Job Title

About ZEISSZEISS is a global technology leader in optics and optoelectronics, committed to advancing scientific discovery, industrial quality excellence, and healthcare transformation. ZEISS India is expanding its digital and process excellence capabilities to support scalable growth across Manufacturing, Shared Services, GCC, and Business Segments.Role PurposeThe Finance Process Excellence Manager will drive transformation initiatives across Accounting, Payables, Audit Management, and related financial processes for ZEISS India. This role will lead standardization, digital automation, S4HANA process design, and implementation of agentic-AI-based workflows. The role requires deep understanding of finance operations combined with strong analytical, project-execution and stakeholder-management skills.Key ResponsibilitiesProcess Improvement & Standardization- Assess existing processes across Accounting, Payables, Fixed Assets, Month-End Close, and Audit preparation. - Identify inefficiencies and implement structured process redesign initiatives. - Lead process harmonization across business units (VCI, IQS, Meditec, GCM/GCC, Corporate). - Establish KPIs, SLAs, control frameworks, SOPs, and workflows.Digital Transformation & Automation- Translate finance workflows into scalable digital solutions. - Work closely with global and local digital teams to deploy automation tools across: - Accounts Payable cycle - GR/IR reconciliation - Audit schedules automation - PBC request management - Document digitization - AI-enabled invoice processing & approval - Implement agentic-AI driven models for self-execution, auto-reconciliation, exception management, and workflow alerts.S/4HANA Process Mapping & Activation- Map current-state process flows to S/4HANA standard capabilities. - Build future state finance process maps integrating: - AP workflows - Intercompany settlements - Month-end journals - Ledger controls and validations - Liaise with global teams for SAP enhancements, localization needs, testing & UAT cycles.Audit & Controls- Standardize audit documentation procedures (internal & statutory). - Build automated request dashboards and audit readiness trackers. - Strengthen internal control compliance including SoD, validation steps, and period-end closures.Program Management- Lead multi-stakeholder initiatives involving finance teams across Bangalore, Pune, Chennai and global hubs. - Build status reports, dashboards, and transformation scorecards. - Drive change management, training, and communication rollouts.Key Skills & ExperienceRequired- CA/CS/Cost Accountant or relevant postgraduate degree - 6–10 years of experience in finance operations, transformation, or process excellence. - Strong working knowledge of SAP FI/CO; exposure to S/4 strongly preferred. - Experience in re-engineering finance workflows, preferably in multinational setups. - Preferred skills include demonstrated knowledge of automation tools such as: - UI automation platforms - GenAI / agentic-AI workflows - Finance bots / ML reconciliation - Strong analytical modelling skills.Preferred- Experience working with plant & manufacturing accounting environments. - Prior involvement in SAP migration, finance digitization, or systems implementation. - Lean Six Sigma / BPM certifications. - Strong governance & controls mindset.Personal Attributes- Structured thinker with ability to simplify complex processes. - Ability to influence without authority across cross-functional teams. - Hands-on executor with transformation orientation. - Strong communication and training capability. - Bias to action, innovation, and continuous improvement.Success Measures- Lead time reduction in closing & AP cycles - Audit readiness improvement with fewer observations - Increased digital workflows & elimination of manual activities - SOP completion, compliance, and role-based adoption - Cost and effort savings validated through performance metrics