Nishant Sonkusare
Assistant Finance Manager
Mumbai
Summary
Finance professional with strong background in financial analysis, budgeting, and forecasting. Proven track record of driving financial performance and ensuring compliance with regulatory standards. Adept at collaborating with cross-functional teams and adapting to changing requirements. Known for strong analytical skills, strategic thinking, and focus on achieving organizational goals.
Overview
9
9
years of professional experience
Work History
Assistant Finance Manager
Hindustan Unilever
10.2024 - Current
- Finance Partner – E-B2B App (Shikhar): Business partner with HUL’s E-B2B platform on performance management, cost analysis, and controls; enable finance governance across ₹40 Cr annual spends, and supported the launch of new initiatives (Outlet programs).
- GT Trade Governance: Drove general trade governance through Pareto and declining store analysis, sharpened focus on the top 80% value-driving outlets, defined corrective actions with sales teams, and led on-ground deep dives across 20 cities.
- Trade Spend Analysis & Forecasting: Reviewed and monitored ₹50 Cr annual GT trade and non-trade spends, partnered with cross-functional teams on forecasting and variance analysis, and flagged key risks and spend drivers for timely course correction.
Sr. FP&A Analyst
Palo Alto Networks
04.2022 - 10.2024
- Enabled global stakeholders with forecasting, analysis, and reporting of operating expenses (Opex), headcount, and other FP&A activities for three core functions, to accelerate management decision-making.
- Preparation and maintenance of a 'Full Year Budget' for operating costs before the start of the financial year.
- Monthly cost, headcount tracking, management, forecasting, and variance analysis.
- Reporting activities involving cost forecast submissions on the SAP Analytics for Cloud (SAC) system.
- Computation of open PO accruals (~750 POs monthly), followed by accounting entry for said accruals.
- Creating and tracking headcount requisitions (placeholder headcounts) in the SAC system for new hires, replacements, etc.
- Ad hoc activities (cost center creation, fixed asset verification, system UATs, internal team performance tracking, etc.).
Sr. Finance Executive - Financial Planning and Analysis, Exports
Hindustan Unilever
11.2018 - 04.2022
- Sole in-charge of Financial Planning and Analysis, and Management Reporting activities for Hindustan Unilever's Exports Division (Annual TO ~ Rs. 1,200 crs.)
- Monthly Cost and Profitability forecasting for multiple Exports Business units
- Monthly sales tracking, trend analysis at brand & category level, cost analysis and profitability variance analysis
- Preparation of “Overheads Dashboard” to track monthly overheads costs against budgets prepared and maintained at cost bucket level
- Monthly analysis of P&L Management Results to identify variance against Forecast
- Joined as Finance Executive in Nov’18, promoted to Sr. Finance Executive in the same team wef Sep 1, 2021
Executive Trainee
Hindustan Unilever
07.2018 - 10.2018
- Performed brief stints in various functions under Hindustan Unilever's finance division as a part of the Executive Training Program
- Key Projects/Activities as Executive Trainee:
- Factory Finance: Verified control checks in place for ensuring statutory compliance w.r.t. 2 different legal entities operating from the same premises; and verified the correctness of the Material Receipt and movement procedure for goods entering the factory
- Corporate Accounts: Conducted Refresher Training sessions for users from various Finance functions for SAP GR CPC tool
- Financial Planning & Analysis (Training Stint): 5-year P&L Analysis of HUL Tea Category
MBA Summer Intern
L&T Financial Services Ltd.
04.2017 - 06.2017
- Performed MBA Summer Internship and worked on the project “Cross-sectional analysis on the fiscal position of the states of India” with the Finance team
Education
MBA – MMS - Finance
NL Dalmia Institute of Mgt Studies & Research
04-2018
B. Com - Commerce
Thakur College of Science And Commerce
04-2015
Class XII -
Thakur College of Science And Commerce
01.2012
Class X -
Thakur Vidya Mandir High School
01.2010
Skills
Microsoft Office Suite
Timeline
Assistant Finance Manager
Hindustan Unilever
10.2024 - Current
Sr. FP&A Analyst
Palo Alto Networks
04.2022 - 10.2024
Sr. Finance Executive - Financial Planning and Analysis, Exports
Hindustan Unilever
11.2018 - 04.2022
Executive Trainee
Hindustan Unilever
07.2018 - 10.2018
MBA Summer Intern
L&T Financial Services Ltd.
04.2017 - 06.2017
MBA – MMS - Finance
NL Dalmia Institute of Mgt Studies & Research
B. Com - Commerce
Thakur College of Science And Commerce
Class XII -
Thakur College of Science And Commerce
Class X -
Thakur Vidya Mandir High School