• Understanding of the upstream consequences to the business that under / poor performance could lead to issues with Auditors and Regulators.

Enablers for success in this role include the ability to work proactively, have a high attention to detail, ability to partner with multiple internal and external business partners, coach lower-level people, high technical accounting and financial acumen, intellectual curiosity, a commitment to continuous improvement, and adaptability.

Key Accountabilities

• Serve as the independent approver for medium and high-risk accounting transactions, journal entries, and reconciliations, ensuring accuracy, completeness, and strict adherence to accounting standards, General Mills policies, and ownership/execution of SOX relevant and operational controls.
• Develop a strong understanding of General Mills' business operations and processes and ensure all transactions comply with Standard Operating Procedures, General Mills policies, and relevant accounting standards.
• Identify and solve/escalate findings and necessary observations identified during transaction reviews that may have an impact on financial reporting.
• Identify and report any control deficiencies, working with the Accounting Manager and General Mills accounting team to implement remediation plans.
• Facilitate clear and effective communication between accounting preparers and the Accounting Manager/Controllership team regarding accounting treatments, policies, and reporting requirements.
• Provide continuous guidance, support, and technical coaching to junior accountants.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications and Experience

Required skills and qualifications:

• Demonstrated strong understanding and application of financial accounting principles and practices.
• Excellent communication skills across all levels of the Accounting Team
• Problem Solving, Critical, Analytical thinking, Thought Leadership & Influencing leadership.
• Ability to work independently
• Detailed-oriented, result-oriented, proactive
• Strong people coaching abilities
• Strong organizational skills
• Strong understanding of financial statement components and the ability to deep dive to the grass-roots level to understand underlying transactions within their areas of responsibility.

Preferred skills and qualifications:

• B.Com/ M.Com/ MBA Finance
• 7-9 years relevant experience
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office tools
• Working knowledge of SAP, Hyperion (HFM), Blackline and OneStream is an added advantage.