Client Background
Client: American multinational technology company
Area of operations: Worldwide
Products and Services: Leader in business communication and cloud solutions
Number of Employees: Around 8000
Challenge
There were multiple changes in accounting and reporting requirements due to financial restructuring, acquisitions, divestment, and new tool implementations. The company wanted to optimize their Finance and Accounting (F&A) operations while bringing down the high running cost of its F&A operations spread across the globe. There was lack of standardization of processes across multiple geos with significant variance in each process step.
There were also changes in accounting estimates around revenue recognition, bad debt provisions, onerous contracts, tax and inventory provisions, and other special considerations around impairment and fair value assessments due to COVID-19. The aim was to bring in contingency measures for reduction of extended month end close and manual time consuming processes.
The processes also lacked transparency of workflow, platforms, and case management. Hence, the controllership had to spend endless hours in consolidation and provide visibility to the leadership.
Solution
The customer approached Wipro with objectives of TCO (total cost of ownership) reduction, standardization, and transformation of their F&A operations. Wipro being a seasoned partner for multiple clients, operated as a one-stop solution for all its challenges. Wipro took over the operations of the client’s global shared services catering across US, Canada, and ASEAN.
We deployed a platform led service approach designed to harmonize the process and move from region based to global model while enhancing the process efficiency and addressing cost control. Wipro partnered with the client during critical business scenarios like financial restructuring and ensured no impact on accounting operations despite extreme complexities.
Business Impact
With better tracking mechanisms, we gained efficiencies in effective process controls and monitoring. Wipro achieved standardization and simplification of work, which helped in faster book close, aligned to the client’s ‘Speed to Close’ initiative and translated in achieving two days of cycle time reduction in month close cycle.