LEKHA SHARMA
Pune
Summary
Dynamic finance professional with over 12 years of experience across financial and regulatory reporting. Expertise in regulatory compliance, reconciliations and change management, demonstrated by leading teams to improve reporting tools. Proficient in variance analysis and process optimization, consistently achieving high stakeholder satisfaction. Recognized for strong communication skills and strategic leadership in demanding environments.
Overview
15
15
years of professional experience
Work History
Associate Director
UBS Business Solutions (India) Pvt Ltd
Pune
07.2022 - Current
- Led team managing Leverage Exposure Calculations and Reporting for UBS Group and major IB Entities.
- Performed monthly and daily calculations, ensuring stakeholder expectations, quality, and efficiency in delivery.
- Conducted variance analysis, providing accurate narratives on movements for reporting purposes.
- Served as Change Management Lead, coordinating with IT to enhance Reporting tools, reducing manual adjustments and saving ~40 hours monthly.
- Resolved legacy breaks between internal and external regulatory reporting data, implementing strategic fixes with IT.
- Escalated system failures to Senior Management during peak dual reporting cycles, earning recognition for effective communication.
- Rebuilt PRA Reporting team structure, meeting all timely reporting requirements successfully.
- Collaborated with Treasury, Compliance, and Financial Reporting stakeholders to support regulatory initiatives and database updates.
Associate
Deutsche Bank
Mumbai
05.2020 - 06.2022
- Ensured completeness and accuracy of IFRS reporting for Group consolidation as Finance Controller for Emerging Markets business.
- Transitioned controllership role from offshore to India, facilitating smooth year-end reporting.
- Resolved Legacy MAFA balance sheet discrepancies amounting to ~$4.5bn within one month of transition.
- Managed disclosure reporting for Deutsche Bank AG under various IFRS and FAS standards.
- Addressed equity business disclosures, including asset encumbrance reporting, resolving legacy issues within two quarters.
- Expanded centralized reporting coverage by onboarding new business units.
- Collaborated with key stakeholders in CIB Finance, business, and regulatory affairs on project support and database updates.
- Handled ad hoc requests from Business Finance, GVG, Investor Relations, and supported internal/external audits.
Credit Manager
HDFC Bank
Kolkata
04.2016 - 04.2020
- Evaluated credit worthiness of clients for corporate and SME loan sanctioning within specified TAT.
- Analyzed financial statements, leading increased visits for high-value cases, boosting credit approval rates by 30%.
- Monitored non-starter locations to ensure lower delinquency ratios while coordinating with collections and business teams.
- Maintained asset portfolio analysis, recommending measures for improvement.
- Prepared and published monthly and quarterly MIS reports.
- Conducted internal audits at location level, addressing queries to minimize group-level reporting.
- Collaborated with sales, operations, collections, and policy functions to facilitate smooth daily operations.
- Led vendor management initiatives representing the credit vertical.
Associate
B. K. Khemka & Company
Kolkata
07.2015 - 04.2016
- Led Audit Team in conducting statutory audits for corporate clients, including Sudarshan Paper & Board Pvt. Ltd. and IRC Logistics Pvt. Ltd.
- Assisted in internal audits at Bengal Institute of Business Studies, enhancing compliance and operational efficiency.
- Prepared and finalized financial statements for individual income tax assessors, ensuring accuracy and regulatory adherence.
- Provided tax consultancy services to clients, addressing diverse financial needs effectively.
Financial Analyst
Credit Suisse Services India Pvt. Ltd.
Pune
09.2013 - 05.2015
- Produced IFRS and Luxembourg GAAP compliant financial statements for UK and Luxembourg entities.
- Liaised with auditors to ensure timely audit closures.
- Generated US GAAP financial reports monthly, quarterly, and annually, incorporating IFRS and Luxembourg GAAP variances.
Article Assistant
M/s N.M Agarwal & Associates
08.2010 - 08.2013
- Conducted statutory, income tax, internal, and VAT audits across multiple organizations.
- Executed statutory bank audits, including verification of secured loans and NPA classifications.
- Ensured timely completion of audits and submission of reports to management.
- Filed income tax returns, TDS returns, service tax returns, and ROC filings.
- Prepared responses for income tax scrutiny proceedings to address compliance issues.
Education
Financial Risk Manager - Certified - Risk
Global Association of Risk Professionals
USA10-2017
Chartered Financial Analyst Level II passed - Accounting And Finance
The CFA Institute
USA05-2017
B.Com(Hons.) - Finance And Accounts
St. Xavier's College
Kolkata07-2012
Class XII - CISCE
Mahadevi Birla Shishu Vihar
Kolkata05-2009
Class X - CISCE
St. Helen's School
Kolkata05-2007
Skills
- Financial statement preparation
- Regulatory reporting
- Exposure calculations
- Change management
- Variance analysis
- Process improvement
- Problem solving
Accomplishments
Received RAVE awards twice - Resolved and eliminated multiple manual adjustments valuing ~$7bn posted in weekly regulatory reporting by investigating the DQ issues and driving the change with IT to ensure minimal manual intervention
Recognized with Name and Fame Award - for handling all disclosures performed by the Mumbai team and introduced several process enhancements increasing efficacy of the output produced, onboarded new business.
Recognized with Name and Fame Award - for quality delivery of work, quick understanding of processes and stepping up within a month of joining the organization in Q2 2020.
Awarded Silver Star within 9 months of joining the organization. Have been awarded twice within 2 years in HDFC Bank.
Key driver in new merger project undertaken (accounting of takeover of a reinsurance company by a Credit Suisse subsidiary) and successfully executed the project and prepared USGAAP to Luxembourg GAAP reconciliations.
Handled Luxembourg insourcing project (cost saving project) with an estimated savings of CHF 5 million to the organization.
Recognized with Name and Fame Award - for handling all disclosures performed by the Mumbai team and introduced several process enhancements increasing efficacy of the output produced, onboarded new business.
Recognized with Name and Fame Award - for quality delivery of work, quick understanding of processes and stepping up within a month of joining the organization in Q2 2020.
Awarded Silver Star within 9 months of joining the organization. Have been awarded twice within 2 years in HDFC Bank.
Key driver in new merger project undertaken (accounting of takeover of a reinsurance company by a Credit Suisse subsidiary) and successfully executed the project and prepared USGAAP to Luxembourg GAAP reconciliations.
Handled Luxembourg insourcing project (cost saving project) with an estimated savings of CHF 5 million to the organization.
Awards
- RAVE award, Q1 23
- RAVE award, Q1 22
- Name and Fame Award, Q3 21
- Name and Fame Award, Q3 20
- Silver Star Award, Q1 2017
- Silver Star Award, Q2 2018
Hobbies and Interests
- Dancing
- Teaching
Languages
English
Proficient (C2)
C2
Hindi
Native
Native
Bengali
Intermediate (B1)
B1
Timeline
Associate Director
UBS Business Solutions (India) Pvt Ltd
07.2022 - Current
Associate
Deutsche Bank
05.2020 - 06.2022
Credit Manager
HDFC Bank
04.2016 - 04.2020
Associate
B. K. Khemka & Company
07.2015 - 04.2016
Financial Analyst
Credit Suisse Services India Pvt. Ltd.
09.2013 - 05.2015
Article Assistant
M/s N.M Agarwal & Associates
08.2010 - 08.2013
Financial Risk Manager - Certified - Risk
Global Association of Risk Professionals
Chartered Financial Analyst Level II passed - Accounting And Finance
The CFA Institute
B.Com(Hons.) - Finance And Accounts
St. Xavier's College
Class XII - CISCE
Mahadevi Birla Shishu Vihar
Class X - CISCE
St. Helen's School