Senior Analyst

Ford Business Solutions; Chennai; On-site; INR 1,500,000 - 2,100,000; Full time

Job summary

Ford Business Solutions is seeking a Senior Financial Analyst for External Reporting Investment Accounting in Chennai. You will support accounting, reconciliation, and reporting of cash equivalents and marketable securities, collaborating with Treasury, Trading, Tax, and External Reporting teams.

The role involves quarter/year-end close, audits, variance analysis, and process improvements using SAP S/4HANA and Group Reporting to ensure timely, accurate disclosures and compliance with SOX.

Qualifications

• Professional accounting qualification such as CA, CPA, ACCA, CMA, or equivalent.
• Minimum 3 years of relevant experience in corporate accounting, financial reporting, external reporting, or a related Finance function.
• Strong understanding of general accounting, GL, journal entries, reconciliations, close processes, and financial statement reporting.
• Hands‑on experience with management reporting, disclosures/footnotes, and variance analysis.
• Practical experience using SAP S/4HANA for accounting and financial reporting.
• Experience with internal controls and SOX compliance.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving capabilities with attention to detail.
• Ability to manage multiple reporting deadlines and communicate with stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Support quarterly and annual financial statement disclosures relating to marketable securities.
• Prepare and review schedules for cash equivalents and marketable securities for Form 10‑K/10‑Q.
• Perform month‑end, quarter‑end, and year‑end balance reviews and adjust entries.
• Conduct QoQ and YoY fluctuation analyses with explanations.
• Prepare variance analyses and management reporting packages.
• Ensure reporting is complete, accurate, and delivered on time.
• Manage GL activities, journal entries, reconciliations, and close.
• Investigate discrepancies with Trading, Treasury, and external providers.
• Support consolidation and reporting in SAP S/4HANA and Group Reporting.
• Assist with system testing, process design, automation, and enhancements.
• Ensure SOX controls and documentation are maintained.
• Coordinate with auditors and respond to requests.

Skills

General accounting

General ledger

Journal entries

Account reconciliations

Month-end close

Financial statement reporting

Variance analysis

Analytical skills

Education

CA/CPA/ACCA/CMA

Tools

SAP S/4HANA

SAP Group Reporting

Hyperion

Power BI

Tableau

Alteryx

Job description

The Senior Financial Analyst - External Reporting Investment Accounting will support the accurate accounting, reconciliation, analysis, and financial statement reporting of cash equivalents and marketable securities.

The role partners closely with Treasury, Trading, External Reporting, Tax, Internal Audit, and external service providers to ensure balances, disclosures, and supporting schedules are accurate and completed within corporate reporting timelines.

The position will also support quarter-end and year-end close, audit requirements, controls, variance analysis, process improvements, and reporting activities using SAP S/4HANA and Group Reporting.

Responsibilities

Financial External Reporting

• Support quarterly and annual preparation of financial statement disclosures relating to automotive marketable securities in accordance with corporate reporting timelines.
• Prepare and review schedules for cash equivalents and marketable securities supporting Form 10-K and Form 10-Q reporting.
• Perform month-end, quarter-end, and year-end balance reviews and prepare adjustment entries when required.
• Perform quarter-over-quarter (QoQ) and year-over-year (YoY) fluctuation analysis and provide clear explanations for significant movements.
• Prepare variance analyses and management reporting packages.
• Ensure reporting is complete, accurate, supported by appropriate documentation, and delivered within established deadlines.

Accounting Reconciliation

• Manage general ledger activities, including journal entries, account reconciliations, and month-end/quarter-end close activities.
• Reconcile investment and cash-related balances across accounting records and supporting information.
• Investigate discrepancies and coordinate their resolution with Trading, Treasury Operations, and relevant external service providers.
• Support accounting analysis and documentation for new transactions, accounting changes, and organizational changes.

SAP S/4HANA Reporting

• Use SAP S/4HANA and SAP Group Reporting to retrieve, consolidate, and analyze financial information across relevant business units.
• Support consolidation and financial reporting processes within SAP.
• Assist with system testing, process design, automation, and enhancements within the S/4HANA reporting environment.
• Identify opportunities to standardize, simplify, and automate accounting and reporting activities.

Controls, Compliance Audit

• Ensure compliance with applicable accounting policies, financial reporting requirements, and Sarbanes‑Oxley (SOX) controls.
• Maintain appropriate supporting documentation and audit trails.
• Support internal and external audit requests relating to cash equivalents and marketable securities.
• Investigate audit queries and coordinate timely responses and remediation where required.

Stakeholder Management

• Partner with Trading, Treasury Operations, External Reporting, Tax, Internal Audit, and other Finance teams on accounting and financial reporting matters.
• Coordinate with external service providers/custodians to resolve differences in investment or cash balances.
• Communicate financial results, variance explanations, and reporting issues clearly to Finance leadership and relevant stakeholders.

Required Qualifications

• Professional accounting qualification such as CA, CPA, ACCA, CMA, or equivalent.
• Minimum 3 years of relevant experience in corporate accounting, financial reporting, external reporting, or a related Finance function.
• Strong understanding of:
  • General accounting
  • General ledger accounting
  • Journal entries
  • Account reconciliations
  • Month-end and quarter-end close
  • Financial statement reporting
• Hands‑on experience with management reporting, financial statement disclosure/footnote preparation, and variance analysis.
• Practical experience using SAP S/4HANA for accounting and financial reporting.
• Experience working with internal controls and SOX compliance.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving capabilities with excellent attention to detail.
• Ability to manage multiple reporting deadlines and work independently.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to collaborate across Finance functions and communicate with senior stakeholders.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with cash and investment accounting, particularly marketable securities.
• Experience supporting Form 10-K/Form 10-Q reporting or equivalent external financial reporting.
• Experience with SAP Group Reporting or Hyperion.
• Understanding of investment portfolios and financial instruments.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills.
• Experience with reporting and automation tools such as Power BI, Tableau, or Alteryx.
• Experience working with Treasury, Trading, or investment/custodian service providers.
• Experience in a large multinational or publicly listed organization.