Manager – Business Operations

The team The Office of the COO, Deloitte, works closely with senior leadership and businesses across the firm to drive business performance, operating discipline and execution of key priorities. The team operates at the intersection of business, finance and operations, providing leadership with a consolidated view of performance and supporting decisions across areas such as revenue, profitability, headcount, utilization, working capital, investments and other key business metrics. Operating in a fast-paced and highly collaborative environment, the team works closely with Business and Functional Leaders, Finance, Talent, Business Operations and other enabling functions to translate leadership priorities into measurable actions and outcomes. Your work profile We are looking for a highly skilled and motivated Manager – Business Operations to join the Office of the COO. The role will support the firm's leadership in driving business performance, strengthening operating rhythms and enabling data-driven decision-making. The individual will work across multiple businesses and functions, analyse financial and operational performance, identify areas requiring management attention, coordinate actions with stakeholders and support leadership reviews. This position requires a strong understanding of business and financial drivers, exceptional analytical and problem-solving capabilities, and the ability to independently work with senior stakeholders in a complex and fast-paced environment. Key Responsibilities Business Performance Management Monitor and analyse business performance across key financial and operational metrics including revenue, profitability, headcount, utilization, billing, collections, working capital and other relevant KPIs. Identify trends, performance gaps, risks and opportunities and translate them into actionable insights for leadership. Undertake variance analysis across actuals, plans, forecasts and prior periods to identify underlying business drivers. Develop structured views of business performance across businesses, service lines and other relevant dimensions. Work with Business Operations and Finance teams to understand performance drivers and facilitate timely corrective actions. Track agreed actions and interventions to closure and highlight areas requiring leadership attention. Planning, Forecasting & Business Reviews Support annual and periodic business planning, forecasting and target-setting exercises. Coordinate with Business, Finance and Operations teams to consolidate assumptions, plans and forecasts. Review submissions for completeness, consistency and alignment with agreed business assumptions. Analyse movements in forecasts and provide leadership with visibility into key changes, risks and opportunities. Support weekly, monthly and quarterly operating reviews through structured performance packs, analysis and management commentary. Establish and manage operating cadences to ensure timely review and closure of business priorities. Management Reporting & Decision Support Prepare concise and insightful management reports, dashboards and executive summaries for senior leadership. Translate large and complex datasets into clear business insights and recommendations. Develop performance scorecards and analytical views that enable leadership to quickly identify areas requiring intervention. Perform scenario analysis and modelling to support business decisions. Respond to ad-hoc analytical and information requirements from senior leadership with speed and accuracy. Continuously improve the quality, relevance and usability of management information. Financial & Commercial Analysis Analyse financial performance including revenue growth, margins, cost structures, productivity and working capital. Support profitability and performance analysis across businesses, portfolios, service lines and other relevant dimensions. Analyse workforce and capacity metrics including headcount, utilization, deployment and productivity to support resource decisions. Evaluate business cases, investments and operational initiatives from a financial and commercial perspective. Develop models and scenarios to assess the potential impact of business decisions. Connect financial and operational metrics to provide an integrated view of overall business performance. Business Operations & Execution Partner with Business Operations teams and other functions to translate leadership priorities into executable actions. Coordinate cross-functional initiatives involving Finance, Talent, Technology, Business Operations and other teams. Drive closure of actions arising from leadership and operating reviews. Establish clear ownership, milestones and governance for key business initiatives. Proactively identify execution bottlenecks and work with stakeholders to resolve them. Support the development and implementation of operating processes, governance mechanisms and management routines that improve organizational effectiveness. Stakeholder Management Work closely with senior stakeholders, including Business Leaders, Functional Leaders and CXO offices, on business performance and operational priorities. Facilitate structured discussions with stakeholders to understand issues, identify root causes and agree on actions. Present analysis and recommendations to senior leadership in a clear and compelling manner. Build strong working relationships across businesses and functions while maintaining appropriate challenge and independence. Influence stakeholders and drive outcomes even where direct reporting relationships do not exist. Presentation & Executive Communication Develop high-impact PowerPoint presentations, leadership review materials and executive briefing documents. Translate complex financial and operational information into simple and compelling narratives. Structure presentations around key messages, implications, decisions required and recommended actions. Ensure management information presented to leadership is accurate, concise and decision-oriented. Process Improvement & Operational Excellence Identify opportunities to simplify, standardize and improve business processes and operating routines. Reduce manual effort and improve the reliability and timeliness of management information. Work with relevant teams to improve data quality, reporting processes and management visibility. Leverage technology, analytics and automation where appropriate to improve business operations. Establish repeatable processes and governance mechanisms that enable the organization to operate at scale. Key skills required ~7 – 9 years of total work experience OR 4-7 years post qualification experience in Consulting/ Internal Audit/ Advisory roles OR within the office of a CXO or similar executive position. Big 4 experience would be an added advantage. CA/ CIMA/ ACCA/ ICWA/ CMA or other relevant finance professional degree preferred; OR MBA/ PGDM from a Tier 1/ 2 college; OR Master’s degree in finance/ Business/ Economics, or a related field. Business & Financial Acumen Strong understanding of P&L, business performance and key financial and operational drivers. Ability to understand the relationship between revenue, profitability, workforce, utilization, billing, collections and working capital. Ability to move beyond reporting numbers to explain the underlying business drivers and implications. Strong commercial orientation with an ability to understand how operational decisions impact financial outcomes. Data Analysis & Modelling Advanced proficiency in MS Excel with the ability to build financial and operational models. Strong ability to analyse large datasets and identify meaningful trends, anomalies and performance drivers. Ability to structure ambiguous business questions into analytical frameworks. Experience with Power BI, Tableau, Alteryx or similar analytical tools would be an added advantage. Ability to independently validate data and maintain a high level of accuracy in leadership reporting. Problem Solving & Independent Thinking Strong analytical and structured problem-solving capabilities. Ability to independently identify issues, investigate root causes and recommend practical solutions. Comfortable operating in situations where requirements may initially be ambiguous or evolve rapidly. Ability to distinguish between symptoms and underlying business issues and focus attention on matters that materially impact performance. Demonstrate sound judgement and the ability to prioritize effectively across competing requirements. Executive Communication Strong expertise in PowerPoint with the ability to create executive-level presentations. Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Ability to communicate complex financial and operational matters in a simple and structured manner. Ability to develop clear management commentary highlighting the “what”, “why”, “so what” and required action. Confidence in presenting and discussing analysis with senior stakeholders. Execution & Stakeholder Management Proven ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment. Strong ownership mindset with a focus on driving activities through to closure. Ability to coordinate across multiple teams without relying on formal authority. Strong interpersonal and stakeholder management skills. Ability to challenge constructively, influence decisions and drive accountability. High attention to detail while maintaining sight of the broader business context. Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively within a team.