Ashish Agarwal
Finance
Noida
Summary
PGDBM Finance with nearly 20+ years of experience in credit control, accounts receivables, billing, team management, revenue assurance, process improvement and reporting & documentation. Order to Cash in- depth process expertise in order management (contract evaluation), Billing, Accounts receivables, Dispute resolution and cash applications. Risk identification and mitigation through credit ratings analysis. Financial Evaluation of long-term deals on the basis of cash flow and profitability Mapping the clients’ requirements and coordinating in developing and implementing the processes in line with the pre-set guidelines Managed annual revenue of Rs.1500 crs in various brands of Star & Fox Channels. Setting out quality standards for various operational areas, ensuring a high-quality customer experience, while adhering to the SLAs and work processes
Overview
20
20
years of professional experience
1
1
Language
Work History
Finance Controller
TLG India Pvt Ltd
07.2024 - Current
- Client & Account Management
- Manage overdue accounts through calls, emails, and chats to resolve payment issues and prevent bad debt
- Negotiate payment plans while maintaining strong client relationships
- Act as escalation point for complex customer and payment disputes
- Order-to-Cash Operations
- Oversee collections, cash application, deductions, billing coordination, and dunning processes
- Ensure accurate statement preparation and account reconciliation
- Drive timely closure of open AR and reduction of overdue balances
- Team Leadership & Management
- Lead and develop a team of 10–15 collection professionals
- Set performance expectations, manage workloads, and handle staffing/leave planning
- Coach, train, and motivate team members to meet targets and SLAs
- Manage performance reviews and skill development
- Operational Oversight
- Supervise daily collection activities and escalations
- Ensure SLA adherence and operational efficiency
- Coordinate closely with Billing, Credit, Sales, and AR teams
- Process Improvement & Automation
- Drive continuous improvement initiatives across O2C processes
- Identify automation opportunities (RPA)
- Perform Root Cause Analysis (RCA) and implement corrective actions
- Reporting & Analytics
- Track and analyze KPIs such as DSO, aging, and collection efficiency
- Prepare management reports using Excel and Power BI
- Provide insights and recommendations to leadership
- Risk & Compliance
- Maintain strong internal controls and compliance standards
- Identify and mitigate operational and credit risks
Sr. Manager –Finance & Operations
Cheil India Pvt Ltd
01.2017 - 07.2024
- Responsible for client servicing on finance deliverables. Cater to host of MNC and local clients. Responsible for internal reporting on client P&L, revenue reporting and analysis of commitment revenue numbers with quarterly revenue forecasts.
- Support to business team in preparing client commercials and negotiating client and vendor contract.
- Managing revenue recognition, AR and AP ageing as per company guidelines.
- Responsible for client servicing on finance deliverables. Cater to host of MNC and local clients like Samsung, Bata, TVS, Hero, UNICEF, JK Tyres, Asics and Others.
- Responsible for Agency Volume Deals and discount managements.
- Responsible for Closure of commercial contract, setting up of billing and the collection process with the client teams, alignment of MIS requirements and its timelines.
- Responsible for internal reporting on client P&L, revenue reporting, analysis of commitment revenue numbers with quarterly revenue forecasts.
- Work very closely with the business teams (sales and planning team) in ensuring that the finance support to the clients and the business team is in line with the overall business relationship management.
- Ensuring hygiene in receivable management & payables management. Responsible for passing the debit/credit notes.
- Preparing and Analyzing MIS reports to provide feedback to CEO’s on financial performance - Profitability, Revenue sharing and Overheads Control.
- Responsible for keeping a close eye on timely billing of invoices to clients. Maintaining a month on month average of 95% billing within the agreed timelines against a minimum SLA of 90%.
- Having a strict control in ensuring the timely follow up and subsequent collections against the overdue AR.
- Achievements:
- Achieved minimum SLA of 90%
- Partnered with business team for successful deal closure.
- Successfully liaised with major creditors such as Google, Amazon, Flipkart.
- Long term AR reduced to less than 30 days
Manager – Commercial & Service Operations, Receivables and Contract Renewals
Star India Pvt Ltd
06.2015 - 01.2017
- Managed end-to-end business operations including Invoicing, Revenue Recognition, Collection Accounting, Inventory Management, Reconciliations, SOX, Statutory Audits & Compliance, Documents Archival, Process Automations & Improvement
- Drive initiatives that contribute to long-term operational excellence by skillful & efficient delegation of responsibilities
- Collaborate with business & support leadership teams to facilitate planning, forecasting & month-end processes.
- Assuring compliance by enforcing and implementing financial & company policies, procedures and process controls.
- Monthly presentations to the leadership team involving deck reviews; identification of outliers; Implementation of proposed action; Highlighting potential risks & opportunities.
- Coaching, mentoring & closely monitoring team members to support business transitions; facilitating knowledge sharing sessions to aid in their career development; ensuring achievement of defined SLA target.
- Automated conventional process of submission of monthly reports, subsequent validation and generation of eligible incentives as per schemes prompting timely reduction to 85%
- Implemented a highly effective collection automation to accelerate the accounting of collections, consequently reducing outstanding debts
- Achievements:
- Set up the complete Contract renewal process.
Asst. Manager –Finance & Operations
Cheil India Pvt Ltd
02.2014 - 06.2015
- Managed O2C and P2P function with overall business size of INR 1250 Crs. Directed and implemented complete processes and systems for the function with the aim of minimizing disputes. Delivered CXO level client interactions and top management reporting.
- Negotiated and complied with service-level agreements with clients.
- Managed revenue to a tune of INR 1250 crs annually.
- Executed initiatives to minimize client disputes.
Manager –Revenue Assurance
Taj Television India Pvt Ltd
09.2012 - 01.2014
- Handled operations, and pursued continuous process improvement, and handled Dealer Management. Conducted audits of agreements and processed debit and credit notes thereof with proper approvals; being accountable for SOXs audit, and all pre and post audits in the organization
- Executed regular reconciliations with top customers.
- Conducted post-audits of agreements.
- Played a crucial role in reducing risk and defaults.
- Handled customer profiling and assigning of credit limits.
Asst. Manager –Finance & Accounts
Indiacast Media Distribution Pvt Ltd
04.2010 - 09.2012
- Involved managing finance and accounts, financial evaluation of long-term deals. Ensured smooth receivables process & customer relationship.
- Implemented an effective billing dispute resolutions process.
- Strengthened the team management capabilities.
- Enhanced risk Identification and mitigation process for Govt and private tenders.
Sr. Executive –Finance
INX Media Pvt Ltd
10.2007 - 02.2010
- Managed accounts receivable, payable, and presented MIS reports.
- Enhanced Receivables control procedures.
- Implemented measures for effective Inventory Management.
Executive –Finance
Star India Pvt Ltd
10.2005 - 09.2007
- Managed Licence Agreements, supervised internal controls, conducted monthly closure of books of accounts, and worked on Financial Reporting Tools- SUN Accounting System & Magnaquest Systems for appropriate Subscriber Management.
- Formulated & Implemented various policies & procedures.
- Reviewed and regulated Debt on a monthly basis.
- Played a leading role in Financial Audit
- Ensured uniform policies & procedures are followed across all branch offices.
Education
PGDBM - Finance & Marketing
Institute of Productivity & Management
03.2005
Master’s Degree - Commerce
Christ Church College
06.2004
Bachelor’s Degree - Commerce
Christ Church College
06.2002
Accomplishments
- Established the complete Contract renewal process while ensuring highest levels of accuracy and efficiency.
- Star Performer at Cheil India Pvt Ltd in 2023
Timeline
Finance Controller
TLG India Pvt Ltd
07.2024 - Current
Sr. Manager –Finance & Operations
Cheil India Pvt Ltd
01.2017 - 07.2024
Manager – Commercial & Service Operations, Receivables and Contract Renewals
Star India Pvt Ltd
06.2015 - 01.2017
Asst. Manager –Finance & Operations
Cheil India Pvt Ltd
02.2014 - 06.2015
Manager –Revenue Assurance
Taj Television India Pvt Ltd
09.2012 - 01.2014
Asst. Manager –Finance & Accounts
Indiacast Media Distribution Pvt Ltd
04.2010 - 09.2012
Sr. Executive –Finance
INX Media Pvt Ltd
10.2007 - 02.2010
Executive –Finance
Star India Pvt Ltd
10.2005 - 09.2007
Master’s Degree - Commerce
Christ Church College
Bachelor’s Degree - Commerce
Christ Church College
PGDBM - Finance & Marketing
Institute of Productivity & Management