Senior Manager, Accounts

Ascent Advisors is seeking a commercially driven, technically astute Manager or Senior Manager Accounts & Tax to join its growing advisory practice. This is not a conventional compliance role. The successful candidate will operate as a trusted finance partner and quasi-Virtual CFO to a diverse portfolio of startup and growth-stage clients across India, the UAE, Singapore, and the United States.

The incumbent will be expected to go beyond technical execution demonstrating entrepreneurial thinking, business acumen, and the communication dexterity to engage with founders, investors, and C-suite stakeholders. This position offers a structured growth path toward a senior leadership mandate, with direct accountability for client retention, team performance, and the long-term commercial success of the firm.

Responsibilities:

1. International Taxation & Cross-Border Advisory:

- Lead corporate tax advisory and compliance across multiple jurisdictions India, United States (Federal & State), UAE (Corporate Tax & VAT), and Singapore (GST & Corporate Income Tax).

- Advise clients on cross-border structuring, withholding tax obligations, permanent establishment risks, and treaty positions.

- Manage Transfer Pricing documentation, benchmarking studies, country-by-country reporting (CbCR), and associated party transaction disclosures.

- Provide comprehensive FEMA advisory including ECB, ODI, FDI structuring, FCRA compliance, and repatriation planning.

- Support clients on DTAA interpretation, BEPS exposure, and international tax planning aligned with commercial substance requirements.

- Handle tax assessments, notices, appellate proceedings, and departmental communications across applicable jurisdictions.

2. Indian Domestic Taxation & Regulatory Compliance:

- Supervise end-to-end compliance under GST, TDS/TCS, Advance Tax, Income Tax (corporate and non-corporate entities), and PF/ESI.

- Provide domestic tax planning, structuring advice, and pre-transaction tax due diligence support.

- Review and sign off on income tax returns, GST filings, and associated statutory forms across client entities.

- Stay current on Finance Act amendments, CBDT circulars, GSTN advisories, and judicial pronouncements with downstream advisory impact.

3. Global Accounting & Financial Reporting:

- Oversee end-to-end accounting operations for client entities across Indian GAAP, Ind AS, IFRS, and US GAAP frameworks, as applicable.

- Review and approve monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements ensuring accuracy, completeness, and regulatory compliance.

- Drive implementation of robust financial controls, chart-of-accounts discipline, and audit-ready close processes.

- Manage multi-currency consolidations, intercompany eliminations, and group reporting packages for international client groups.

- Liaise with statutory auditors, internal auditors, and regulatory authorities on behalf of clients.

4. Virtual CFO & Strategic Finance Advisory:

- Function as an embedded finance partner and Virtual CFO for startup and growth-stage clients, participating actively in their financial governance.

- Lead budgeting, forecasting, rolling projections, and cash flow management for client portfolios.

- Prepare and present Board-level MIS packs, investor reporting dashboards, and financial performance reviews.

- Support clients through fundraising processes including financial modelling, data room preparation, investor Q&A support, and post-investment reporting.

- Advise on entity structuring, capital allocation, working capital optimisation, and cost governance.

- Act as a sounding board for founders and leadership teams on material financial decisions.

5. Client Relationship Management & Business Development:

- Own and independently manage a portfolio of client accounts, serving as the primary relationship lead.

- Conduct high-quality advisory meetings with founders, CEOs, CFOs, and Board members driving strategic conversations beyond routine deliverables.

- Proactively identify expansion opportunities within existing accounts and contribute to the acquisition of new client mandates.

- Ensure consistent service quality, deliverable timeliness, and client satisfaction across the assigned portfolio.

- Actively contribute to the long-term growth and commercial success of Ascent Advisors through client retention and referral development.

6. Team Leadership & Institutional Development:

- Lead, mentor, and develop a team of senior and junior accountants, fostering a culture of accountability and professional excellence.

- Review all team deliverables prior to client submission, maintaining rigorous quality standards.

- Allocate work streams efficiently, monitor individual performance, and support career development of direct reports.

- Report directly to the CEO, with a clear growth trajectory toward a senior leadership role carrying P&L and team ownership responsibilities.

- Contribute to firm-wide process improvements, knowledge management, and capability building initiatives.

Qualifications:

- Chartered Accountant (CA) Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) strongly preferred.

- Certified Public Accountant (CPA) AICPA or equivalent US/international designation considered equivalent.

- Chartered Certified Accountant (ACCA / CPA Australia) or equivalent professional qualification in accounting or taxation will also be considered.

- CMA or MBA (Finance) candidates may be considered subject to demonstrated strength in international taxation and multi-jurisdiction advisory.

Experience:

- 5-10+ years of progressive post-qualification experience in taxation, accounting, and financial advisory.

- Prior exposure to CA firms, Big 4 / mid-tier accounting practices, outsourced CFO service providers, or startup advisory platforms preferred.

- Demonstrable experience handling multi-jurisdiction corporate tax mandates (India + at least one of US, UAE, Singapore).

- Working knowledge of FEMA, Transfer Pricing regulations, and international tax structuring is essential.

- Experience interacting with founders, investors, or CXOs in an advisory capacity will be a distinct advantage.

About Us:

Ascent Advisors is a beacon of innovation and guidance for emerging startups. With a proven track record of serving over 550 clients across multiple jurisdictions, we are dedicated to making a positive impact on the world of entrepreneurship.

Founded with the vision to empower entrepreneurs globally, our firm specializes in delivering tailored consulting services that address the unique challenges faced by startups.

Our mission is clear - to guide start-ups to success through strategic advice, actionable insights, and unwavering support.

We are delivering expert solutions worldwide while operating seamlessly across UAE, Singapore, India and USA.

Learn More About us - www.ascentadvisors.org