Assistant Manager - Planning & Reporting (OPEX)

The Assistant Manager will support the financial planning and analysis activities for practice areas operating expenses (OPEX) and incentives across the Americas region. This role involves managing and analyzing financial data, partnering with onshore and offshore teams, and ensuring accurate and timely budgeting, forecasting, and reporting processes. The role is essential in providing insights and recommendations to support financial decision-making and improve operational efficiency.

This role will be part of the Americas PRCoE, in Bangalore. Reporting directly to the Americas PCoE Senior Manager, the Assistant Manager will collaborate closely with onshore and offshore teams. Success in this role demands strong analytical skills, a proactive approach, and an ability to communicate effectively with stakeholders at all levels.

This role requires the candidate to be available during US hours (5:00 PM IST to 2:00 AM IST) for 10 working days per month. The remaining working days will follow UK hours (1:00 PM to 9:00 PM IST). Flexibility to adjust work timings according to business requirements is essential.

Budgeting and Forecasting Support:

• Collaborate with practice area leaders to gather input for OPEX and incentive forecasts and budgets, ensuring alignment with strategic goals.
• Assist in reforecasting and scenario planning to address changes in practice/service line activities or new initiatives.
• Input data into forecasting tools and validate system outputs (e.g., BPC, SAC) to ensure accuracy and consistency.
• Analyze variances between actuals, forecasts, and budgets, identifying key trends and actionable insights.
• Provide detailed explanations of OPEX drivers, incentive allocations, and variances to support discussions with practice leaders.

Incentives Management:

• Partner with HR Rewards and FPA teams to manage the incentive planning process, ensuring accurate allocation by practice, type, and entity.
• Review employee incentive lists for eligibility and ensure alignment with headcount projections and benchmarks.
• Identify opportunities to streamline the incentive planning process and improve data accuracy.

OPEX Tracking and Monitoring:

• Maintain and update trackers for practice-specific OPEX, including vendor spend, project costs, and travel and entertainment (TE) expenses.
• Work with Concur and D365 data to track TE trends, reconciling actuals against planned budgets.
• Collaborate with Business Operations to monitor contracts and research tool expenditures, ensuring alignment with forecasts.
• Identify anomalies and cost-saving opportunities within OPEX categories such as IT, research, and professional fees.

Month End Close Process Support:

• Prepare month end accruals, journal entries and reconciliations for operational expenditures at the regional level, across the practice areas and markets.
• Work with Controllership to resolve discrepancies and ensure financial reporting complies with audit requirements.

Business Partnering:

• Act as a finance business partner to practice leaders, providing financial insights and addressing questions related to OPEX and incentives.
• Support and work collaboratively with wider FPA team, Commercial Finance and Operational Finance
• Interact with colleagues at Global level in respect of spend or associated recharges.

Candidate Qualifications

Academics/Work Experience:

• Qualified accountant with 4 - 6 years relevant experience or Graduate/ Post graduate in in Finance, Accounting with 9 - 11 years relevant experience in financial analysis, budgeting, accounting, and financial reporting

Technical Competencies:

• Advanced excel skills (pivot tables, VLOOKUP, reference formulas, charts, modeling, etc).
• Experience with Microsoft Dynamics 365, SAP BPC and Tableau

Key Attributes:

• Strong attention to detail and ability to spot discrepancies or patterns in data.
• Ability to prioritize tasks effectively and meet deadlines in a high-pressure environment.
• Adaptability to shifting priorities and multitasking as needed.
• Eagerness to grow and develop expertise in finance and analytic roles.
• Proactive, self-motivated, accountable in handling responsibilities.
• Clear and concise communications skills for presenting data and reports effectively.