Director – Finance (India Controllership)

We are the leading provider of professional services to the middle market globally, our purpose is to instill confidence in a world of change, empowering our clients and people to realize their full potential. Our exceptional people are the key to our unrivaled, inclusive culture and talent experience and our ability to be compelling to our clients. You’ll find an environment that inspires and empowers you to thrive both personally and professionally. There’s no one like you and that’s why there’s nowhere like RSM.

The RSM US Offices in India (USI) supports RSM U.S. risk consulting, transaction advisory, technical accounting, financial consulting, technology and management consulting, tax, and assurance engagement teams by providing access to highly skilled professionals for repeatable business processes over an extended business day. USI is a member of RSM International, the sixth largest global network of independent accounting, tax, and consulting firms.

RSM is seeking a Director – Finance (Controllership) to lead financial governance, accounting integrity, and regulatory stewardship for its India operations. This is a critical leadership role with end-to-end ownership of controllership across multiple entities and locations in India, responsible for ensuring the highest standards of financial reporting, compliance, and internal control while aligning with global finance frameworks.

The Director will work in close leadership partnership with the India Finance Leader, playing a pivotal role in strengthening governance frameworks, supporting strategic finance priorities, and ensuring disciplined execution of controllership responsibilities. This role will also collaborate extensively with global finance leadership and cross-functional teams including Tax, Treasury, AP, and FP&A to drive robust financial controls, operational excellence, and continuous improvement across the finance organization.

Qualification and Minimum Entry Requirements

• Chartered Accountant (CA), CPA, or equivalent qualification
• Minimum 15+ years of progressive experience in controllership or finance leadership roles
• Strong expertise in Ind AS and US GAAP reporting environments
• Experience managing multi-entity, multi-location finance operations
• Deep knowledge of Indian regulatory frameworks including RBI, FEMA, and Companies Act
• Proven leadership experience managing large finance teams
• Strong stakeholder management, executive presence, and advanced written and verbal communication skills
• Experience working with ERP systems and finance transformation initiatives
• Excellent team and project management skills.

Position Responsibilities

Controllership Ownership & Financial Integrity

• Provide end-to-end ownership of controllership for India operations, ensuring the highest standards of financial accuracy, reporting integrity, and governance across a complex multi-location environment.
• Serve as the final review authority for financial close, balance sheet integrity, and statutory reporting, with clear accountability for maintaining an audit-ready and regulator-ready financial framework.

Audit, Regulatory & External Stakeholder Leadership

• Act as the primary liaison with internal and external auditors, regulatory authorities, and global finance stakeholders, ensuring seamless audit execution and a sustained track record of strong control outcomes.
• Maintain deep awareness of evolving regulatory requirements and proactively drive compliance across RBI, FEMA, Companies Act, and other statutory frameworks.

Enterprise Controls & Risk Governance

• Provide oversight and approval governance for payroll accounting, employee reimbursements, and statutory remittances, ensuring timely compliance with PF, ESI, TDS, and Professional Tax regulations, and maintaining strong financial controls over travel and expense disbursements.
• Lead the strengthening of the organization’s overall control posture through proactive risk identification, policy governance, and enhancement of key financial controls, including banking approvals, payroll accounting governance, and expense compliance frameworks.
• Ensure internal control mechanisms effectively support operational integrity, accountability, and risk mitigation.

Business Partnership & Execution Leadership

• Partner closely with business leaders, shared services teams, and global finance counterparts to ensure alignment of financial processes, reporting standards, and governance expectations.
• Act as a hands-on finance leader who drives resolution of complex accounting matters, supports critical decision-making, and ensures disciplined execution of key finance deliverables.

Finance Transformation & Capability Building

• Lead modernization of finance operations through ERP governance, system enhancements, automation initiatives, and process optimization to improve scalability, efficiency, and reporting capabilities.
• Build and develop a high-performing controllership organization aligned with global standards and future business needs.

Leadership Partnership with India Finance Leader

• Serve as a trusted leadership partner to the India Finance Leader in shaping financial governance priorities, strengthening enterprise-wide control frameworks, and enabling execution of strategic finance initiatives.
• Provide thought leadership on complex accounting, regulatory, and risk matters while ensuring consistent and disciplined controllership execution across the organization.
• Support development of future finance leadership capabilities and foster a culture of accountability, ownership, and continuous improvement.

Strategic Leadership Responsibilities

• Shape and evolve controllership frameworks to support organizational growth, increasing complexity, and global integration.
• Drive alignment of reporting standards, policy interpretation, and financial risk management across India and global finance teams.
• Represent the organization with credibility and authority across India leadership, global stakeholders, auditors, and regulatory bodies.

Leadership Competencies

• Strong financial governance and controllership expertise
• Ability to operate in complex, matrixed environments
• Excellent stakeholder management skills
• Proven leadership and team development capabilities
• Strong analytical and problem-solving mindset

At RSM, we offer a competitive benefits and compensation package for all our people. We offer flexibility in your schedule, empowering you to balance life’s demands, while also maintaining your ability to serve clients. Learn more about our total rewards at https://rsmus.com/careers/india.html.  

RSM does not tolerate discrimination and/or harassment based on race; colour; creed; sincerely held religious beliefs, practices or observances; sex (including pregnancy or disabilities related to nursing); gender (including gender identity and/or gender expression); sexual orientation; HIV Status; national origin; ancestry; familial or marital status; age; physical or mental disability; citizenship; political affiliation; medical condition (including family and medical leave); domestic violence victim status; past, current or prospective service in the Indian Armed Forces; Indian Armed Forces Veterans, and Indian Armed Forces Personnel status; pre-disposing genetic characteristics or any other characteristic protected under applicable provincial employment legislation.  

Accommodation for applicants with disabilities is available upon request in connection with the recruitment process and/or employment/partnership. RSM is committed to providing equal opportunity and reasonable accommodation for people with disabilities. If you require a reasonable accommodation to complete an application, interview, or otherwise participate in the recruiting process, please send us an email at careers@rsmus.com.