Manager - Cost Assurance

Job Description - Cost Assurance Analyst / Manager

Company: JioStar

Department: Finance - Cost Assurance

Location: Mumbai

Experience: 7-10 Years

Qualification: CA Inter / MBA (Finance)

About the Role

JioStar is looking for a detail-oriented and analytical finance professional to join the Cost Assurance team. The role will be responsible for ensuring accurate accounting, timely financial closures, cost controls, reconciliations, reporting, and process improvements while partnering with various business and finance stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities

Financial Closing & Accounting

• Support monthly, quarterly, and annual book closure activities in accordance with accounting policies and timelines.
• Prepare, review, and post accrual journal entries to ensure accurate expense recognition.
• Monitor and validate cost provisioning to ensure completeness and accuracy of financial records.
• Review and clear aged accruals, GR/IR balances, and other outstanding accounting items in a timely manner.

Invoice Processing & Cost Management

• Oversee end-to-end invoice processing and ensure adherence to internal controls and approval workflows.
• Track invoice status and coordinate with business and commercial teams for timely processing and resolution of issues.
• Ensure proper accounting treatment and documentation of expenses.

Reconciliations & Compliance

• Perform Related Party Transaction (RPT) reconciliations and ensure accurate reporting.
• Conduct periodic TDS and GST reconciliations and coordinate with tax teams for resolution of discrepancies.
• Ensure compliance with internal policies, accounting standards, and statutory requirements.

MIS & Financial Analysis

• Prepare monthly and quarterly MIS reports for management review.
• Perform variance analysis against budgets, forecasts, and prior periods, highlighting key business drivers and risks.
• Provide actionable insights to stakeholders for effective decision-making.

Business Partnering

• Collaborate closely with FP&A teams for accrual planning, provisioning, and financial reporting requirements.
• Partner with Commercial, Procurement, and Business teams to ensure smooth invoice processing and cost governance.
• Act as a key finance contact for cost-related queries and reporting requirements.

Process Improvement & Automation

• Identify opportunities for process optimization and automation to reduce manual effort and improve efficiency.
• Drive automation initiatives, dashboard development, and continuous improvement projects within the Cost Assurance function.
• Strengthen internal controls and enhance process standardization across activities.

Ad-hoc Projects

• Support special projects, audits, management reviews, system implementations, and other strategic initiatives as required by the organization.

Desired Skills & Competencies

• Strong understanding of accounting principles, accrual accounting, and financial reporting.
• Hands-on experience in month-end and quarter-end closing activities.
• Good knowledge of GST, TDS, and reconciliation processes.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with attention to detail.
• Proficiency in ERP systems (SAP or equivalent) and Microsoft Excel.
• Experience in MIS reporting, variance analysis, and stakeholder management.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and manage multiple priorities effectively.
• Exposure to automation tools, Power BI, Alteryx, VBA, or similar technologies will be an added advantage.

Preferred Candidate Profile

• CA Inter / MBA (Finance) with 7-10 years of relevant experience in Record-to-Report (R2R), Cost Assurance, Financial Control, or Management Accounting functions.
• Prior experience in media, entertainment, FMCG, telecom, technology, or large corporate environments will be preferred.
• Strong communication and business partnering capabilities.