Senior Finance Manager

Detailed Note on Key Responsibility Areas

1. Fund Raising

Key Considerations:

• Assessment of Funding Needs: Analysing business plans, project requirements, and cash flow projections to determine the quantum, timing, and type of funds required.
• Identifying Funding Sources: Exploring options including banks, financial institutions, capital markets, private equity investors, and international lenders.
• Structuring Transactions: Deciding on the mix of debt vs. equity based on cost of capital, leverage ratios, and risk appetite.
• Negotiation and Documentation: Managing negotiations on terms & conditions, interest rates, covenants, and ensuring proper legal documentation.
• Regulatory Approvals: Ensuring necessary approvals from regulatory bodies (RBI, SEBI, Company Law Board, etc.) are in place before fund raising activities.
• Execution and Monitoring: Timely drawdown of funds, monitoring utilization, compliance with end-use restrictions, and timely servicing of obligations.

2. ECB (External Commercial Borrowings) Compliances

Key Considerations:

• Understanding RBI Guidelines: Keeping abreast of the latest Master Directions and Circulars issued by the Reserve Bank of India on permissible lenders, borrowers, end-use, all-in-cost ceilings, and maturity profiles.
• Reporting Requirements: Timely filing of Form ECB, monthly ECB-2 returns, annual compliance certificates, and managing correspondence with Authorised Dealer (AD) Banks and the RBI.
• Monitoring End-Use: Ensuring funds are utilized strictly as per the stated purpose and within the permitted timelines.
• Servicing of ECB: Managing interest and principal repayments, hedging exposures, and adhering to all covenants and undertakings.

3. Covenant Tracker

Key Considerations:

• Identification of Covenants: Recognizing all financial, operational, and reporting covenants in loan agreements and bond indentures.
• Data Collection and Analysis: Collating relevant data from financial statements, operational reports, and cash flow analyses for covenant calculation.
• Monitoring and Reporting: Setting up systems or dashboards for real-time tracking and timely reporting of covenant status to internal and external stakeholders.
• Documentation: Maintaining comprehensive records and evidence of compliance for audit and review purposes.

4. Credit Rating Exercise

Key Considerations:

• Preparation of Information: Collecting, validating, and presenting financial and business information, including historical data, projections, risk assessments, and management discussions.
• Agency Interactions: Coordinating with rating agencies (CRISIL, ICRA, CARE, Fitch, S&P, Moody's, etc.) and managing presentations, site visits, and Q&A sessions.
• Continuous Communication: Providing timely updates on financial performance, business developments, and strategic changes to rating agencies.
• Implementation of Feedback: Acting on recommendations from rating agencies to improve financial metrics or disclosures and responding proactively to potential concerns.
• Monitoring and Disclosure: Keeping track of rating actions, ensuring prompt disclosures to stock exchanges and lenders, and managing rating reviews or appeals.

5. Investor Relations

Key Considerations:

• Stakeholder Communication: Drafting and disseminating quarterly and annual reports, earnings presentations, press releases, and investor updates.
• Managing Investor Queries: Responding promptly to investor questions, organizing one-on-one meetings, conference calls, and roadshows.
• Disclosure and Compliance: Ensuring adherence to SEBI (LODR) and other applicable disclosure requirements.
• Feedback Mechanism: Gathering feedback from investors and analysts to relay market perceptions to senior management.

6. Financial Modelling

Key Considerations:

• Building Models: Developing integrated financial statements (P&L, Balance Sheet, Cash Flow), scenario analysis, sensitivity analysis, and valuation models (DCF, comparable companies, LBO, etc.).
• Assumptions and Inputs: Defining realistic and data-driven assumptions based on market research, historical trends, and management guidance.
• Model Validation: Conducting thorough checks, reconciliations, and stress-testing to ensure model integrity and accuracy.

Presentation: Converting model outputs into actionable insights and visually compelling presentations for management and external stakeholders.

Memo: 

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead and execute fund raising initiatives (debt and equity), including structuring, negotiation, execution, and compliance with regulatory requirements.
• Manage end-to-end ECB compliance, including application, reporting, monitoring, and servicing of external borrowings.
• Develop and maintain a robust covenant tracker to ensure ongoing compliance with financial and operational covenants.
• Coordinate credit rating exercises, including information preparation, agency engagement, and follow-up action on feedback.
• Drive effective investor relations practices—preparing disclosures, managing investor communications, and market analysis.
• Build, validate, and maintain financial models for business planning, fund raising, and M&A activities.

Chartered Accountant (CA), CFA, or MBA (Finance) with 3–4 years of post-qualification experience in financial planning, commercial project execution, and stakeholder coordination within infrastructure, aviation, or large-scale public environments.