Sunil Sowjanya
Hyderabad
Summary
Strategic leader in fund accounting with a focus on expansion initiatives. Expertise in global migration strategies and talent development enhances operational efficiency and ensures regulatory compliance. Proven track record of driving cost reductions and fostering high-performing teams through effective stakeholder engagement and automation.
Overview
19
19
years of professional experience
Work History
Director – Fund Accounting
IQ EQ India Global Services Pvt. Ltd.
Hyderabad
06.2023 - 11.2025
- Led comprehensive activities across non-cash booking, reconciliation, working papers, capital account statements, management fees, capital calls, distributions, audits, and end-to-end financial reporting—ensuring precision, compliance, and transparency across multiple portfolios.
- Facilitated KPI reviews and led Contract Review Board sessions with cross-functional stakeholders, providing insights on quality metrics, client onboarding success, attrition trends, budget variance, audit findings, and compliance gaps.
- Orchestrated cross-border transitions with regional leaders across APAC, UK, and US, collaborating with Legal, Project Management, Client Onboarding, and Talent Acquisition teams to ensure timely and compliant onboarding of new clients and mandates.
- Strategically enhanced resource allocation and service delivery by driving cost-effective solutions and mitigating operational risks—improving overall practice effectiveness without compromising quality.
- Championed India branding strategy for IQ-EQ, opening India office and leading initiatives in charity, health, environment, sports, and social causes to enhance brand visibility through creative social media engagement.
- Partnered with HR and L&D functions to identify and groom leadership talent. Deployed targeted coaching frameworks and career development interventions aligned with long-term succession planning and organizational growth.
- Conducted regular engagement programs including skip-level meetings, town halls, and strategic travel plans—fostering inclusion, connectivity, and enhanced alignment across levels.
Associate Director – IMS Delivery (SEI Investments)
Cognizant Technology Solutions
06.2021 - 06.2023
- Oversaw end-to-end business-as-usual functions such as management fees, capital calls, and accounting package reporting. Managed time-sensitive processes like same-day trade settlements, fails resolution, reconciliations, and pre-matching to ensure operational precision.
- Led teams across critical domains including Private Equity, trade settlements, and reconciliations. Ensured high performance and delivery excellence in complex financial operations.
- Enhanced operational efficiency through optimized resource allocation and staffing models. Strengthened risk controls and service delivery via process standardization and cost-conscious governance.
- Published management reports to improve transparency and support strategic decision-making. Forecasted financial outcomes, managed budget approvals, and implemented effective resource distribution.
- Built high-performing teams with strong engagement, clear tactical goals, and aligned strategic direction. Fostered collaborative environments that promoted innovation and accountability.
- Collaborated with Learning & Development teams to create onboarding frameworks and cross-training modules, accelerating new hire productivity and expanding capabilities of experienced team members.
- Delivered cost savings of USD $70K through targeted buffer staffing, lean hiring practices, controlled overtime, and continuous process improvements.
General Manager – BU Head IMS: Trade and Settlements
State Street HCL Services
08.2019 - 06.2021
- Led key functions across trade management, including settlements, reference data, and cash reconciliation. Drove service excellence across investment manager operations by ensuring timely, accurate, and reliable transaction handling.
- Maintained service-level agreements for investment managers by ensuring fail trades remained within defined thresholds, implementing exception handling workflows to prevent aging and mitigate operational risk.
- Executed clean-up projects, including setup and validation of Standard Settlement Instructions (SSI), streamlining broker and custody contact databases, deploying control mechanisms, and automating Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for enhanced transparency.
- Played a central role in scaling operations by supporting and executing multiple business migrations aligned with growth strategy. Enabled seamless transitions that minimized disruption and maintained operational continuity.
- Doubled team size from 130 to 280 in 4 months through expansion and transition planning across Chennai, Pune, and Coimbatore, managing location-based onboarding, training, and integration with minimal downtime.
Vice President – Operations Manager
Northern Trust Corporation
12.2006 - 08.2019
- Led centre of excellence (COE) reconciliation and research teams across Pune, Manila, and Bangalore, ensuring accuracy and timeliness in custodial and fund accounting processes.
- Led relocation of custody reconciliation operations from Bangalore to Manila and Pune, overseeing staff redeployment with minimal disruption and ensuring performance continuity.
- Championed global migration efforts within COE framework, transitioning reconciliation research functions for alternative assets, mutual funds, cash management, and bank loans. Ensured delivery consistency across geographies through robust planning and execution.
- Played a pivotal role in migrating reconciliation functions to the Transaction Lifecycle Management (TLM) system. Enhanced automation, control, and scalability of operations.
- Developed team capabilities by aligning strategic vision with operational goals, fostering a collaborative work culture and enhancing engagement and accountability.
- Established onboarding and cross-training programs in partnership with Learning & Development. Accelerated workforce readiness and broadened team versatility.
- Realized cost reductions through optimized staffing, streamlined hiring processes, controlled overtime, and workflow enhancements.
Education
Post Graduation - Information Systems
Osmania University
Bachelor of Computer Applications -
Osmania University
Skills
- Fund accounting
- Reconciliation processes
- Investment fund oversight
- Transaction management
- Financial forecasting
- Regulatory compliance
- Cross-border transitions
- Automation and efficiency initiatives
- Stakeholder engagement
- Talent development
- Strategic planning
- Vendor management
Awards Recognition
- Northern Trust Global Diversity Award (2011, 2012)
- Quality Medallion (2008–2011) for automation, backlog clearance & global migrations
- CASS Champion for global reconciliation compliance
Technology Proficiencies
A tech-savvy finance lead having deep familiarity with core financial platforms like TLM, SSR, Geneva, Investran, Eagle, Bloomberg, and several reconciliation applications.
Professional Highlights
- Spearheaded setup of global delivery centers in India and Manila, leading hiring drives of 1000+ personnel, enhancing operational scalability and cost efficiency.
- Executed initiatives led to a substantial impact of over $300K in savings.
- Managed diverse teams across Private Equity, Compliance, AML/KYC, Corporate accounting, Reconciliations (COE), and Trade and Settlements —balancing operations, quality, risk, and cost-effectiveness.
- Led strategic branding initiatives to foster inclusive and vibrant workplace culture by driving programs in charity, health, sustainability, sports, and social engagement.
- Led Contract Review Board meetings, facilitating succession planning efforts, and conducting regular town halls that reflect high emotional intelligence in leadership.
- Built strategic client relationships across Dublin, Belfast, Guernsey, London, Chicago, and Manila—successfully securing new business and driving cross-border transitions to India.
Timeline
Director – Fund Accounting
IQ EQ India Global Services Pvt. Ltd.
06.2023 - 11.2025
Associate Director – IMS Delivery (SEI Investments)
Cognizant Technology Solutions
06.2021 - 06.2023
General Manager – BU Head IMS: Trade and Settlements
State Street HCL Services
08.2019 - 06.2021
Vice President – Operations Manager
Northern Trust Corporation
12.2006 - 08.2019
Post Graduation - Information Systems
Osmania University
Bachelor of Computer Applications -
Osmania University