Chief Financial Officer

The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) will be a key strategic leader responsible for overseeing all financial and commercial functions of the manufacturing business. The ideal candidate will bring over 20 years of progressive experience, with a strong track record in manufacturing finance, capital structuring, operational controls, and cross-border compliance. This is a mission-critical role aimed at optimizing financial performance, enabling strategic growth, and ensuring robust corporate governance. Key Responsibilities: Strategic Financial Leadership • Lead the development and execution of financial strategies aligned with the company’s vision and long-term growth plans. • Serve as a key advisor to the MD/CEO and the Board on financial planning, capital deployment, mergers & acquisitions, and risk management. • Drive strategic initiatives including business expansion, capacity enhancement, capital expenditure projects, and international joint ventures. Financial Planning, Budgeting & Analysis • Direct the annual budgeting, forecasting, and multi-year financial planning process. • Establish reliable financial models to support business decisions, including ROI analysis, scenario modeling, and profitability tracking. • Provide critical insights through MIS dashboards, plant-level P&L, product-wise costing, and contribution margin analysis. Operational & Cost Efficiency • Lead implementation of cost optimization strategies across raw material procurement, inventory, utilities, overheads, and logistics. • Partner closely with operations and supply chain leadership to align financial KPIs with production metrics. • Strengthen plant-level controls, standard cost systems, and inventory valuation practices. Governance, Compliance & Risk Management • Ensure statutory and regulatory compliance across direct tax, indirect tax (e.g., GST), Companies Act, labor regulations, and international accounting standards (IFRS/GAAP). • Liaise with statutory auditors, internal auditors, tax advisors, and government authorities as needed. • Implement robust internal financial controls and enterprise risk frameworks to mitigate business risks. Treasury & Cash Flow Management • Oversee treasury operations including cash flow forecasting, banking relationships, debt covenants, and interest cost optimization. • Manage capital structuring, working capital financing, and long-term funding strategies. • Evaluate and execute hedging instruments for forex exposure where applicable. ERP, Digital Finance & Process Automation • Champion ERP implementation and enhancement initiatives (e.g., SAP, Oracle, Microsoft Dynamics). • Drive digitization of financial processes, reporting automation, and analytics integration. • Establish real-time dashboards for cash, working capital, and profitability monitoring. Leadership & Stakeholder Engagement • Lead, mentor, and grow a high-performing finance and accounts team across plants and corporate office. • Collaborate cross-functionally with operations, procurement, commercial, legal, and HR functions. • Present financials to the Board of Directors, Investors, and Joint Venture Partners (where applicable). Candidate Profile: Qualification: • Chartered Accountant (CA) Experience: • Minimum 20 years of overall experience, including 10+ years in leadership roles within manufacturing organizations (multi-plant, multi-location preferred). Demonstrated experience in cost accounting, plant finance, compliance, treasury, and ERP systems. Skills & Attributes: • Deep understanding of manufacturing economics, cost structures, and supply chain finance. • Proven ability to manage complex stakeholder relationships including bankers, auditors, investors, and regulators. • Strategic thinker with strong business acumen, analytical mindset, and decisionmaking capability. • High integrity, ethical standards, and a continuous improvement mindset.