Chief Financial Officer

Job Description 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.