Uma Maheswara Rao Podili

• Served as Controller for 8 entities across the UK and India, overseeing financial reporting, compliance, and governance.
• Managed Group-level cash flow and consolidation, ensuring accurate reporting and alignment with global financial standards.
• Led Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A), including the design and implementation of a new budgeting system tailored to the complexities of a global insurance and technology business.
• Directed handover and knowledge transfer processes during multiple leadership and team exits, ensuring smooth transitions and business continuity.
• Supported in fundraising, including data room preparation, 5 year projections, Financial modelling, and due diligence coordination.
• Partnered with global leadership to provide variance analysis, strategic financial insights, and decision support.
• Strengthened internal controls, collaborated across teams, and led multi-entity audit readiness efforts.

• Led financial planning, budgeting (monthly/quarterly/annual), cost center setup, and internal order structures.
• Drove variance analysis, cost optimization initiatives, and presented insights to management.
• Managed AP operations, vendor creation, reconciliations, aging analysis, and ensured PR/PO controls.
• Delivered accurate month-end close, accruals, reconciliations, and financial statements as per global guidelines.
• Coordinated Statutory, Tax, Internal, and Group audits and ensured timely completion.
• Implemented process improvements, internal controls, SOPs, and trained AP & accounting teams.

Working at a US-based MNC, I attained experience in handling different teams globally and adhering to global practices. The following is the gist of the work handled and the support provided in adding value to the company’s growth and compliance.

US GAAP compliance and close activities:

• Monthly and quarterly book closures.
• Presentation of BS/PL to directors.
• Providing tax schedules and other work papers for parent company accounting, reporting, and filing of various tax forms.
• Support for dividend payments, pre-payments during U.S. tax reforms.

Treasury:

• Cash and exposure forecast preparation and review.
• Support for A1 and A2 payments to vendors and intercompany.
• Compliance with banks and FEMA regulations (IDPMS, EDPMS, etc.).

Audit compliance:

• Statutory audit - Preparation of draft financial statements and notes, working papers, along with supporting schedules and backups.
• Internal audit - assistance in finalizing the scope, coordinating with other teams, presenting, and discussing the report with directors.
• Conducted Sox audit for the Korean entity on Fixed assets and GL.

Fixed assets:

• FAR preparation, depreciation forecast for advance tax payments.
• Driven the project of one asset, one audit.

Accounts payable:

• Vendor management - Balance confirmations, recon for TDS, and outstanding balances.
• Vouching for payments, writing journal entries for adjustments, and accruals.
• Coordinating with the P2P team and helping in process improvements.

Direct tax compliance:

• Worked on income tax computations, returns, audits, and TP filings.
• Supported MAP, APA filings, and post-agreement tax computations.
• Managed tax notices and departmental visits (IT, TDS, TP).
• Assisted during tax surprise inspections.
• Handled TDS calculations, payments, returns, and Form 16A.
• Managed property tax payments and refund/adjustment follow-ups.

Indirect tax compliance:

• Managed Service Tax/GST compliance: monthly payments, returns, audits, and notice replies.
• Handled service tax/GST refunds: calculations, documentation, filing, and follow-ups.
• Supported legacy compliance under VAT, excise, and other indirect tax laws.

Other activities and projects:

• CSR compliance support, secretarial compliance, Ind AS implementation support, GST implementation support.
• Conducted training sessions for internal teams on GL reclassification, journal entries, GST transition, etc.
• Providing various reports and information to different teams to help in their work, reporting, and reviews.
• Working at a US-based MNC, I attained experience in handling different teams globally and adhering to global practices.

• Companies act compliance - Incorporation, Buyback of shares, liquidation of companies. Change in address of company, appointment & resignation of directors etc.
• Direct Tax compliance – Income Tax Return filing, E-TDS returns, TP computation and documentation, Issue of 15CB certificates and Form 15CA, Worked on assessments etc.
• Indirect Tax – Worked on Cenvat Refund, SAD Refund, VAT & PT monthly compliances, Service Tax computation and return filings etc.
• Audit – 2 Internal audits & 3 Statutory audits across sectors.
• A firm with a vision to be ranked amongst the top 20 CA firms in India by 2020.