Team Lead - Finance & Accounting Operations

About the Job

The Team Lead leads day-to-day Finance & Accounting delivery for assigned client engagements, serving as the frontline supervisor and first-level reviewer for Associates and Senior Associates. The role ensures accurate, timely, and well-supported accounting in accordance with U.S. GAAP, established policies, SOPs, internal controls, SLAs, and client expectations. It combines hands-on accounting expertise with workflow management, coaching, stakeholder communication, and timely escalation to the Assistant Manager.

Key Responsibilities

Accounting Operations & First-Level Review

• Perform detailed first-level reviews of transactions, reconciliations, schedules, workpapers, journal entries, and supporting documentation.

• Oversee AP, AR, GL, bank and credit card reconciliations, accruals, prepaids, fixed assets, deferred revenue, revenue recognition, intercompany accounting, and financial reporting.

• Identify errors, unusual items, documentation gaps, and accounting issues; ensure review comments are resolved before submission and escalate complex matters.

Month-End Close & Financial Reporting

• Lead assigned month-end and year-end close activities in line with the agreed close calendar.

• Review close deliverables, including journal entries, reconciliations, schedules, trial balances, and preliminary financial statements.

• Monitor open items and dependencies, maintain appropriate audit trails, and communicate potential delays to the Assistant Manager.

Team Leadership & Workflow Management

• Supervise Associates and Senior Associates and allocate work based on deadlines, capacity, and capability.

• Monitor work queues, SLAs, deadlines, open items, attendance, timesheets, and backup coverage; escalate capacity constraints promptly.

• Conduct regular team check-ins and maintain accountability for timely, high-quality delivery.

Team Coaching & Development

• Provide constructive review feedback, coaching, on-the-job guidance, and knowledge-sharing sessions.

• Identify recurring errors and capability gaps; support onboarding, cross-training, and development plans with the Assistant Manager.

• Promote ownership, continuous learning, collaboration, and effective teamwork.

SLA & Delivery Management

• Monitor client SLAs, internal timelines, backlog, ageing, pending items, and dependencies.

• Take corrective action where possible and escalate delivery risks before they affect client commitments.

• Provide clear and accurate delivery-status updates to the Assistant Manager.

SOPs, Controls & Process Compliance

• Maintain SOPs, checklists, work instructions, and process documentation for assigned clients and processes.

• Ensure adherence to approved procedures, internal controls, documentation, and audit-support requirements.

• Identify control or process gaps and recommend practical improvements.

Systems & Process Improvement

• Maintain working knowledge of client accounting systems and support resolution of routine functional issues.

• Improve templates, reconciliations, workpapers, checklists, workflows, and use of Excel to reduce manual effort and recurring errors.

• Support automation and process-improvement initiatives led by the Assistant Manager or FAO leadership.

Stakeholder Communication & Escalation

• Maintain regular communication with the Assistant Manager on delivery, close progress, capacity, risks, and required decisions.

• Coordinate with internal and client stakeholders and handle routine client, vendor, customer, and audit queries within scope.

• Resolve routine operational issues and provide timely, fact-based escalation of matters requiring higher-level judgment.

Span of Control

• Manages a team of 6+ Associates and Senior Associates, providing guidance, oversight, performance support, and day-to day work coordination.

Experience, Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

Experience - 10 to 12 Years

Technical & Accounting Knowledge

• Strong knowledge of U.S. GAAP, end-to-end accounting, month-end close, financial reporting, controls, and audit support.

• Hands-on experience across AP, AR, GL, reconciliations, accruals, prepaids, fixed assets, intercompany accounting, deferred revenue, and revenue recognition.

• Experience reviewing accounting workpapers and using QuickBooks Online, Sage Intacct, NetSuite, Business Central, or equivalent systems; strong Microsoft Excel skills.

Leadership & Behavioral

• Ability to supervise accounting professionals, prioritize multiple deadlines, and provide clear coaching and feedback.

• Strong ownership, attention to detail, analytical thinking, problem-solving, and proactive risk escalation.

• Clear written and verbal communication with a collaborative, solution-oriented approach.