Director, Contra Revenue Accounting

Our Purpose

Mastercard powers economies and empowers people in 200+ countries and territories worldwide. Together with our customers, we’re helping build a sustainable economy where everyone can prosper. We support a wide range of digital payments choices, making transactions secure, simple, smart and accessible. Our technology and innovation, partnerships and networks combine to deliver a unique set of products and services that help people, businesses and governments realize their greatest potential.

Title and Summary

Director, Contra Revenue Accounting

The Director, Contra Revenue & Technical Accounting is a leadership role responsible for overseeing the end to end accounting, governance, and reporting of contra revenue and customer incentive arrangements. This role ensures financial accuracy, policy compliance, and operational excellence across complex revenue related transactions — including rebates, incentives, gross vs net assessments, fund accounting, and customer business arrangements.

The Director partners closely with Divisions, GBSC, FP&A, Corporate Controllers, Legal, Sales, and Product teams to drive clarity, consistency, and strong controllership around contra revenue recognition. The role also provides technical accounting leadership on US GAAP matters, accounting policy interpretation, process redesign, and financial automation initiatives.

Key Responsibilities
1. Contra Revenue Governance & Operations
• Own the complete lifecycle of contra revenue accounting including rebates, incentives, free services, and customer-specific arrangements.
• Strengthen and manage processes related to contra actualization, forecasting methodologies, quarterly contra ratio reporting, and topside review controls.
• Reduce contra volatility through improved analytics, process refinements, and cross-functional engagement.
• Partner with divisions and GBSC to enhance data inputs, validate assumptions, and ensure consistency of contra revenue treatments.
• Oversee automation efforts (e.g., contra calculations, CRS enhancements, Alteryx workflows) to improve accuracy and operational efficiency.
• Develop and maintain user guides, SOPs, and training materials for key contra processes.
2. Technical Accounting & Policy Interpretation
• Serve as the subject matter expert for accounting topics under US GAAP;
• Review non-standard, complex, or strategic deals for proper accounting treatment; prepare technical accounting memos and templates.
• Provide guidance to Controllers and business teams on new or evolving accounting policies, emerging pronouncements, and region-specific issues.
• Ensure consistent application of global accounting policies across AP and other supported regions.
3. Financial Close, Reporting & Controls
• Drive accuracy in monthly, quarterly, and annual close processes related to contra revenue and technical accounting.
• Ensure timely identification, communication, and resolution of financial issues with potential P&L or balance sheet impact.
• Maintain strong SOX controls, streamline documentation for changes, and ensure audit readiness.
• Lead root cause analysis on exceptions, SUDs, and anomalies in contra-related accounts; implement robust monitoring tools for key customer ratios.
4. Strategic Support & Partnership
• Support corporate initiatives such as tax projects, cash claims (e.g., EDB), and fund spend governance.
• Collaborate with Product, Sales, and Marketing teams to assess contract applicability, disbursements, and accrual requirements.
• Provide insights and analytics to senior leadership on contra trends, risks, and opportunities.
• Serve as a key advisor to regional management on the accounting impact of strategic business decisions.
5. Leadership, Training & People Development
• Lead and mentor a team of controllers and analysts, fostering technical capability and operational excellence.
• Deliver trainings to regional controllers and relevant stakeholders on contra, revenue topics, and accounting policies.
• Promote a culture of strong controllership, continuous improvement, and cross regional knowledge sharing.

Required Qualifications & Experience
• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or Finance; CPA, CA, or equivalent strongly preferred.
• 10+ years of progressive experience in accounting, controllership, audit, or revenue operations.
• Strong expertise in US GAAP, revenue recognition (ASC 606), and complex contract accounting.
• Experience with contra revenue structures, customer incentives, or fund governance is highly advantageous.
• Demonstrated ability to interpret and implement accounting policies in a practical and scalable manner.
• Proven track record in process optimization, automation, and cross-functional collaboration.
• Excellent analytical, communication, and stakeholder management skills.

Corporate Security Responsibility

All activities involving access to Mastercard assets, information, and networks comes with an inherent risk to the organization and, therefore, it is expected that every person working for, or on behalf of, Mastercard is responsible for information security and must:

• Abide by Mastercard’s security policies and practices;

• Ensure the confidentiality and integrity of the information being accessed;

• Report any suspected information security violation or breach, and

• Complete all periodic mandatory security trainings in accordance with Mastercard’s guidelines.