Manager- Budgeting & Cost Optimization

Position Summary-

The Manager – Budgeting & Cost Optimization, based in Gurugram, will be responsible for driving organization-wide people cost budgeting, forecasting, and cost optimization within the Total Rewards function. The role involves close collaboration with Finance and HRBPs to deliver accurate compensation analytics, MIS reporting, and insightful dashboards that guide leadership decisions. The incumbent will lead variance and sensitivity analyses, develop workforce cost models, and ensure headcount planning aligns with financial cycles. In addition to managing reporting and analytics, the role includes team leadership, ensuring high performance and effective execution of priorities. Candidates should hold a graduate/postgraduate degree in Commerce, Finance, HR, Economics, or Analytics (MBA preferred) with 5–10 years of relevant experience in HR analytics, compensation MIS, budgeting, or Finance-HR interface roles.

Role-

Job Location-

Objective-

To drive accurate and efficient people cost budgeting, forecasting, and reporting by leveraging data-driven insights, MIS management, and financial modelling; ensure alignment between HR and Finance on compensation analytics; and lead the team in delivering high-quality outputs that support leadership decision-making and organizational cost optimization

Key Accountabilities

Compensation Budget & Forecasting

1. Drive annual and periodic people cost budgeting and forecasting in partnership with Finance and HRBPs.
2. Track actuals vs. budgeted compensation on various anchors across employee segments (fixed, variable, ctc).
3. Support in headcount planning and reconciliation aligned with financial cycles.

MIS Reporting & Dashboarding

1. Own and maintain compensation and benefits MIS including headcount, CTC, incentive payouts, etc.
2. Create and automate dashboards for key HR/Finance stakeholders (e.g., workforce cost dashboards, trends, run-rate analytics).
3. Conduct variance analysis and develop insights on cost drivers, attrition impact, hiring impact, increment impact, headcount phasing, and trend shifts.

Data Analysis & Modelling

1. Build and maintain data models to simulate compensation impacts under various scenarios (hikes, bonus, hiring).
2. Support Board-level reporting with clean, accurate, and insightful data
3. Run sensitivity analyses on workforce costs for different business scenarios (volume changes, roster plans, etc.).

Team Management

1. Manage team and provide direction on execution / implementation of tasks by prioritizing functional and organizational goals accordingly
2. Manage Team Performance & adherence to KPIs/SLA for employees under rewards team

Educational and Experience Requirements

Minimum Education Requirement- Graduate/Postgraduate in Commerce, Finance, HR, Economics, or Analytics; MBA preferred

Minimum Requirement- 5-10 years of relevant experience in HR analytics, compensation MIS, budgeting, or Finance-HR interface roles.