Staff Manager - External Reporting

A Career at HARMAN

As a technology leader that is rapidly on the move, HARMAN is filled with people who are focused on making life better. Innovation, inclusivity and teamwork are a part of our DNA. When you add that to the challenges we take on and solve together, you’ll discover that at HARMAN you can grow, make a difference and be proud of the work you do every day.

Introduction: A Career at HARMAN Automotive

We’re a global, multi-disciplinary team that’s putting the innovative power of technology to work and transforming tomorrow. At HARMAN Automotive, we give you the keys to fast-track your career.

• Engineer audio systems and integrated technology platforms that augment the driving experience
• Combine ingenuity, in-depth research, and a spirit of collaboration with design and engineering excellence
• Advance in-vehicle infotainment, safety, efficiency, and enjoyment

What You’ll Be Part Of

As Senior Manager - External Reporting, you will partner with Finance leadership to set up, centralize, and stabilize external reporting through the India Finance Capability Center (FCC). This is a leadership role responsible for designing the target operating model, transitioning reporting activities into the FCC, and leading the preparation and review of statutory financial statements, disclosures, schedules, and audit support for assigned legal entities. The role will act as a subject matter expert on applicable accounting standards and reporting policies, ensure strong controls and audit readiness, and build a scalable team capable of delivering accurate, timely, and compliant external reporting.

How You’ll Make An Impact

• Partner with the hiring manager and global/regional finance leaders to design and operationalize the external and statutory reporting capability within the FCC.
• Define the service catalogue, transition scope, target operating model, team structure, RACI, governance calendar, SLAs, KPIs, escalation protocols, and management reporting routines.
• Support end-to-end transition and centralization of external reporting activities, including knowledge transfer, process documentation, shadow/support phases, readiness assessment, stabilization, and post-transition improvements.
• Oversee preparation and review of statutory financial statements, notes to accounts, disclosure checklists, financial reporting packages, board/audit committee schedules, and local filing support for assigned legal entities.
• Ensure reporting outputs comply with IFRS, K-IFRS, local GAAP, group accounting policies, and internal reporting requirements; prepare/review accounting position papers for complex matters where required.
• Own close-to-report deliverables supporting external reporting, including trial balance reviews, flux analysis, reconciliations, intercompany positions, consolidation inputs, and audit schedules.
• Build robust controls over reporting outputs, including maker-checker reviews, segregation of duties, version control, approval governance, evidence retention, audit trails, and issue remediation.
• Coordinate with statutory auditors, group auditors, Tax, Treasury, Legal, Controlling, Business Units, Procurement, Logistics, IT, banks, affiliates, and global finance stakeholders to ensure timely audit and reporting completion.
• Build and maintain SOPs, process maps, RACI matrices, control checklists, close calendars, disclosure templates, and knowledge repositories to ensure continuity and scalability.
• Hire, onboard, coach, and develop the FCC reporting team; set performance expectations, build technical capability, and drive a culture of ownership, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Identify opportunities to standardize, automate, and digitize reporting processes using SAP, reporting tools, and process excellence methods.

What Makes You A Strong Fit

·       Qualified Chartered Accountant, CPA, ACCA, or equivalent finance professional; MBA Finance may be considered where supported by strong external reporting and statutory financial statements experience.

·       10-15 years of progressive experience in controllership, external reporting, statutory reporting, audit, shared services, or finance capability center environments, preferably in a multinational organization.

·       Demonstrated prior experience setting up, transitioning, or materially stabilizing an external reporting/statutory reporting CoE or shared services tower; greenfield or build-out exposure is strongly preferred.

·       Hands-on experience preparing and/or reviewing statutory financial statements, notes/disclosures, reporting packs, disclosure checklists, audit schedules, and financial statement support files for multiple legal entities.

·       Strong technical accounting knowledge of IFRS, K-IFRS, local GAAP, and group accounting policies, with ability to assess accounting/reporting implications and communicate them clearly.

·       Strong understanding of month-end/year-end close, general ledger controls, reconciliations, intercompany, consolidation inputs, flux analysis, and audit readiness.

·       Experience working with SAP and reporting/close tools such as Workiva, OneSource, OneStream, BlackLine, Power BI, or equivalent platforms.

·       Proven ability to design operating metrics, governance routines, control frameworks, SOPs, and process documentation for scalable reporting operations.

·       Strong people leadership and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence senior finance stakeholders, auditors, regional controllers, and cross-functional partners.

·       Experience driving transformation, automation, standardization, and continuous improvement in a complex global finance environment.

Bonus Points if You Have

·       Experience in the automotive, manufacturing, or automotive supplier industry.

·       Big 4/statutory audit experience followed by industry controllership or reporting experience.

·       Experience with ESG reporting, XBRL/iXBRL, or listed-company-style external reporting processes.

·       Project management, Lean/Six Sigma, transition methodology, or finance transformation experience.

Things To Know

• This role is based in Bangalore, India and follows a hybrid schedule, with regular in-office collaboration.
• This position supports global finance, so occasionally early morning or late evening meetings may be needed to collaborate with teams in Europe, Asia and America.
• Professional working proficiency in English is required to support day-to-day communication.

What You Can Expect

• A hybrid work environment that balances flexibility with in-person collaboration, with most office-based roles onsite three days a week.
• Access to employee discounts on HARMAN and Samsung products (including JBL, Harman / Kardon, AKG, and others)
• Learning and development opportunities through our award-winning HARMAN University programs
• Wellness benefits designed to support your overall well-being
• Tuition reimbursement support
• Access to the HARMAN campus fitness center and cafeteria, where available
• An inclusive and diverse work environment that supports both your professional and personal development

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HARMAN is proud to be an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.