Head - Finance - FMCG

Finance Head - FMCG Business Location: Chennai Experience: 15 - 20 years Qualification: CA - Mandatory Industry: FMCG / Consumer Products - Mandatory About the Role: We are looking for a senior Finance Leader to head the Finance & Accounts function for a growing FMCG business. The role will work closely with the CFO and Business Leadership Team and will be responsible for driving financial performance, business finance, commercial finance, FP&A, accounting, controls and cash flow management. The ideal candidate should have strong experience in the FMCG / Consumer Products sector and a proven track record of partnering with business leaders to improve profitability, margins, working capital and overall business performance. Key Responsibilities: Financial Accounting & Reporting: - Lead monthly, quarterly and annual financial closure and reporting. - Ensure strong financial controls, reconciliations and accounting processes. - Drive management MIS and business performance reporting. - Review provisions, accruals, revenue recognition and other key accounting matters. Business Finance & FP&A: - Partner with the Business Head and leadership team on revenue, profitability and cash-flow targets. - Lead annual budgeting, forecasting and long-term financial planning. - Analyse business performance and provide insights on key drivers, risks and opportunities. - Drive profitability analysis across products, categories, brands, channels and customers. - Identify opportunities for margin improvement and cost optimization. Commercial Finance: - Evaluate pricing decisions, commercial proposals and business cases. - Analyse manufacturing, logistics, distribution, marketing and other operating costs. - Support new product launches, investments and strategic initiatives through financial modelling and scenario analysis. Working Capital & Cash Flow: - Drive inventory optimization and improve inventory turns. - Monitor receivables, payables and cash conversion cycle. - Improve cash-flow forecasting and working capital efficiency. - Partner with procurement, manufacturing and sales teams on working capital improvement initiatives. Controls, Governance & Risk: - Strengthen internal financial controls and governance processes. - Ensure adherence to SOPs and Delegation of Authority. - Lead internal, statutory and other financial audits. - Identify financial and operational risks and drive appropriate mitigation. Treasury & Banking: - Monitor liquidity and overall cash-flow requirements. - Work with Corporate Treasury on banking and financing matters. - Support channel / dealer finance initiatives. Ideal Candidate: - CA qualification is mandatory. - 15 - 20 years of progressive experience in Finance & Accounts. - FMCG / Consumer Products experience is mandatory. - Strong exposure to Business Finance, Commercial Finance, FP&A and Financial Accounting. - Proven experience in P&L management and business partnering. - Strong understanding of FMCG profitability, pricing, distribution / channel economics and cost management. - Experience managing working capital, cash flow and treasury activities. - Strong exposure to internal controls, audit and governance. - Excellent analytical, commercial and strategic thinking abilities. - Strong leadership and stakeholder management skills. - Experience with SAP / ERP and BI tools would be an advantage.