Director - Assurance - National - FAAS-Financial&AccountingAdv - Chennai

Director - Financial Accounting Advisory Services

FAAS assists EY's advisory clients in solving their complex accounting and financial reporting issues in Indian GAAP, IFRS, US GAAP, or Ind-AS.

FAAS is a small and fast-growing team with excellent exposure to the firm's key clients, and gives excellent growth opportunities for the right candidates.

The challenge of working in the FAAS team is very different from being part of the Audit or Assurance practice or even an industry role, although all of your experience to date will be relevant. Firstly, all assignments are project-based, and the primary skill-set required is one of problem solving not problem identification. In addition, you will very often find yourself working as part of a multi-disciplinary team, alongside EY professionals from the Transaction Support, Advisory, Valuations or Tax team. And at manager level and above, you will be responsible for an account portfolio, developing further opportunities to support our clients

The opportunity

As a Director of the FAAS practice, you shall be responsible for business development of FAAS services and lead large engagements relating to FAAS projects. You will be required to maintain the highest order of integrity and independence that is expected by EY. You are required to possess strong leadership abilities, inter-personal skills, business and proposal development skills and excellent acumen of client business (Industry knowledge).

Your key responsibilities

Business Development

• Creating and managing good independent relationships with client's senior management.
• Lead preparation of high quality proposals including understanding of market and competition and negotiation of the fees / entry strategy. Lead more complex pursuits on a national level and assist in closing successful deals.
• Participates in building brand of the firm / service-line by participating in seminars, meetings or conferences organized by professional bodies / trade associations.
• Develop long-term relationships and networks both internally and externally.
• Provide perspective to clients on trends and emerging accounting advisory practices in the local and global market in relation to client's operations.
• Participate in becoming a Trusted Business Advisor.

Quality service

• Demonstrate expertise in primary accounting framework (Indian GAAP and IFRS; US GAAP knowledge preferred) and laws like the Companies Act, Income-tax Act and SEBI Act.
• Demonstrate from your wide industry, business and technical knowledge to help the client resolve complex issues and improve performance by providing sound value based solutions.
• Demonstrate sensitivity in discussing issues with senior management and /or audit committee.
• Provide real-time practical recommendations to add value to the clients business and improve the internal control environment through Management Letters.
• Review delegated work at suitable milestones.

Operational excellence

• Possess a thorough understanding of IGAAP and/or IFRS and/or US GAAP financial reporting in complex/large companies, most likely in compete audit/advisory/transaction vertical or MNC finance/M&A environment
• Effective engagement management from client setup to engagement closure including progressive billing and timely collection to minimize combined investment.
• Leverage relationships to increase business from existing clients; find ways to optimize costs and monitor utilization.

People

• Create a climate of high performance in the team.
• Work across service-lines.
• Provides real-time constructive feedback to team members.
• Participate in development of training programme and delivery of training.

Skills and attributes for success

• Strong IGAAP and/or IFRS and/or US GAAP financial reporting experience in complex/large companies, most likely in Big 4 audit/advisory/transaction vertical or MNC finance/M&A environment
• Ability to explain complex accounting and financial reporting issues simply
• Advisory mind-set, ability to develop solutions for the client with support from technical subject matter experts
• Business development skills and aptitude, depending on level. In applicants at Senior Manager and above, a strong track record of business development is expected
• Specific financial reporting experience in at least one of the following:

• Transactions (acquisitions, carve outs, demergers, restructuring)
• Preparation for IPO including listing rules in India/UK/US
• Complex consolidation structure in an MNC environment including implementation of ERP/consolidation IT system
• Tax planning and complex structures
• Developing and delivering technical training
• Specific financial reporting topics: revenue recognition; financial instruments; off-balance sheet financing; consolidation and SPEs; banking; insurance;
• Strong project management skills

To qualify for the role you must have

• Qualified Chartered Accountant (CA)
• A minimum of 9-11 years post qualification experience in Accounting Advisory under Indian GAAP.
• Additional: Qualification akin to CA (e.g.: CPA, ACCA), Certificates course on IFRS/ USGAAP.

Ideally you'll also have

• Strong communication, facilitation, relationship-building, presentation and negotiation skills.
• Be highly flexible, adaptable, and creative.
• Comfortable interacting with senior executives (within the firm and at the client)
• Strong leadership skills and supervisory responsibility .

What we look for

People with the ability to work in a collaborative way to provide services across multiple client departments while adhering to commercial and legal requirements. You will need a practical approach to solving issues and complex problems with the ability to deliver insightful and practical solutions.

What working at EY offers

EY is committed to being an inclusive employer and we are happy to consider flexible working arrangements. We strive to achieve the right balance for our people, enabling us to deliver excellent client service whilst allowing you to build your career without sacrificing your personal priorities. While our client-facing professionals can be required to travel regularly, and at times be based at client sites, our flexible working arrangements can help you to achieve a lifestyle balance.

About EY

As a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services, we're using the finance products, expertise and systems we've developed to build a better working world. That starts with a culture that believes in giving you the training, opportunities and creative freedom to make things better. Whenever you join, however long you stay, the exceptional EY experience lasts a lifetime. And with a commitment to hiring and developing the most passionate people, we'll make our ambition to be the best employer by 2020 a reality.