Chief Financial Officer

The Opportunity :

We are seeking an accomplished and strategic Chief Financial Officer (CFO) to serve as the financial and business leader for a key vertical. This role is designed for a seasoned professional who can seamlessly operate as a strategic partner to the CEO/Board, driving profitability, scaling operations, and ensuring impeccable fiscal governance. The successful candidate will possess a proven track record in complex, industrial environments and will be instrumental in shaping the division's growth trajectory.

Key Responsibilities :

Strategic Leadership & Business Partnership :

- Act as the principal financial advisor to the CEO/Board and leadership team, providing insights that influence critical business decisions.

- Develop and execute the vertical's long-term financial strategy, aligning it with ambitious growth, market expansion, and profitability objectives.

- Lead the Annual Operating Plan (AOP), Long-Range Planning (LRP), and rolling forecasting processes.

Financial Governance & Control :

- Assume complete responsibility for all financial reporting, accounting operations, and controllership, ensuring strict compliance with Ind AS/IFRS.

- Establish and monitor a robust framework of internal controls to safeguard assets and ensure operational integrity.

- Ensure timely, accurate monthly/quarterly closes and present comprehensive financial results to the Board and Group leadership.

Performance Management & Value Creation :

- Drive business performance through sophisticated financial analysis, KPI dashboards, and actionable insights on revenue, margins, and cost optimization.

- Lead initiatives for working capital efficiency, profitability improvement, and strategic capital allocation (CAPEX).

- Evaluate the financial viability of strategic projects, potential M&A, and new business partnerships.

Treasury, Funding & Capital Strategy :

- Oversee all treasury functions, including cash flow forecasting, liquidity management, and banking relationships.

- Collaborate with the Group CFO on structured fundraising (debt/equity) to support strategic initiatives and expansion plans.

- Optimize the division's capital structure and cost of capital.

Risk, Compliance & Audit :

- Proactively identify, assess, and mitigate financial, operational, and compliance risks inherent to the industry.

- Ensure full adherence to all statutory, regulatory, and direct/indirect tax requirements.

- Serve as the primary point of contact for all internal, statutory, and cost audits.

Team & Organizational Development :

- Build, mentor, and lead a high-performing finance team capable of supporting scalable growth.

- Foster a culture of excellence, ethics, and continuous improvement within the finance function.

- Partner with the Group finance team on policy, system (ERP) implementations, and best practice sharing.

Qualifications & Experience :

- Education: Chartered Accountant (CA) is mandatory. An MBA (Finance) or equivalent professional certification is preferred.

- Experience: A minimum of 18 years of post-qualification experience, with at least 8-10 years in a CFO or Head of Finance role leading the finance function of a sizable, independent business unit or division within a large corporation.

- Industry Expertise: Must possess deep, hands-on experience in one of our core sectors: Infrastructure/Construction, FMCG/Food Processing, or Biofuels/Energy/Chemicals. Experience in asset-heavy or project-based industries is critical.

- Key Competencies:

- Mastery of strategic financial planning & analysis (FP&A), management reporting, and cost optimization.

- Demonstrated expertise in fundraising, treasury management, and working capital optimization.

- In-depth knowledge of Indian corporate law, taxation (GST, direct tax), and regulatory compliance.

- Proven experience in leading ERP implementations (SAP/Oracle) and finance digitalization projects.

- Exceptional leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills, with the gravitas to influence at the board level.