MANAGER (Finance | Book Closing & Audit)

Job Description – Finance | Book Closing & AuditJob Purpose

To lead and manage the monthly, quarterly, and annual financial book-closing process while overseeing statutory, tax, cost, and internal audits. The role is responsible for ensuring accurate and timely financial reporting, regulatory compliance, effective internal controls, and adherence to defined closing and audit timelines.

The position will work closely with cross-functional finance teams and business stakeholders to ensure financial accuracy, compliance, audit readiness, and continuous improvement of accounting and reporting processes.

Key Responsibilities1. Financial Book Closing – SAP FI

• Own and manage end-to-end month-end, quarter-end, and year-end book-closing activities in SAP FI.

• Ensure timely and accurate posting and review of GL entries, accruals, provisions, depreciation, foreign exchange adjustments, and reclassifications.

• Coordinate with Accounts Receivable, Accounts Payable, Costing, FP&A, and Plant Finance teams to ensure completeness of financial closure.

• Ensure timely and accurate reconciliation of sub-ledgers with the General Ledger, including AR, AP, Inventory, and Fixed Assets.

• Monitor closing activities against defined timelines and ensure timely resolution of open items.

2. Manufacturing Accounting & Financial Controls

• Review and validate inventory valuation, WIP, finished goods, scrap, and obsolescence provisions.

• Ensure accurate overhead absorption, variance accounting, and cost center allocations.

• Review GR/IR balances, advances, prepaid expenses, and balance sheet schedules.

• Ensure appropriate accounting treatment for manufacturing-related transactions.

• Monitor revenue recognition in accordance with Ind AS and applicable OEM commercial terms.

• Strengthen accounting controls across manufacturing and plant finance operations.

3. Statutory & Regulatory Compliance

• Ensure compliance with applicable Ind AS, Companies Act, Income Tax, GST, MSME, and other statutory and regulatory requirements.

• Review and finalize financial statements, notes to accounts, schedules, and supporting financial information.

• Coordinate GST reconciliation between books and statutory returns, including GSTR-1, GSTR-3B, and Input Tax Credit (ITC).

• Support tax audits, assessments, statutory filings, and other regulatory requirements.

• Ensure timely resolution of compliance-related issues and observations.

4. Audit Management

• Act as the primary point of contact for statutory, cost, internal, and GST auditors.

• Plan, coordinate, and monitor audit activities to ensure adherence to agreed timelines.

• Coordinate with relevant stakeholders for timely submission of audit schedules, documents, working papers, and supporting evidence.

• Review audit observations and coordinate corrective actions with concerned teams.

• Ensure timely closure of audit observations and management action points.

• Maintain complete and organized audit documentation and records in SAP and offline repositories.

5. SAP Governance & Data Integrity

• Ensure adherence to SAP posting controls, financial closing checklists, and approval workflows.

• Monitor parked documents, manual journal entries, and other financial postings for accuracy and compliance.

• Ensure appropriate controls over user access and financial master data.

• Identify opportunities for SAP process improvements, automation, and reconciliation enhancements.

• Drive data integrity and standardization across financial accounting processes.

6. Team Leadership & Continuous Improvement

• Lead, guide, and mentor the book-closing and audit team.

• Define and monitor financial closing calendars, SOPs, process controls, and responsibility matrices.

• Drive standardization and continuous improvement of accounting and reporting processes.

• Identify opportunities to reduce financial closing cycle time and improve process efficiency.

• Strengthen internal financial controls and promote a strong compliance culture.

• Develop team capabilities through knowledge sharing, coaching, and process training.

Key Result Areas (KRAs)

• Timely completion of monthly, quarterly, and annual financial closing within defined timelines.

• Accuracy and reliability of financial statements with minimal post-closing adjustments.

• Effective management and timely closure of statutory, cost, internal, and tax audit observations.

• Compliance with applicable accounting standards, tax regulations, and statutory requirements.

• Timely and accurate reconciliation of sub-ledgers and balance sheet accounts.

• Strengthening of internal financial controls and reduction of control gaps.

• Effective SAP governance with controlled manual postings and accurate financial data.

• Effective team performance, closure adherence, and capability development.

Key Skills & Competencies

• Strong expertise in financial book closing and audit management, preferably within a manufacturing environment.

• Hands-on experience in SAP FI, including General Ledger (GL), Asset Accounting (AA), and Controlling (CO).

• Strong knowledge of Ind AS, Companies Act, GST, Income Tax, and Cost Accounting.

• Sound understanding of manufacturing accounting, inventory valuation, cost allocation, and financial controls.

• Strong analytical and reconciliation skills with high attention to detail.

• Strong ownership, control orientation, and ability to work within strict timelines.

• Effective stakeholder management and communication skills.

• Ability to manage statutory, internal, cost, and tax auditors independently.

• Strong problem-solving and process improvement capabilities.

• Advanced proficiency in MS Excel.

Qualifications & Experience

• Chartered Accountant (CA) with 10+ years of relevant post-qualification experience in financial accounting, book closing, audit, and compliance.

• Relevant experience in a manufacturing or automotive industry environment will be preferred.

• Hands-on experience with SAP FI is required; SAP FI certification will be an added advantage.

• Advanced knowledge of MS Excel and financial analysis tools.

Preferred Experience

• Experience in managing month-end, quarter-end, and year-end financial closures.

• Experience in statutory, internal, cost, and GST audit coordination.

• Experience in manufacturing accounting and plant finance processes.

• Exposure to SAP FI/CO and financial process controls.

• Experience in driving process improvements, automation, and financial control strengthening.