Intuitive Operation Automation (IOA/BPO) Service Line Sales Specialist - Finance & Accounting

Service Line Sales Manager - F&A

Cognizant’s IOA Business

Cognizant’s Digital Finance & Accounting (F&A) services help transform our clients’ F&A ecosystems. We provide Operations services to more than 140 clients across industries, delivering extraordinary business value and experience. Over 14,000 associates (including a 2,300-strong digital workforce) deliver services across Source to Pay, Order to Cash, Record to Report, Financial Planning & Analysis, and Tax & Compliance from more than 20 delivery centers across APAC, Europe, North America, and LATAM.

About the role

The Service Line Sales Manager (SLS) is a results-driven sales executive responsible for originating, advancing, and closing large Finance & Accounting (F&A) / BPO outsourcing opportunities. The role focuses on defining and strengthening go-to-market strategies, building and managing the sales pipeline, and working closely with Client Partners, Service Line Managers, IOA leadership, and MCU/MDU leadership in a high-growth, highly autonomous environment.

In this role, you will:

• Closing Sales – Primary responsibility is growing the IOA business in North America by winning new deals within assigned customer accounts, per agreed targets.
• Sales Plan Creation – Develop and execute a growth plan for the Financial Services and Digital Finance domains.
• Pipeline Management – Build and manage the opportunity pipeline; qualify high-priority pursuits; and close new business in line with agreed targets.
• Demand Generation – Partner with IOA and MCU teams to identify prospects, develop marketing plans, and engage new clients in meaningful conversations.
• Proposal Development – Understand customer needs and translate them into winning proposals for Cognizant and our clients, in partnership with presales and solution teams.
• IOA Solution Development Oversight – As a pursuit leader, partner with IOA solution architects, delivery teams, and other horizontal practices to create effective deal solutions.
• Deal Shaping / Pricing Development – Develop creative deal shapes, commercial structures, and pricing proposals as part of winning pursuits. Work closely with the business unit and regional FP&A teams.
• C-Level Client Relationship Building – Build relationships across CXO levels within client organizations and develop executive-level partnerships.
• Renewal Deals in the Industry – Build relationships with potential customers by partnering with Vertical and Country teams, and develop disruptive propositions to hunt and win renewal opportunities.

What you need to have to be considered

• 12+ years of experience selling Financial Services and Digital Finance BPO/consulting services with a blue-chip company.
• Executive level interpersonal, verbal, written, and presentation skills; ability to act as a trusted advisor and advocate of Cognizant’s vision and value proposition.
• Partner with Client Services Executive (CSE) and/or Client Service Manager (CSM) to package, price, and present solutions including ROI and value proposition.
• Define and articulate a technology-specific, business-relevant services strategy and solutions for customer opportunities.
• Partner with Product Sales Specialist (PSS) teams to incorporate solutions into customer account plans and successfully execute on them.
• Gather and refine customer requirements and document initial scope to align solution and proposal development.
• Experience proactively growing and expanding customer relationships while deepening understanding of customer business.
• Proven ability to meet and deliver an annual sales target of $20M TCV.
• Prior experience within one of the following industry segments is highly desirable: CMT (Communications, Media & Technology), Manufacturing & Logistics (MLEU), Retail, or BFS (Banking & Financial Services).

Qualifications

• Degrees – CPA, MBA, or an advanced degree in a related field is preferred.

Core Competencies & Knowledge

• BPO & IOA Solution Leadership – Deep expertise in Business Process Outsourcing, digitisation, and IOA-led solution development, including deal structuring, solution design, transition, and transformation, with hands-on involvement in building solutions and sales content from the ground up alongside cross-functional stakeholders.
• Industry-Led Process Transformation – Strong ability to understand complex business process challenges across one or more industries and translate them into compelling, technology-enabled process and operating model solutions, including Global Business Services (GBS) environments.
• Global Delivery & Operating Models – Extensive international experience and comfort working with global service delivery models, including shared services, IOA, and virtual/home office environments.
• Executive-Level Communication & Storytelling – Proven verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to present complex deal constructs, solution narratives, and value propositions clearly and compellingly to C-suite buyers through presentations and executive-level sales storylines.
• Technology & Business Acumen – Solid understanding of technology solutions and their impact on business operations, enabling credible conversations that bridge process, technology, and business outcomes.