Assistant Vice President

Job Description Job Purpose This role is placed under the Performance Assurance Standard (PAS) team of EXL's F&A business unit. The PAS team will play a crucial role in ensuring the accuracy, integrity, and efficiency of F&A operations. The team will assess whether the F&A organization's processes comply with internal policies, statutory requirements, client requirements, and industry process standards while identifying risks and opportunities for improvement We are seeking an experienced and detail-oriented senior manager to establish the structure, team, and operational framework for conducting F&A business process, controls and GRC audits. This role will focus on auditing finance and accounting processes to identify and mitigate risks related to F&A operations, statutory requirements, compliance, fraud, financial integrity, and reputational impact. The ideal candidate will bring a blend of strategic thinking, team leadership, and hands-on expertise in finance and accounting audit processes. Skills & Experience Essential skills and experience - minimum criteria - Education: - Bachelor's degree (with accounting) - Experience: - 12+ years of experience in F&A operations/ governance/ audit roles with a minimum of 3 years in a leadership role - Experience in process mapping and identifying inefficiencies or risks. - Technical Skills: - Deep experience and familiarity with accounting principles (GAAP, IFRS) and financial reporting standard - Knowledge of statutory compliance requirements (e.g., SOX compliance, tax regulations) - Understanding of popular accounting systems like SAP, Oracle, MS Dynamics - Up-to-date knowledge of financial regulations and industry standards. - Understanding of digital risks and IT audit concepts. - Soft Skills: - Strong analytical thinking and problem-solving skills - capability to analyze complex data, identify patterns, and draw actionable insights. - Ability to communicate complex insights and audit findings clearly, effectively and impactfully to non-F&A stakeholders both verbally and through presentations - Proven track record of building, managing, and mentoring audit teams. - Demonstrated ability to foster collaboration across departments. - Excellent organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously. Desirable Skills and Experience - Professional certifications such as CA, CPA, ACCA, CMA, CFPS or CIMA. - Prior experience in leading cross-functional audit projects, especially in finance and accounting. Responsibilities - Establish Audit Function: - Design and implement a robust and standard framework for conducting business process and GRC audits for finance and accounting. - Define the scope, objectives, and methodologies for various audits, ensuring alignment with organizational, regulatory, industry and client standards. - Team Setup and Leadership: - Build and manage a high-performing audit team, including hiring, training, and mentoring team members. - Assign clear roles and responsibilities, ensuring efficient resource utilization. - Develop Operational Procedures: - Create detailed standard operating procedures (SOPs) for conducting audits. - Implement systems and tools to optimize and enhance audit processes for efficiency and accuracy. - Risk Identification and Mitigation: - Perform audits to assess risks across operational F&A, statutory, compliance, financial, and reputational dimensions. - Develop and monitor risk assessment models to proactively identify potential vulnerabilities. - Laise and collaborate with clients to address their requirements - Perform RCAs and CAPAs for breaches, ensure gaps are closed with urgency for all areas - Compliance and Regulatory Adherence: - Ensure audit processes meet all applicable statutory and regulatory requirements. - Stay updated on changes in laws, regulations, and industry best practices affecting finance and accounting. - Reporting and Communication: - Present and communicate complex audit findings via detailed audit reports, recommendations, and action plans in a clear, concise and actionable manner to both technical and non-technical stakeholders. - Present findings to senior management and collaborate with stakeholders to address identified issues. - Continuous Improvement: - Monitor the effectiveness of audit programs and recommend enhancements. - Foster a culture of compliance, transparency, and continuous learning within the organization. - Implement audit best practices across F&A processes and clients