Finance Manager- Group

For one of my clients, To lead, manage and control all financial operations of the group entities to ensure financial health, timely reporting, budgeting, compliance, and strategic financial planning. The Finance Manager will be responsible for overseeing financial operations, providing insights for decision-making, safeguarding assets, and ensuring efficient use of resources.

Key Responsibilities

• Financial Strategy & Planning
• Develop and implement the financial strategy aligned with business goals.
• Prepare short? and long?term financial forecasts, models, budgeting, and planning.
• Analyse market trends, cost drivers, and business metrics to guide strategic decisions.
• Budgeting & Forecasting
• Lead the annual budgeting process with all departments; ensure alignment with strategic plan.
• Prepare rolling forecasts and revise budgets as needed.
• Monitor variances (budget vs actual), explain deviations, and recommend corrective actions.
• Financial Reporting
• Prepare and present monthly, quarterly, and annual financial reports (P&L, Balance Sheet, Cash Flow).
• Generate management reports and dashboards for senior management to enable decision?making.
• Ensure accuracy, timeliness, and completeness of financial data.
• Cash Flow / Working Capital Management
• Monitor cash flow, receivables, payables, inventories; ensure adequate liquidity.
• Optimize working capital, manage bank relationships, lines of credit, and financing.
• Oversee treasury functions (if applicable).
• Cost Management & Profitability
• Identify cost saving opportunities and efficiency improvements across departments.
• Analyse product / service line profitability; recommend discontinuation or scaling where required.
• Implement and monitor cost control measures and operational efficiencies.
• Internal Controls, Risk Management & Compliance
• Ensure internal financial controls are adequate and followed.
• Assess financial risks (fraud, compliance, liability) and put mitigation strategies in place.
• Ensure compliance with relevant accounting standards, tax laws, regulatory requirements, audit rules.
• Coordinate external audits and tax audits; ensure timely responses and resolution of audit findings.
• Team Management & Leadership
• Lead, mentor, and develop the finance team (accounting staff, assistants, other direct reports).
• Allocate responsibilities; ensure capacity building, training, performance evaluation.
• Promote high ethical standards, integrity, and continuous learning.
• Systems & Process Improvement
• Evaluate finance systems / ERP / accounting software; propose upgrades / automation where possible.
• Standardize financial processes, policies, SOPs.
• Drive initiatives to improve speed, accuracy, and efficiency of financial operations.
• Stakeholder Management
• Liaise with operations, sales, procurement, HR, legal etc to get inputs / cross-functional coordination.
• Communicate effectively with leadership, board members if needed, external partners (banks, auditors).
• Provide financial insight to support strategic initiatives, investments, and expansion plans.

Qualifications & Experience

• PG in Finance, Accounting, Commerce, Business Administration or related field.
• Professional qualification preferred (CA, CMA, CPA, or similar).
• Minimum of 5?8 years experience in finance / accounting roles; at least 2?3 years in a supervisory / managerial position.
• Experience in the relevant industry (retail /manufacturing) will be an advantage.

Skills & Attributes

• Strong technical accounting knowledge (IFRS / Indian GAAP or relevant standards).
• Strong analytical & financial modelling skills.
• Excellent command of budgeting, forecasting, cash flow management.
• Advanced Excel skills; experience with accounting / ERP software (e.g. SAP, Oracle, Tally, QuickBooks, etc.).
• Leadership skills: managing team, influencing cross?functional stakeholders.
• Communication: strong written & verbal skills; ability to explain complex financial data to non?finance personnel.
• Problem?solving mindset; proactive, detail?oriented and ethical.
• Time management and ability to work under pressure, meet deadlines.