Finance Controller

Location:
Delhi

Experience
: 8-15 Years

We are looking for a
hands-on yet strategic Finance Controller
who can own controllership end-to-end, build scalable systems, and be a true business partner to founders.

Role Overview :

You will be the responsible for:

• Building robust accounting and controllership processes
• Owning exports-related finance and compliances across multiple geographies
• Moving us from a largely outsourced, tactical setup to a strong in-house finance engine
• Partnering with leadership on banking, working capital, and future fundraises / due diligence

This is a role for someone who is comfortable
rolling up their sleeves
today, while
designing for scale
over the next 3–5 years.

Key Responsibilities

1. Controllership & Accounting

2. Own end-to-end accounting, book closure, and statutory compliances for all entities (India and overseas).

3. Gradually
   transition accounting in-house
   (from current outsourced model), including hiring and developing a lean, high-quality finance team.
4. Ensure accurate and timely monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements under applicable GAAP.

5. Design and implement strong
   internal controls
   , SOPs, and approval workflows to reduce leakages and errors.

6. Exports & International Operations

7. Oversee all
   export-related transactions
   : shipping bills, export documentation, filings, export incentives/benefits, realization tracking, and related compliances.

8. Work closely with operations and commercial teams to structure
   order flows across geographies
   (India, US, UK, etc.) in a way that is tax-efficient and minimizes FX loss.

9. Ensure proper accounting treatment of cross-border transactions, inter-company arrangements, and transfer pricing in coordination with external advisors.

10. Financial Planning, Working Capital & Banking

11. Partner with leadership to
    forecast cash flows
    , track burn, and proactively manage working capital.

12. Build and streamline
    working capital lines
    and banking facilities (OD, WC lines, export finance, etc.) in partnership with existing and new bankers.
13. Continuously monitor receivables, payables, inventory, and credit terms to optimize cash conversion cycles.

14. Prepare periodic MIS dashboards for management with clear, actionable insights.

15. Systems, Processes & Scale

16. Move the finance function from
    tactical firefighting to robust, scalable systems
    .

17. Evaluate and implement the right tools/ERPs for accounting, invoicing, inventory, and multi-entity consolidation.
18. Standardize processes for
    order-to-cash and procure-to-pay
    across India and international entities.

19. Build simple, founder-friendly reports that enable faster and better decision-making.

20. Stakeholder Management & Due Diligence

21. Be the
    single point of contact (SPOC)
    for auditors, tax consultants, and other external partners (including existing outsourced firms like Areete).

22. Prepare and manage
    investor and lender due diligence (DD)
    – data rooms, reconciliations, analyses and Q&A.
23. Work closely with the founders and board on strategic finance topics, including new market entry, product economics, and capital allocation.

What Success Looks Like in 12–18 Months

• Majority of
  core accounting has moved in-house
  with a small, capable team in place.
• Strong
  internal controls and SOPs
  are documented and followed across entities.
• Working capital lines
  and banking relationships are streamlined, with clear visibility on cash and limits.
• Exports and cross-border transactions run
  smoothly and compliantly
  , with minimal last-minute firefighting.
• The finance function operates with a
  strategic lens
  , not just transactional – giving founders proactive insight, not just historical data.

Ideal Candidate Profile :

Must-have:

• Qualification:
  CA / CPA / equivalent. MBA (Finance) is a plus.
• Experience:
  8–15 years of experience in finance & controllership roles, with:
• Significant exposure to
  F&B / FMCG / CPG companies
  , ideally at least one
  top-tier F&B or consumer brand
  .
• Hands-on
  exports experience
  – shipping bills, export documentation, incentives, and cross-border compliances.
• Strong grounding in
  accounting, tax, and regulatory compliances
  in India (GST, TDS, Companies Act, etc.).
• Demonstrated experience in
  building or leading a small finance team
  , not just managing outsourced partners.
• Prior involvement in
  fundraise / investor or lender due diligence
  , data rooms, and financial analysis.

Nice-to-have:

• Experience working with
  multi-entity / multi-country structures
  (e.g. India + UK).
• Exposure to setting up or optimizing
  working capital / banking lines
  .
• Experience in early-stage or growth-stage
  startups
  where systems were being built, not just maintained.

You are someone who:

• Moves comfortably between
  detail and strategy
  – you can close books and design processes.
• Enjoys
  building from scratch
  and bringing order to chaos.
• Communicates clearly with non-finance stakeholders and can push back when needed.
• Is proactive, ownership-driven, and comfortable working directly with founders.