## About the Role

This role is responsible for cost oversight and cost control across the bank, working in close partnership with Business and Support Units, Regional Teams, Budgeting/MIS, and Financial Controls. It supports the Finance function in budgeting, forecasting, reporting, and cost analysis to help improve decision-making and financial discipline.

The position also plays a key part in cost optimization, allocation transparency, and performance monitoring across branches, sectors, segments, channels, and products. It works with finance and business stakeholders, including Institutional Banking, Consumer Banking, Treasury & Markets, Technology & Operations, the All India Branch Network, and Digital Banking teams.

## Key Responsibilities

– Lead cost oversight for all units.
– Prepare annual budgets, forecasts, and monthly flash reports.
– Monitor cost performance across branch, sector, segment, channel, and product levels.
– Support ad hoc business modelling and cost analytics reviews.
– Provide timely reporting support on cost lines, including allocation-related queries.
– Review cost drivers, challenge spend assumptions, and recalibrate drivers where needed.
– Review large vendor contracts in line with internal guidelines and support finance input for CFO approval.
– Participate in strategic cost-optimization initiatives.
– Partner on major initiatives from concept and planning through implementation, including cost estimation and progress updates.
– Drive process automation to improve Finance capacity.
– Maintain departmental operating instructions and backup coverage for critical processes.
– Monitor compliance with Group (HO) policies and procedures in the cost area, including updates to the local Delegation of Cost Authority.
– Coordinate with Group (HO) on cost-related deliverables.
– Serve as the single point of contact for cost-related queries from external, Group, and internal audit teams.
– Support senior management presentations on cost analysis and optimization opportunities.

## Required Skills

– Minimum 10 years of post-qualification experience in cost management.
– Strong working knowledge of MS Excel.
– Ability to manage cost budgeting independently, including project costing.
– Solid exposure to banking cost drivers.
– Ability to objectively challenge cost assumptions, scenarios, and projections.
– Strong knowledge of general accounting and cost accrual concepts.
– Knowledge of accounting systems used in financial institutions.
– Exposure to commercial banking product life cycle.
– Good exposure to operating and non-operating costs and allocation methodologies.
– Strategic thinking, change mindset, and control mindset.
– Strong business partnership capability.
– Very good communication and influencing skills.
– Ability to think creatively and approach problems in new ways.
– High proficiency in MS Office, especially Excel and PowerPoint.

## Preferred Skills

– CA and/or MBA in Finance from a premier institution.

## Cloud Platforms & Technologies

– **ERP:** PSGL
– **BI Tools:** Hyperion
– **Dashboarding / Analytics:** QlikView, Power BI, Tableau Market Intelligence
– **Productivity Tools:** MS Excel, MS Office, PowerPoint

## Why You Might Be Interested

This role offers broad ownership of cost oversight across the bank, with direct involvement in budgeting, forecasting, reporting, allocation, and optimization. It also provides regular exposure to senior management through cost analysis and recommendation presentations. The work spans multiple business areas and includes collaboration with finance, branch, regional, and digital stakeholders. There is also meaningful scope to contribute to process automation, governance, and audit readiness.