Chief Accountant UniOps

Job Title - Chief Accountant GDT & GBS

Job Location - Bangalore

Purpose

GDT & GBS is building a digitally enabled, future-fit business operations. The Financial Controlling team protects, improves and transforms value by maintaining strong financial governance, reliable reporting and disciplined investment decisions.

The Chief Accountant is accountable for end-to-end financial controllership across GDT & GBS. Beyond traditional controllership, the role acts as a strategic finance partner to GDT & GBS leadership, providing accounting and commercial stewardship over the technology, digital and AI investment portfolio.

Main Accountabilities

1.Accounting, Reporting & Audits

·   Ensure accurate, complete and timely financial reporting in line with relevant accounting standards and policies.

·   Lead internal and external audit delivery and ensure timely closure of agreed actions across multiple local & global legal entities.

·   Own reporting and control over intangible assets (software) with an asset book close to €500Mn.

·   Drive reliable actual cost reporting across 30+ countries and strengthen its use in performance management.

·   Simplify, automate and centralise processes that improve the quality of actuals and financial reporting.

·   Drive accounting policy implementation and harmonise processes and controls across GDT & GBS legal entities.

2.Commercial Accounting & Strategic Investments

·   Lead accounting and financial governance for large strategic Unilever wide transformation programmes, including Project Diamond (Google x Unilever multi year partnership), Project MIRAI and AI-enabled initiatives.

·   Drive commercial accounting assessments for technology and digital investments, including software capitalisation, cloud arrangements, AI assets, impairment reviews and useful life evaluations.

·   Partner with Technology, Finance, Tax and Strategy teams to support investment decisions, portfolio optimisation and value realisation.

·   Provide financial stewardship across the software, digital and AI asset portfolio, including capitalisation, amortisation, retirement and impairment decisions.

·   Translate complex accounting requirements into clear, timely recommendations for senior stakeholders and programme teams.

3.Risk Management & Controls

·   Lead the GDT & GBS risk management process with leadership, including risk assessment, remediation planning and follow-through.

·   Drive adoption and harmonisation of relevant control frameworks across GDT & GBS companies and legal entities.

·   Establish robust governance, controls and documentation for accounting judgements relating to software, digital, cloud and AI investments.

Key Skills & Experience

·   Qualified accountant with strong experience in financial reporting, accounting, statutory compliance and taxation.

·   Strong understanding of IFRS requirements for software, cloud and AI-enabled investments, including capitalisation, useful life and impairment assessments.

·   Experience supporting large-scale business and technology transformation programmes through accounting, commercial and financial analysis.

·   Ability to combine controllership rigour with commercial judgement and influence senior stakeholders on investment, portfolio and capital allocation decisions.

·   Strong end-to-end understanding of operational and financial controls, business processes and reporting.

·   Proven leadership of diverse teams and effective cross-functional stakeholder management.

·   Ability to simplify complex issues, absorb new information quickly and drive decisions and change in a global, virtual environment.

Competencies

·   Strategic and critical thinking

·   Good understanding & practical applications of IFRS standards, statutory close and reporting activities and managing external/internal audit teams.

·   Business acumen and enterprise value focus

·   Strong communication, influencing and interpersonal skills

·   Analytical, solution-oriented and controls mindset

·   Global perspective and organisational understanding

·   Talent development and leadership across cultures and time zones

·   Agility, personal mastery and passion for high performance

Professional Qualification / Experience

·   Chartered Accountant, CIMA, MBA or equivalent Finance or Business qualification.

·   Experience working with geographically and culturally diverse global teams.

·   Prior experience in controllership, commercial accounting, transformation finance or risk management is desirable.

Key Stakeholders

·   GDT & GBS Controller and VP Finance (CFO), GDT & GBS

·   GDT & GBS Finance Leadership Team

·   Technology, Product, Programme, Strategy and Tax leadership

·   GCAD, Corporate Audit and external audit teams

Leadership Behaviors

This role leads a diverse team of finance professionals across experience levels and geographies. Success in the role requires a leader who can build capability, create an inclusive and high-performing environment, and develop future finance talent while delivering strong business outcomes.

The incumbent is expected to demonstrate strong judgement, curiosity, resilience and a growth mindset, while fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement. The role requires the ability to inspire teams, influence senior stakeholders, simplify complexity and translate financial/accounting insight into business value. Above all, the individual should be passionate about developing people, driving operational excellence and enabling GDT-GBS to deliver sustainable value for Unilever.

Our Commitment to Equality, Diversity & Inclusion

Unilever embraces diversity and gives full and fair consideration to applicants from all walks of life. We support the continued development of employees and seek to create an inclusive workplace in which everyone can contribute and thrive.

NOTE:

At HUL, we believe that every individual irrespective of their race, colour, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, nationality, caste, disability or marital status can bring their purpose to life. So apply to us, to unleash your curiosity, challenge ideas and disrupt processes; use your energy to make the world a better place. As you work to make a real impact on the business and the world, we’ll work to help you become a better you!

All official offers from Unilever are issued only via our Applicant Tracking System (ATS). Offers from individuals or unofficial sources may be fraudulent—please verify before proceeding.