Principal
Lead Analyst - Accounting (Payroll Accounting) at Principal
RoleFinance
LevelLead
LocationPune, India
WorkOn-site
TypeFull-time
Posted5 days ago
About the role
- Responsibilities As a Lead Analyst
- Accounting, you'll play a pivotal role in our accounting team, owning and driving key processes that are crucial for our success. This is an outstanding opportunity to work in a dynamic and encouraging environment where your expertise will make a significant impact! Key Responsibilities Manage accounting processes for stock compensation, security benefits, employee benefit plans, and other HR-related functions in line with U.S. GAAP/SAP. Independently manage the incentive accrual process, including review, calculations, variance analysis, and coordination with global teams. Monitor payroll general ledger interfaces, ensuring accuracy, identifying and researching discrepancies, and working with partners to resolve issues. Review and perform moderately complex account reconciliations. Analyze variances in HR-related accounts. Ensure balances are accurate, supported, and follow internal controls. Provide clear explanations with supporting analysis to management. Support monthly, quarterly, and year‑end close processes, including preparation and review of financial statement schedules. Assist external audit processes by preparing audit-ready documentation, responding to routine audit requests, and addressing follow-up questions. Find opportunities to streamline, standardize, or improve accounting and reporting processes. Serve in an informal leadership role, motivated by challenging the status quo, collaborating with others, and generating new insights to continue to advance and improve deliverables. Qualifications Education & Experience Master’s degree / Professional Degree / Relevant Industry Certification. Preferably Chartered Accountant or MBA Finance. Around 7-8 years of relevant experience in Finance/Accounting, preferably in an offshore or shared services environment. Technical Skills Strong U.S. GAAP/SAP accounting and reporting knowledge. Experience with general ledger ownership, complex account reconciliations, and end‑to‑end close processes. Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel; strong working knowledge of other MS office tools (PowerPoint/Word). Expertise in leveraging financial systems, applications, and reporting tools to analyze transactions, produce reporting, and support decision‑making. Experience working with Oracle ERP systems and reporting tools preferred; ability to extract, analyze, and validate datasets. Ability to lead interactions with external auditors and respond to audit requests accurately and timely. Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines. Proactive, analytical, and improvement‑oriented mindset; comfortable challenging data and assumptions. Demonstrate ability to apply professional judgment and independently resolve issues in gray or non‑standard accounting areas. Collaborative team player who can also operate independently and lead workstreams as needed. Must have fluent English communication skills (spoken and written).
- As a Lead Analyst
- Accounting, you'll play a pivotal role in our accounting team, owning and driving key processes that are crucial for our success. This is an outstanding opportunity to work in a dynamic and encouraging environment where your expertise will make a significant impact! Key Responsibilities Manage accounting processes for stock compensation, security benefits, employee benefit plans, and other HR-related functions in line with U.S. GAAP/SAP. Independently manage the incentive accrual process, including review, calculations, variance analysis, and coordination with global teams. Monitor payroll general ledger interfaces, ensuring accuracy, identifying and researching discrepancies, and working with partners to resolve issues. Review and perform moderately complex account reconciliations. Analyze variances in HR-related accounts. Ensure balances are accurate, supported, and follow internal controls. Provide clear explanations with supporting analysis to management. Support monthly, quarterly, and year‑end close processes, including preparation and review of financial statement schedules. Assist external audit processes by preparing audit-ready documentation, responding to routine audit requests, and addressing follow-up questions. Find opportunities to streamline, standardize, or improve accounting and reporting processes. Serve in an informal leadership role, motivated by challenging the status quo, collaborating with others, and generating new insights to continue to advance and improve deliverables.
Education & Experience Master’s degree / Professional Degree / Relevant Industry Certification. Preferably Chartered Accountant or MBA Finance. Around 7-8 years of relevant experience in Finance/Accounting, preferably in an offshore or shared services environment. Technical Skills Strong U.S. GAAP/SAP accounting and reporting knowledge. Experience with general ledger ownership, complex account reconciliations, and end‑to‑end close processes. Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel; strong working knowledge of other MS office tools (PowerPoint/Word). Expertise in leveraging financial systems, applications, and reporting tools to analyze transactions, produce reporting, and support decision‑making. Experience working with Oracle ERP systems and reporting tools preferred; ability to extract, analyze, and validate datasets. Ability to lead interactions with external auditors and respond to audit requests accurately and timely. Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines. Proactive, analytical, and improvement‑oriented mindset; comfortable challenging data and assumptions. Demonstrate ability to apply professional judgment and independently resolve issues in gray or non‑standard accounting areas. Collaborative team player who can also operate independently and lead workstreams as needed. Must have fluent English communication skills (spoken and written).
Required skills
Accounting
Payroll accounting
GAAP
Financial controls
About Principal
Pune
Headquarters