Finance Analyst

Job Description:

Looking for Your Dream Job? Join Our Ice Cream Team!

Title: Group Financial Accounting Assistant Manager

Scope: Global

Reports to:  Group Financial Accounting Manager

Location: Mumbai/Bangalore

Terms & Conditions: Full-time, local

If you are in the Unilever Ice Cream business or are considering working for the Unilever ice Cream business, you will work for the global, leading Ice Cream player with €8bn Turn Over in 2023. The Ice Cream business is operating in a highly attractive category, as we are part of the 1 trillion snacking and refreshment industry, growing consistently at high pace. We have strong brands equities: 5 of the top 10 selling brands including Wall’s, Magnum, Ben &Jerry’s. We are investing to unlock the full growth potential of Ice Cream as a standalone entity, once we separate from Unilever, which is planned to happen by November 2025. Ice Cream has distinct characteristics from Unilever’s other operating businesses and the growth potential of Ice Cream will be better delivered under a different ownership structure.

We are committed to developing and nurturing talent within our Ice Cream company. You will have ample options for career growth and exploration, allowing you to explore roles and opportunities across the new organisation. Your career development will be a priority for us, and we are dedicated to supporting your growth journey within the new company.

We hope that you will want to build the new chapter of our Ice Cream history together with us.

Unilever Ice Cream is the largest global Ice Cream Company in the world, with over 100 years of experience delivering a diverse range of indulgent, yet responsible, craft food experiences and treats delighting consumers. Committed to innovation, quality, and sustainability we have 35 brands, including 3 one billion Euro brands (Magnum, Wall’s, Ben & Jerry’s), a strong presence in over 60 countries, generating annual revenue of €8 billion. All brands are driven to transform moments into memories through indulgent yet responsibly made and marketed products. We have a well-developed strategy to deliver growth and value creation which is clear on where to play and how to win.

We turn the ordinary into the extraordinary by designing unique and innovative Ice Cream experiences that make life taste better, creating joyful experiences. In our Ice Cream business, we’re crafting the future through innovation and imaginative minds, creating unique products. We spark moments of happiness for people and within the communities where we operate. However, it is not as simple as it may seem. As Ice Cream makers we are serious about happiness. With warm hearts, we create the coolest products.

Ice Cream Finance: Leading for a winning, trusted and investible global ice cream market leader

This is your chance for a ‘once in a lifetime’ career experience, playing a part in the creation of a fully independent, new Ice Cream organisation.in what will be the Ultimate Pleasure Food company.

We are seizing this unique opportunity to reset the role of Ice Cream Finance. Together we will become the best and most admired finance team in the world, and we’ll do this by focusing on value creation, trailblazing future-fit financial processes and technology, and by becoming a training ground for financial craftmanship that will be the envy of everyone. 

Just imagine the benefits of working within a single category, where everyone and everything is laser-focused on the same goal, where there's opportunity to develop deep and wide understanding of the business economics and international ecosystem of a single category, and to translate that into value creation.

The role of Ice Cream Finance in this momentous moment is staggering, exciting, and yes...a little daunting, which is why we are looking for empowered and accountable decision makers who are keen to take on end-to-end responsibility; if you are a self-starter who identifies opportunities, takes initiative, and innovates to create value, who is proactive, resourceful and comfortable with challenge and uncertainty, you will thrive with us. In return, you will be rewarded with a rich finance role, no matter where you are in your career, and within an environment that’s both fulfilling and fun...after all, life tastes better with Ice Cream!

See appendix if you want to know more about the Ice Cream Finance North Star, showing our vision, goals and proposition in more detail.

JOB PURPOSE:

The newly created Ice Cream Group Controlling Team is a core part of the central Ice Cream Finance team.

Ice Cream Group Controlling Team is responsible for Ice Cream’s external financial reporting and global financial reporting controls (including Sarbanes Oxley compliance), managing the global auditor relationship; determining and implementing Ice Cream’s accounting policies; and many other projects related to how Ice Cream measures its performance and presents and communicates this to the external world.

The Group Financial Accounting Manager – Cash Flow is primarily responsible from the preparation of the Group’s cash flow statement, playing a pivotal role in ensuring accurate financial reporting and compliance with international accounting standards and SOX framework. This role requires a deep understanding of global accounting principles, strong leadership skills, and the ability to work cross-functionally with teams in different countries.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Key Responsibilities include the following:

Financial Reporting and Compliance:

• Support the establishment of a standalone consolidation tool for the new ice cream company, contributing to design, deployment, test and go-live processes.
• Lead the monthly Group consolidation process
• Lead the preparation of Group Cash flow statement in compliance with international accounting standards and ensure the financial statements are accurate, timely, consistent and a fair representation of the Group’s performance.
• Coordinate month-end, quarter-end, and year-end financial closing processes for Balance Sheet. This will include supporting the overall GCAD team on preparing for the communications on reporting instructions, providing guidance and training to countries on accounting policies, responding to accounting and reporting queries and reviewing Balance Sheet accounts to ensure compliance to Group accounting policy.
• Review monthly financial results for assigned Balance Sheet accounts, P&L accounts and ensure the financial statements are accurate and timely in accordance with IFRS & regulatory requirements
• Prepare the relevant parts of the quarterly results announcements and the Annual Report & Accounts also, for press releases
• Being Agile and supporting the rest of the team during peak reporting time on any of the Schedules assigned to be in compliance with group reporting policy and meet audit requirements
• Implement new reporting requirements on a timely basis.
• Support ad-hoc projects as they arise.

Internal Controls and Audit:

• Ensure SOX compliance for the processes owned.
• Support the Group Audit process regarding the Balance Sheet accounts owned.

Continuous Improvement:

• Collaborate on system implementations and upgrades, ensuring that accounting requirements and best practices are integrated.
• Collaborate on process improvements in financial reporting, automation, and data integrity initiatives, leveraging technology to enhance efficiency.

WHAT YOU NEED TO SUCCEED:

Experiences & Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in finance, accounting, or a related field.
• Professional accounting qualification (CA, ICWA or similar) is desirable.
• 2-4+ years of experience in finance function, with relevant experience in financial accounting and reporting – exposure to group financial accounting and/or audit experience is preferred.

Skills:

• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and organizational skills.
• Strong knowledge of IFRS and SOX
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to interact effectively at all levels of the organization
• Ability to work with different cultures and countries.
• Proficiency in ERP systems and advanced MS Excel skills is desirable.

Must have competencies

• Attention to Detail: High level of accuracy and attention to detail in financial reporting and analysis.
• Adaptability: Flexibility to adapt to changing business environments and manage multiple priorities.
• Collaboration: Strong collaboration skills to work effectively with cross-functional teams and stakeholders.
• Innovation: Ability to drive innovation in financial processes and reporting.
• Ethical Judgment: Strong ethical judgment and integrity in handling financial information.
• Passion for high performance: Inspiring the energy needed to win and grow.

ARE YOU EXCITED TO CRAFT THE ICE CREAM FUTURE?

Unilever embraces diversity and encourages applicants from all walks of life. This means giving full and fair consideration to all applicants and continuing development of all employees regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership, and pregnancy and maternity. 

Interested candidates are invited to submit their resume and cover letter detailing their relevant experience and qualifications to Unilever's career portal