Director : SCSL Financial Controller

SCSL Financial Controller

Job Summary

Financial Controller – SCSL Finance will be responsible to lead and deliver all controllership activities including but not limited to accounting, reconciliation, substantiation, reporting and disclosure for the service company financials whose main business is to design, develop and maintain software intangibles for their end users. The governance responsibility of this role extends to upstream process and controls in COO and CIO organisation and collaboration with Tax and Treasury teams. This role would partner with business to achieving the organization goals and the commercial objectives of the business. The role will be accountable for integrity and accuracy of financial reporting in accordance with IFRS and various other local statutory requirements. The role will manage book close process, financial reporting for Group and legal entity working closely with Cost Management, Business Finance, Group Finance, Technology & Operations, Country based finance teams.

Designing FRCF controls for SCSL based on its business and operational objectives leading to impeccable control and integrity of financial information is an integral part of the responsibilities. Role will be responsible to have strong engagement model with Tech CFOs, Business Finance, COO, CIO and GPO Cost Management to provide best in class financial reporting and risk management with provision of strong control governance framework. In addition to oversight across the breadth of day-to-day delivery, the broad areas covered within this role include:

• Managing, delivering, and governing financial controller related reporting and analytics requirements
• Strategic direction and oversight of designing processes that will enhance Controls and outcomes.
• Support designing and execution of Finance change journey. This role will also lead activities and functions required for SCSL Board for its effective governance over the financials.

Key Responsibilities

Operating Model Strategy

• Partner with Cost management, Tech CFO and Global Process Owner to formulate and execute day 1 strategy for servco implementation
• Collaborate with Finance leadership team to embed new servco strategy, control framework and process design to deliver requirements under intangibles and IGAR
• Design and implement team structure optimising core controllership & Governance outcomes.
• Partner with the Global Process Owner and Group Controller Office to design and execute the controllers’ mandate for the Legal entities and Business segments with End-to-End responsibility and accountability by leveraging on best practices across GCCs in India.
• Work closely with COOs and CIOs to achieve investment capitalization outcomes.

Business and Processes Financial Controller

• Work closely with COO, CIO, Group Tax, Cost Management and SCSL Finance Heads to ensure seamless period-close in accordance with accounting standards and practices in timely manner.
• Perform Analytical review of IFRS Financials and disclosures to explain business drivers and ensure there are no material issues / errors.
• Develop strong understanding of firm’s accounting and governance policies and ensure compliance of same.
• Establish clear guidelines that will drive decisions around close acceleration.
• Ensure Primary and Secondary financial statements are prepared in accordance with statutory and regulatory requirements for accountable captions in timely manner. Support Group Financial and Local Statutory reporting for LE & Group.
• Work with Tech CFO and project teams for effective controls around software intangibles.
• Oversee SCSL balance sheet substantiation process and remediate any risk and control issues.
• Secretarial function for the SCSL Board.
• Banking and funding management for SCSL and its branches.
• Manage key control forums at LE & Tech segment level with appropriate KRI & KPI reporting with aim to monitor open items and its implications covering risks and audit issues.
• Collaborate with the change & technology teams for upstream issue fixes to help resolve gaps.

Control and Governance

• Establish an audit program with external auditors for timely and appropriate review of process and controls related to software intangible financials.
• Engage with FRG for FRCF implementation and delivery; seamless and sustainable adherence.
• Liaise with OTCR and Tech Control teams for delivering sustainable control environment.

Change Management

• Own and manage Tech enablement program for SCSL in collaboration with Technology and GCFO Change teams.
• Represent the function at the governance forums in place for change initiatives and influence decisions in respect of the change backlog, prioritisation, and choice of technology tools.

People & Talent

• To lead, inspire and motivate the teams ensuring that everyone achieves their potential and that the team delivers its collective agenda.
• Lead through example and build the appropriate culture and values. Set appropriate tone and expectations from their team and work in collaboration with risk and control partners.
• Ensure the provision of ongoing training and development of people and ensure that holders of all critical functions are suitably skilled and qualified for their roles ensuring that they have effective supervision in place to mitigate any risks.
• Employ, engage, and retain high quality people, with succession planning for critical roles.
• Responsibility to review team structure/capacity plans.
• Set and monitor job descriptions and objectives for direct reports and provide feedback and rewards in line with their performance against those responsibilities and objectives.

Risk Management

Responsible for identifying, assessing, monitoring, controlling and mitigating risks to the Group relevant to Financial Control process.

Governance

• Awareness and understanding of the regulatory framework in which the Group operates, and the regulatory requirements and expectations relevant to the role.
• Responsible for delivering ‘effective governance’ in Finance Control; capability to challenge fellow executives effectively.

Regulatory & Business Conduct

• Display exemplary conduct and live by the Group’s Values and Code of Conduct.
• Take personal responsibility for embedding the highest standards of ethics, including regulatory and business conduct, across Standard Chartered Bank. This includes understanding and ensuring compliance with, in letter and spirit, all applicable laws, regulations, guidelines and the Group Code of Conduct.
• Effectively and collaboratively identify, escalate, mitigate and resolve risk, conduct and compliance matters.

Key stakeholders

• Group Controller
• Global Process Owner
• SCSL Finance Heads – Head Office and Branches
• Project MITTO – Programme Lead and Programme Office
• Group Technology and Operations (T&O)
• Finance Risk and Governance

Other Responsibilities

• Embed Here for good and Group’s brand and values in Finance Control team;
• Perform other responsibilities assigned under Group, Country, Business or Functional policies and procedures.

Skills and Experience

• Financial accounting and reporting - IFRS
• Business process design & Improvement
• Control Governance Framework
• Process management
• Emerging technologies
• Problem Management Process
• Effective communication

Qualifications

• Qualified Accountant with 20+ years’ work experience in leading & managing Finance controller function.
• Strong financial control experience of Cost, Investment Capitalization, Finance Risk & Governance.
• Have a sound knowledge on the right-shoring model (preferably with a financial services background).
• Ability to work well under pressure, strong problem-solving skills and some hands-on operational experience.
• Strategic mindset with strong experience in implementation of strategic changes as well as knowledge of IFRS and standard accounting practices etc.
• Excellent business judgment, operational control management and risk assessment.
• Strong connect with business performance metrics and how it is enabled through good process discipline.
• Should have strong knowledge and understanding of data management, data quality and its linkage in driving business performance management.
• Good eye for detail and with a strong focus on controls and compliance to policies and procedures.
• Results orientation, exceptional energy, and ambition to drive systems, technology and process changes across geographies.
• Demonstrated experience of influencing decisions at senior leadership level. Strong stakeholder engagement skills and ability to work with cross cultural teams.
• Possesses skill to leverage interpersonal abilities to influence others and skilfully build credibility with stakeholders.
• Experience of working in a global organisation in a matrix environment.