Lead Analyst - Accounting (Payroll Accounting)

Principal Global Services; Pune District; On-site; INR 1,200,000 - 2,400,000; Full time

Job summary

Principal Global Services is seeking a Lead Analyst - Accounting to own and drive core accounting processes in line with US GAAP/SAP. This role offers the chance to impact financial outcomes through rigorous analysis and collaboration with global teams.

The successful candidate will manage the incentive accrual process, oversee payroll GL interfaces, perform reconciliations, support month-end closes, and assist external audits while looking for opportunities to streamline and improve our

Qualifications

• Master’s degree or professional qualification in finance/accounting.
• Chartered Accountant or MBA Finance preferred.
• 7–8 years of relevant Finance/Accounting experience.

Responsibilities

• Own and manage stock compensation, security benefits, and HR-related accounting per US GAAP.
• Lead incentive accrual process, including reviews and variance analysis.
• Monitor payroll GL interfaces and resolve discrepancies with partners.
• Perform complex account reconciliations and explain variances to management.
• Support monthly, quarterly, year-end close and prepare schedules.
• Assist external audits with audit-ready documentation.
• Identify opportunities to streamline and standardize processes.
• Provide informal leadership and drive improvements across deliverables.

Skills

U.S. GAAP knowledge

SAP accounting

Excel proficiency

Audit coordination

Analytical mindset

Education

Master’s degree or professional qualification

Chartered Accountant or MBA Finance

Tools

Oracle ERP

MS Office

Job description

Responsibilities

As a Lead Analyst - Accounting, you'll play a pivotal role in our accounting team, owning and driving key processes that are crucial for our success. This is an outstanding opportunity to work in a dynamic and encouraging environment where your expertise will make a significant impact!

Key Responsibilities

• • Manage accounting processes for stock compensation, security benefits, employee benefit plans, and other HR-related functions in line with U.S. GAAP/SAP.
  • Independently manage the incentive accrual process, including review, calculations, variance analysis, and coordination with global teams.
  • Monitor payroll general ledger interfaces, ensuring accuracy, identifying and researching discrepancies, and working with partners to resolve issues.
  • Review and perform moderately complex account reconciliations. Analyze variances in HR-related accounts. Ensure balances are accurate, supported, and follow internal controls. Provide clear explanations with supporting analysis to management.
  • Support monthly, quarterly, and year-end close processes, including preparation and review of financial statement schedules.
  • Assist external audit processes by preparing audit-ready documentation, responding to routine audit requests, and addressing follow-up questions.
  • Find opportunities to streamline, standardize, or improve accounting and reporting processes.
  • Serve in an informal leadership role, motivated by challenging the status quo, collaborating with others, and generating new insights to continue to advance and improve deliverables.

Qualifications

Education & Experience

• Master’s degree / Professional Degree / Relevant Industry Certification.
• Preferably Chartered Accountant or MBA Finance.
• Around 7-8 years of relevant experience in Finance/Accounting, preferably in an offshore or shared services environment.

Technical Skills

• Strong U.S. GAAP/SAP accounting and reporting knowledge.
• Experience with general ledger ownership, complex account reconciliations, and end-to-end close processes.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel; strong working knowledge of other MS office tools (PowerPoint/Word).
• Expertise in leveraging financial systems, applications, and reporting tools to analyze transactions, produce reporting, and support decision-making.
• Experience working with Oracle ERP systems and reporting tools preferred; ability to extract, analyze, and validate datasets.
• Ability to lead interactions with external auditors and respond to audit requests accurately and timely.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Proactive, analytical, and improvement-oriented mindset; comfortable challenging data and assumptions.
• Demonstrate ability to apply professional judgment and independently resolve issues in gray or non-standard accounting areas.
• Collaborative team player who can also operate independently and lead workstreams as needed.
• Must have fluent English communication skills (spoken and written).