Balakandan T S

Finance Operations Professional with 14+ years of progressive experience across Shipping, Automotive, and BPO/Shared Services sectors, spanning Financial Accounting, Accounts Receivable, Accounts Payable, Shipping Finance, and Financial Reporting. Manages 600+ freight and vendor transactions monthly for a global shipping principal, and led the single-handed clearance of a 1,000+ invoice backlog during an ERP migration within two weeks. Mentors a team of finance associates while owning governance reporting, audit readiness, and financial controls.

Recognized across four organizations with performance awards for accuracy, reliability, and process ownership in fast-paced, multi-currency finance environments.

Finance Supervisor at Inchcape Shipping Services (2021-03 – Present)

• Own end-to-end freight collection and settlement for principal Ocean Network Express (ONE), processing 600+ vendor and freight transactions per month across prefunding coordination, invoice processing, and multi-currency settlement.
• Led the invoice backlog clearance during the DREAMS → Unit4 ERP migration — single-handedly posted and settled 1,000+ vendor invoices within two weeks, restoring on-time processing with no disruption to vendor payments.
• Mentor and guide a team of 2–5 finance associates on reconciliation, settlement, and reporting workflows, acting as the escalation point for complex vendor and payment issues.
• Validate commission revenue and reconcile freight accounts to ensure accurate, audit-ready financial records ahead of month-end close.
• Lead month-end close activities, bank reconciliations, and financial reporting to meet Group reporting timelines without exception.
• Compile P&L reports, aging analysis, and governance dashboards used directly by management for forecasting and decision-making.
• Serve as primary point of contact for vendors and internal stakeholders on payment discrepancies, driving faster resolution and stronger turnaround times.
• Support internal and external audits through structured documentation, reconciliations, and compliance reporting.
• Champion process improvement and SOP standardization initiatives that strengthen financial governance across the shared services function.

Subject Matter Expert (SME) at Renault-Nissan Technology & Business Centre India (RNTBCI) (2015-12 – 2021-03)

• Directed Accounts Payable operations for a large-scale automotive shared services environment, including vendor reconciliations, payment processing, and governance reporting.
• Delivered MIS reports, SLA dashboards, and aging analysis that leadership relied on for weekly and monthly performance reviews.
• Ran payment forecasting and cash flow planning cycles to support month-end close and treasury visibility.
• Resolved supplier escalations and invoice discrepancies within SLA, protecting vendor relationships and payment accuracy.
• Conducted quality checks and process reviews that lifted operational accuracy and reduced rework.
• Mentored junior team members and contributed to continuous improvement initiatives across the AP function.

Senior Executive – Freight Compliance at CMA-CGM Shared Service Centre (2014-05 – 2015-12)

• Managed freight compliance and billing validation across multiple regions for a leading global shipping line.
• Verified Bill of Lading charges line-by-line to ensure invoice accuracy and contractual compliance.
• Processed high-volume freight transactions while holding the line on compliance standards under tight deadlines.
• Partnered with operations teams to resolve freight discrepancies and improve turnaround efficiency.

Senior Process Associate – Accounts Receivable at Hewlett Packard Global E-Business Operations Pvt Ltd (2011-07 – 2014-04)

• Managed customer master data creation, amendments, and credit limit updates for a global AR portfolio.
• Processed cash applications across Lockbox, Wire, and ACH channels with a focus on accuracy and timeliness.
• Handled adjustments, refunds, write-offs, and reconciliations within AR operations.
• Prepared operational and compliance reports ensuring timely recording of customer receipts.

Bachelor of Commerce in B.Com – D.G. Vaishnav College, Madras University (2011)