Cluster Controller South Asia

Company Description

NielsenIQ is committed to hiring and retaining a diverse workforce. We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action-Employer, making decisions without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability status, age, marital status, protected veteran status or any other protected class.

**Job Description**:
At NielsenIQ, the Cluster Controller lead’s all aspects of **local controlling and accounting for cluster of countries**. Coordinate activities between **Operational Controlling, Revenue Controlling and Business Finance.** Supervising local accounting activities specific to the respective markets. Maintain and monitor the local core finance processes.

RESPONSIBILITIES

The Cluster Controller will be responsible for:

- Manage **local controllership function** and lead the local Controlling team; provide financial oversight on the local business
- Ensure adequate **performance and reporting** on the following by leveraging both onshore and offshore teams:

- **US-GAAP accounting/closing, accruals, and account reconciliations**:

- Financial closing and consolidation
- ** Procure-to-pay functions (invoice & payment processing, T&E, etc)**:

- ** Intercompany transactions and reconciliations**:

- ** Revenue recognition & Contract Management**:

- Receivables and Collections Management
- **Ensure compliance** with all relevant global, regional or local policies, procedures and guidelines
- **Drive change locally in cluster** with regards to standardization and simplification initiatives as governed by the Global or Regional COE core teams or by Finance leadership
- Produce **monthly closing dashboard, and quarterly and year-end reporting packs** in accordance with corporate requirements for the local markets
- Ensure effective control environment through active coordination with the Group Controller and the Global and Regional COE core teams
- Support and guide markets for all **local internal audit and compliance **review assignments, including any **SOX or distributed audits**, lead discussion with auditors and design control environment to mitigate any risk identified in the audit finding
- Manage the **statutory and tax accounting** and audit processes and act as the overall supervisory point of contact for external auditors and/or tax and statutory authorities or consultants
- Provide leadership to local team in managing local board of directors with signature authority and directorship accountability for all local legal entities as may be needed under local and global statutory requirements
- Lead and execute on initiatives and ways of work to continually evolve the finance function under the umbrella of the Global COE
- Collaborate with the Global COE, Group Controlling and Business Finance teams to maintain or implement best-in-class policies for Revenue accounting and manage risk
- Develop and implement procedures and operational ways of work in a standardized, efficient, and effective manner for all markets in the cluster in the realm of OTI, I2C, and Cash Application under the umbrella of the Global Controllership Organisation
- Enhance & promote appropriate systems configuration, implementations, and IT environment to ensure effective and efficient execution of continuous finance processes
- Maintain thorough and current understanding of GAAP. Keep abreast of emerging accounting and reporting standards. Support the implementation of new accounting pronouncements as required.
- Communicate and collaborate routinely with finance colleagues at regional levels, providing direction related to key processes and related changes, the sharing of best practices and keeping them abreast of initiatives that have a global impact

**Qualifications**:
A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOU
A successful Cluster Controller will achieve a balanced coordination and seamless execution of all Controllership and general financial accounting related activities. S/he will have delivered on all process governance and controllership metrics. S/he will have promoted leadership and talent development and have willingly demonstrated values and behaviours as a senior finance leader.

QUALIFICATIONS
- Degree in Finance or Accounting and **Chartered Accountant** qualification is compulsory
- Fluency in English mandatory; second or third regional language preferred
- 15- 20 years relevant professional experience with large team management in a medium to large international company; experience with POC model preferred
- Experience in implementing global processes and systems
- Experience in driving process improvement within a Finance organization
- Successful track record of development/delivery of complex solutions
- Must have broad knowledge of **US GAAP**, with strong **technical accounting, process, and controls background**:

- Experience with ERP systems (preferably **SAP**, MS Office) and IT-PC literate
- Strong communication