Financial Controller

Job Title:
Finance Controller & Company Secretary

Company:
For a European Luxury Brand

Summary:

This dual role is responsible for ensuring financial control, compliance, and corporate governance for the Company's India Market. The position acts as a key business partner to brand management, providing financial clarity and contributing to strategic decision-making. It also ensures compliance with statutory requirements and the Companies Act, interfacing with government agencies and Company's legal and tax teams.

Key Responsibilities:

• Finance Controller:
  Budgeting, monthly closing & reporting, internal control & process improvement, financial analysis, and liaison with finance teams and brand HQs.
• Company Secretary:
  Corporate governance, secretarial services, compliance with corporate laws, representation before government bodies, and support for finance and accounting services.

Detailed Responsibilities

Finance Controller Responsibilities:

• Business Partner:
• Works closely with local Brand Management to provide clarity on all financial matters and facilitate decision-making.
• Acts as a key contact of Brand Headquarters to comment and explain financial performance.
• Contributes to the development of a financial/internal control culture within the Brands.

Budgeting:

• Lead brands' budget processes including preparation, analysis, and submission of budgets, latest estimates & rolling forecasts, and mid-term strategy planning in the Group's financial reporting systems.
• Ensure alignment with Brands and Group requirements and standards.

Monthly Closing and Reporting:

• Work efficiently with the Accounting team to ensure all relevant accounting entries are booked properly, in line with IFRS and Group standards.
• Deliver timely and accurate monthly reports to the brands (sales reports, detailed P&Ls, Capex monitoring, scorecards, management reporting, ad hoc analysis).
• Calculate accruals compliant with IFRS/Group standards and liaise with Accounting for timely booking of entries.
• Analyse gross margin and discount levels, reporting any deviations from brand targets.
• Review SOSI reports and support brands on all flows including sale on approval, duty impact calculations.
• Review inventories (including ageing, provisions, stock adjustments) and coordinate with the Brand to address potential issues.
• Prepare and analyse Brand P&L (by Boutique/Department) and balance sheet; alert local Brand Management/Headquarters of risks or deviations.
• Follow up on main brand costs (communication, selling costs, personnel costs, etc.).
• Elaborate and distribute Brands' scorecards (or other relevant reports).
• Prepare and share yearly reports (e.g., Boutique reporting, Environment reporting).
• Ensure completion of required documentation for price adjustments.
• Ensure partner agreements are in place.

Internal Control & Process Improvement:

• Monitor internal controls within the subsidiary.
• Contribute to formalization or continuous improvement of SOPs and processes.
• Drive improvement of controlling processes and systems by identifying gaps and leading initiatives.
• Share best practices across the department.

Interactions:

• Liaise with other Finance Department teams (Accounting, Accounts Receivable, Retail Finance Operations), local Brand teams, Company functions (IT, Logistics, HR, Customer Service), Brand HQs, and Group Finance.

Company Secretary Responsibilities:

• Corporate Governance Services:
• Advise on good governance practices and compliance with Corporate Governance norms under Corporate, Securities, and other business laws.
• Run an effective and efficient corporate compliance programme.
• Corporate Secretarial Services:
• Promotion, formation, and incorporation of companies.
• Filing/registering documents, forms, returns, and applications as an authorized representative.
• Maintenance of secretarial records, statutory books, and registers.
• Arranging board/general meetings and preparing minutes.
• Manage all work relating to shares, transfers, and transmission.
• Representation Services:
• Represent the company before:
• Ministry of Corporate Affairs
• Other government and quasi-judicial bodies and Tribunals

Finance and Accounting Services (in coordination with Finance):

• Support Internal and External Audit.
• Ensure ICS (Internal Control System) conformance.
• Review financial statements.

Education:

• Professional:
  Company Secretary (CS), and Chartered Accountant / MBA Finance

Required Experience:

• At least 8–10 years of relevant experience in Business Controlling / FP&A
• At least 10–12 years of relevant experience in Business Controlling (for MBA Finance candidates)

Personal Attributes:

Team player, proactive, detail-oriented, able to work under pressure, and diligent.

Technical Skills / Abilities:

• Strong analytical, numerical, controlling, and reporting skills
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Proficiency in MS Office (especially Excel and PowerPoint)

Personal Skills:

Team player, proactive, detail-oriented, excellent communication skills, able to work under pressure, and diligent.