Accountant

Athena is India's largest and fastest growing organization in the premium undergraduate study abroad space. Founded 10 years ago by two Princeton graduates, Poshak Agrawal and Rahul Subramaniam, Athena is headquartered in Gurgaon, with offices in Mumbai and Bangalore, and caters to students from over 15 countries.

Through our flagship program, our students have gotten into various, universities including Harvard University, Princeton University, Yale University, Stanford University, University of Cambridge, MIT, Brown, Cornell University, University of Pennsylvania, and University of Chicago, among others.

About the Role

We are looking for a detail-oriented and experienced Accountant to join our finance team. The ideal candidate will have a strong foundation in Indian taxation, compliance, and day-to-day accounting operations, with hands-on experience in payment processing and statutory filings.

Key Responsibilities

• Handle end-to-end payment processing, including vendor payments, employee reimbursements, and bank reconciliations.

• Sound understanding of GST laws including ITC (Input Tax Credit) reconciliation, applicability of GST on transactions, and coordination with the tax team for filings.

• Good working knowledge of TDS provisions — ensuring correct deductions and timely deposits.

• Awareness of Form 15CA/CB requirements for foreign remittances; coordination with the CA/tax consultant for actual filing.

• Manage Input Service Distributor (ISD) entries and related compliances.

• Maintain accurate books of accounts on ZOHO Books (preferred).

• Assist in month-end and year-end closing activities.

• Coordinate with auditors and consultants for statutory and internal audits.

• Prepare and maintain audit workings including schedules, reconciliations, and supporting documentation for statutory, internal, and tax audits.

• Ensure timely compliance with all statutory deadlines.

• Prepare MIS reports and financial summaries as required by management.

Required Skills & Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Commerce (B.Com) or equivalent; M.Com / MBA (Finance) preferred.

• CA Inter qualified candidates will be given preference.

• 2–5 years of relevant experience in accounting and taxation.

• Strong hands-on experience in Book Keeping and maintenance of accurate financial records.

• Strong working knowledge of GST, TDS, and 15CA/CB filings.

• Familiarity with ISD (Input Service Distributor) mechanism under GST.

• Proficiency in payment processing and banking operations.

• Working knowledge of ZOHO Books is a distinct advantage.

• Proficient in Advanced Excel (VLOOKUP, Pivot Tables, Macros, Data Analysis, etc.)

• Good understanding of Indian accounting standards and tax laws.

• Strong attention to detail and ability to meet deadlines.

Good to Have

• Experience with ZOHO Books or other cloud-based accounting software.

• Prior experience in a similar industry.

• Ability to handle multiple tasks and work independently.