Cognizant offers a wide range of finance roles from entry-level positions to senior leadership supported by structured career programs like the Finance Excellence Program. Whether you’re a fresh Chartered Accountant based in India or an experienced finance professional in Europe or North America, Cognizant provides opportunities in FP&A, accounting, treasury, internal audit, and finance transformation. Here’s a look at job types, responsibilities, salaries, qualifications, and growth potential, so you can explore whether a finance career at Cognizant aligns with your goals.
Structured Entry Point: Finance Excellence Program
Overview
The Finance Excellence Program is designed for newly qualified CAs in India, offering a 2-year development path with rotations across finance functions including FP&A, tax, treasury, accounting, internal audit, and corporate development.
Compensation & Benefits
- Annual salary: â¹11 L + â¹1 L joining bonusâ£
- Additional â¹50 K for rank-holders and first-attempt qualifiersâ£
- Rotations, mentoring from senior finance leaders, and classroom trainingâ£
This structured approach supports career acceleration and broad exposure across finance functions.
Mid-Level Roles: Finance Specialists & Functional Consultants
Transactional Finance Specialist
Often based in shared-services hubs (e.g., Budapest), this role involves:
- Journal entries, balance sheet reconciliations, intercompany transactionsâ£
- VAT returns and audit support
- Escalation handling and colleague training
Requires ~2+ years of experience, degree in finance/accounting, and multilingual abilities (e.g., Hungarian and English).
Finance Functional Consultant
These consultants specialize in systems like SAP FI/CO or Oracle Financials, bridging technical and finance teams. Use cases include:
- Configuring financial modules (e.g., SAP FI/MM integration)
- Leading implementations, reporting, and business requirement gathering
- Developing tools, dashboards (e.g., with Power BI) and improving processes
Salaries in India average around â¹67 L for 24 years of experience, rising to â¹13 L with 6 years.
Senior Roles: Finance Managers & Transformation Leads
Finance Manager (e.g., UK/US divisions)
- Oversight of month-end close, P&L/balance sheet reviews
- Variance analysis, SOX compliance, GAAP reporting (US GAAP & local GAAP) â£
- Tax preparatory work, audit liaison, and M&A integration
In the UK, these positions require ACA/CIMA/ACCA credentials and advanced skills in Excel, Hyperion, and ERP systems.
Director, Finance Transformation / Consulting
Senior leadership roles focus on end-to-end finance transformation:
- Strategy, solution design, and client engagement
- Team leadership and cross-functional stakeholder management
- Process improvements, cost control, and change management
In the US (e.g., Austin, TX), total compensation ranges from $115K to $145K annually.
Salary Trends by Level
Mid-Level Specialists and Consultants (India)
- Finance Functional Consultant: â¹6.37.5 L average, up to â¹13 L with 6+ years
- Financial Consultant: â¹410 L per year
- Finance Specialist: â¹611 L with 812 years of experience
Managers and Senior Leadership
- Finance Manager in India: â¹1228.9 L, average ~â¹16 L
- Finance Manager in UK: Competitive, aligning with corporate London benchmarks
- Director in US: $115145 K annual package
Key Skills & Qualifications
Must-Have Credentials
- Professional accounting qualifications (CA, ACA, CIMA, ACCA)
- ERP knowledge (SAP FI/CO, Oracle GL, Hyperion)
- Strong analytical and Excel/reporting skills
- Multilingual capability for shared service roles
Behavioral and Soft Skills
- Communication, stakeholder engagement, and team collaboration
- Problem-solving, process orientation, adaptability
- Attention to detail and ability to meet strict deadlines
Career Path and Growth Opportunities
Structured Progression
- Finance Excellence grads rotate across domains before settling into specialist roles
- Transactional specialists can evolve into functional consultants or FP&A roles
- Senior roles lead to Finance Manager and transformation director positions
Global Exposure
Many finance roles at Cognizant support global clients, offering exposure to US GAAP, IFRS, and cross-border finance. International opportunities may include postings in the UK, Europe, or North America.
Finance careers at Cognizant span a wide landscape from fresh CA recruits in India to senior finance leaders driving transformation for global clients. Entry-level roles offer structured development and mentoring; mid-level positions demand technical expertise and functional delivery; senior roles focus on strategy, compliance, and large-scale solutions. Salaries grow significantly with experience, and professionals benefit from access to global finance systems, training, and cross-border collaboration. For anyone with accounting credentials and a passion for finance operations or transformation, Cognizant offers a dynamic and rewarding pathway.