Unit Chief Financial Officer - Manufacturing - CA

UNIT CFO (Listed Manufacturing)

Responsible for the end-to-end financial operations of a specific business unit & responsible for strategic partnership with the Business Unit Head (BUH) and operations teams to drive profitability, cost optimization, and financial control and ensures strict adherence to Ind-AS/GAAP, regulatory compliance, statutory audits, and robust internal controls, bridging the gap between plant operations and corporate finance.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Strategic Finance & Business Partnership:

• Performance Management: Partner with plant operations, procurement, and sales teams to analyze product costing, improve margins, and maximize profitability.
• Budgeting & Forecasting: Drive the annual operating plan (AOP) and quarterly forecasting process, ensuring alignment with corporate financial goals.
• Strategic Decision Support: Provide data-driven insights to the Unit Head regarding capital expenditure (Capex), product mix, and operational efficiency initiatives.

2. Financial Operations & Controls (Manufacturing Focus):

• Cost Control & Accounting: Own all aspects of plant accounting, including cost management, inventory valuation, and monthly closing.
• Working Capital Optimization: Manage working capital, ensuring efficient management of debtors, creditors, and inventory to maximize cash flow.
• ERP & Process Excellence: Strengthen ERP-based accounting (e.g., SAP, Oracle) and implement digital dashboards for real-time tracking of productivity and costs.

3. Compliance, Audit & Governance:

• Regulatory Compliance: Ensure stringent compliance with statutory requirements, including GST, TDS, Income Tax, and labour codes.
• Audits & Reporting: Lead internal and statutory audits to ensure a clean audit track record. Prepare monthly MIS and financial reports for the board and management.

4. Treasury & Risk Management:

• Cash Flow Management: Oversee treasury functions, manage banking relationships, and ensure adequate liquidity for daily operations.
• Risk Mitigation: Identify and mitigate operational and financial risks, particularly regarding imports, forex exposure, and raw material price volatility.

5. Leadership & Team Development:

• Mentorship: Lead, mentor, and build a high-performing finance team across plant locations.
• Stakeholder Management: Act as a key liaison between the unit and corporate finance, ensuring transparent communication.

Qualification And Experience:

• 1. CA with 12-15 years of experience, with at least 5+ years in a senior finance role (Head of Finance or No.2 to CFO) within the manufacturing sector. Age not more than 35.
• 2. Proven experience in a multi-location manufacturing setup, particularly in heavy capex or engineering environments.
• 3. Strong proficiency in SAP/Oracle, advanced cost accounting, and Ind-AS/IFRS standards.
• 4. Experience working in a listed entity (NSE/BSE) to manage stakeholder expectations and strict reporting timelines.
• 5. Strategic thinker with a hands-on approach, excellent leadership skills, high integrity, and strong commercial acumen.