Finance Head – Manufacturing

Key Responsibilities:

1. Financial Planning & Management:

– Lead the overall Finance & Accounts function and ensure effective financial planning and control.

– Develop annual budgets, business plans, financial forecasts, and cash flow projections.

– Monitor financial performance against budgets and identify variances, risks, and corrective actions.

– Provide financial insights and recommendations to senior management for business decision-making.

– Drive cost optimization, profitability improvement, and financial efficiency initiatives.

– Establish and strengthen financial policies, procedures, and internal control systems.

2. Accounting & Financial Reporting:

– Oversee day-to-day accounting operations, general ledger, accounts payable, accounts receivable, and bank reconciliations.

– Ensure accurate and timely preparation of monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements.

– Manage monthly, quarterly, and year-end closing activities.

– Ensure compliance with applicable accounting standards and company accounting policies.

– Review balance sheets, profit and loss statements, cash flow statements, and other management reports.

– Ensure accuracy and integrity of financial records and reporting.

3. Manufacturing Finance & Cost Control:

– Manage manufacturing-related accounting, costing, and financial analysis.

– Monitor raw material, work-in-progress (WIP), finished goods, and inventory valuation.

– Analyse product costing, production costs, overheads, and manufacturing variances.

– Work closely with production, procurement, stores, and operations teams to improve cost efficiency.

– Monitor material consumption, wastage, scrap, yield, and production-related costs.

– Support product profitability analysis, cost reduction initiatives, and pricing decisions.

– Ensure appropriate accounting and financial controls over inventory and fixed assets.

4. Taxation & Statutory Compliance:

– Oversee direct and indirect tax compliance, including GST and TDS.

– Ensure timely and accurate filing of statutory returns and payment of applicable taxes.

– Coordinate with external consultants, tax authorities, and statutory auditors as required.

– Manage tax assessments, notices, reconciliations, and related documentation.

– Ensure compliance with applicable statutory and regulatory requirements.

– Monitor changes in tax laws and accounting regulations relevant to the business.

5. Budgeting, Cash Flow & Working Capital Management:

– Prepare and monitor budgets, forecasts, and periodic financial projections.

– Manage cash flow planning, fund allocation, and liquidity requirements.

– Monitor working capital, including receivables, payables, inventory, and operating cash cycles.

– Ensure timely collection of outstanding receivables and effective credit control.

– Manage banking relationships, fund-based and non-fund-based facilities, and bank documentation.

– Support treasury operations, payment planning, and utilization of available funds.

– Identify opportunities to improve cash flow and optimize working capital.

6. SAP & Financial Systems:

– Demonstrate strong hands-on experience in SAP for Finance and Accounts operations.

– Oversee financial transactions, reporting, reconciliations, and accounting controls within SAP.

– Ensure accurate financial data, effective system utilization, and adherence to defined processes.

– Coordinate with IT and relevant departments to improve financial systems and reporting.

– Leverage SAP reports and financial data for analysis, planning, and decision-making.

– Support system improvements, process standardization, and automation initiatives.

7. Audit & Internal Controls:

– Coordinate statutory, internal, tax, and other applicable audits.

– Ensure audit schedules, supporting documents, and financial records are maintained accurately.

– Strengthen internal financial controls and ensure adherence to company policies.

– Identify control gaps, financial risks, and opportunities for process improvement.

– Ensure timely closure of audit observations and implementation of corrective actions.

– Maintain transparency, accuracy, and accountability across financial processes.

8. Team Management & Leadership:

– Lead, guide, and mentor the Finance & Accounts team.

– Allocate responsibilities, monitor deliverables, and ensure timely completion of tasks.

– Build team capability through training, performance reviews, and process improvement.

– Establish clear performance objectives and promote accountability within the team.

– Collaborate effectively with production, procurement, HR, sales, and senior management.

– Demonstrate strong leadership, decision-making, problem-solving, and communication skills.

– Handle financial matters independently and take ownership of the department’s deliverables.

9. MIS & Business Support:

– Prepare and present periodic financial MIS, management reports, and dashboards.

– Analyse revenue, expenses, margins, profitability, and key financial performance indicators.

– Provide actionable insights to management on financial trends, business risks, and opportunities.

– Support strategic business planning, investment evaluation, and financial feasibility analysis.

– Ensure timely availability of accurate financial information for management decisions.

Mandatory Requirements:

– Qualified Chartered Accountant (CA).

– 12 – 15 years of relevant experience in Finance & Accounts.

– Strong hands-on experience in SAP; SAP FICO experience would be preferred.

– Prior experience in a manufacturing organisation is strongly preferred.

– Proven experience in team handling and leading the Finance & Accounts function.

– Strong knowledge of accounting, taxation, financial reporting, budgeting, and statutory compliance.

– Hands-on exposure to manufacturing costing, inventory management, working capital, and cash flow management.

– Excellent analytical, problem-solving, communication, and decision-making skills.

– Ability to work independently and interact effectively with senior management.

Key Competencies:

– Strong financial and commercial acumen.

– Leadership and team management.

– Strategic thinking and business partnering.

– Attention to detail and accuracy.

– Cost consciousness and process improvement.

– Planning, prioritisation, and time management.

– Integrity, accountability, and professional ethics.

– Ability to work in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

Candidate Profile:

The ideal candidate will be a qualified CA with 12 – 15 years of relevant experience, preferably in the manufacturing sector, and a strong combination of strategic financial leadership and hands-on operational finance expertise. The candidate must be proficient in SAP, capable of independently managing the Finance & Accounts function, and experienced in leading teams while ensuring robust financial controls, compliance, and business profitability.