Vessel Accountant

Safesea Group; Mumbai; On-site; INR 1,800,000 - 2,800,000; Full time

Job summary

Safesea Group is seeking a Senior Vessel Accountant in Mumbai to manage vessel accounting, budgeting, and compliance. You will coordinate with technical, crewing, and procurement teams to ensure accurate recording of vessel-related expenses and income, and support management with variance analyses.

Candidates should have 8–10 years of vessel accounting experience in ship management or owning companies, strong analytical skills, and proficiency in Excel and ERP systems.

Qualifications

• Education: B.Com / M.Com.
• 8–10 years of accounting experience in vessel accounting in a ship management or ship owning company.
• Hands-on experience in vessel accounting, budget control, and vendor reconciliation.
• Familiarity with ERP systems such as MariApps is an advantage.
• Strong analytical and numerical skills.
• Understanding of maritime accounting concepts (OPEX, voyage accounting, port costs).
• Proficient in MS Excel and accounting software.
• Eye for detail with accuracy and timelines.
• Effective communication and coordination across departments.

Responsibilities

• Vessel Accounting & Reporting: record expenses, allocate costs, reconcile accounts, prepare monthly/quarterly reports and variance analysis.

Skills

Vessel accounting

Budget control

Vendor reconciliation

MS Excel

Analytical skills

Attention to detail

Education

B.Com / M.Com

Tools

MariApps ERP

Job description

Reporting To: GM – Accounting and Finance

Position Overview

The Vessel Accountant will be responsible for managing the complete accounting and financial reporting of assigned vessels, ensuring compliance with company policies, international accounting standards, and shipping industry requirements. The role involves close coordination with technical, crewing, and procurement departments for timely and accurate recording of vessel-related expenses and income.

Key Responsibilities

1. Vessel Accounting & Reporting

• Record all vessel-related expenses including port disbursements, crew wages, lubes, spares, repairs, insurance, and management fees.
• Ensure correct allocation of costs between vessels, departments, and cost centers.
• Review and reconcile vessel running accounts and intercompany transactions.
• Prepare monthly and quarterly management reports and variance analysis (Budget vs Actual).

2. Budgeting & Forecasting

• Assist in preparation of annual vessel budgets and rolling forecasts.
• Monitor budget utilization and highlight deviations or cost overruns.
• Support management in vessel performance analysis and cost optimization initiatives.
• Review and verify vendor invoices, delivery notes, and service completion certificates.
• Coordinate with the purchasing and technical teams to ensure proper documentation for payments.
• Process vessel payments ensuring compliance with internal approval matrix and banking procedures.

4. Audit, Compliance & Documentation

• Coordinate with internal and external auditors during vessel audits.
• Maintain all vessel-related documentation for compliance with accounting standards and statutory requirements.
• Ensure adherence to group accounting policies, IFRS, and local GAAP where applicable.
• Liaise with Vessel Managers, Superintendents, and Crew Management for financial inputs.
• Work closely with the Technical, Crewing, and Procurement teams for real-time accounting of transactions.
• Support management in ad-hoc analysis and decision-making.

Qualifications & Experience

• Education: B.Com / M.Com
• Experience: 8-10 years of accounting experience in vessel accounting in a ship management or ship owning company.
• Hands-on experience in vessel accounting, budget control, and vendor reconciliation.
• Familiarity with ERP systems such as MariApps, is an advantage.
• Strong analytical and numerical skills.
• Sound understanding of maritime accounting concepts (OPEX, voyage accounting, port costs, etc.).
• Proficient in MS Excel and accounting software.
• Eye for detail with a commitment to accuracy and timelines.
• Effective communication and coordination skills across departments.

Key Attributes

• High integrity and sense of responsibility.
• Ability to work under pressure and meet strict deadlines.
• Team player with a proactive approach.
• Organized and process-oriented mindset.

Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Accuracy and timeliness of vessel accounts and P&L.
• Timely reconciliation of vendor and vessel accounts.
• Adherence to budget control and reporting timelines.
• Audit compliance and minimal query ratio.
• Responsiveness and coordination effectiveness with other departments.