Head - Finance & Accounts

ROLE PURPOSE & OVERVIEW

As Head of Finance & Accounts, you will own end-to-end financial operations for the Commerce business. You'll lead a team of 6-8 professionals and directly impact the company's financial health, compliance posture, and ability to scale. This is a hands-on, operational role where you'll drive process excellence, build scalable systems, and partner closely with the Group FC on strategic financial initiatives.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Accounts Receivable & Payable Management

• Own AR/AP processes end-to-end: invoice issuance, collections, dispute resolution, and supplier payment optimization
• Establish and monitor credit policies, aging reports, and cash collection KPIs
• Ensure 100% transaction accuracy and timeliness of customer/supplier reconciliations

2. Banking & Treasury Operations

• Manage daily cash management: bank account reconciliation, fund deployment, working capital optimization
• Oversee trade finance instruments (LC, Bank Guarantees, etc.) typical to trading operations
• Coordinate with banks on credits lines, facility negotiations, and reporting requirements

3. Accounting & Financial Reporting

• Supervise month-end close: balance sheet reconciliation, accruals, intercompany adjustments
• Prepare accurate, timely financial statements and ensure compliance with accounting standards
• Lead audit preparation and manage external auditor coordination

4. Management Information System (MIS) & Reporting

• Design and deliver MIS dashboards: daily cash flow, receivables aging, payables forecast, inventory valuation
• Provide weekly/monthly insights to management and business leaders on financial health and variances
• Drive data quality and reporting consistency across ERP system(s)

5. Team Leadership & Process Scaling

• Build and mentor a high-performing finance team; establish clear roles, KPIs, and development paths
• Document and automate processes to support revenue growth without proportional headcount increase
• Implement internal controls and compliance frameworks (SOX-readiness, separation of duties)

6. Stakeholder Collaboration

• Work closely with Operations, Trading, and HR on budget allocation, cost control, and payroll accuracy
• Support management with financial planning, variance analysis, and strategic cost initiatives

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE & QUALIFICATIONS

• 8+ years of hands-on experience in Finance & Accounting, with 3+ years in a trading/commodity business
• Demonstrated expertise in AR/AP operations, banking & treasury, and month-end close routines
• Proven track record leading finance teams (4+ direct reports) and scaling finance operations
• Strong knowledge of Indian tax compliance (GST, TDS) and financial statement preparation (Ind-AS)
• Proficiency in Excel, ERP systems (SAP, Tally, Zoho, or cloud-based platforms), and data visualization
• Excellent communication skills; ability to partner with business leaders and provide clear financial insights
• Chartered accountant

NICE-TO-HAVE QUALIFICATIONS

• Prior experience in a fast-growing startup or scaling company
• Exposure to consolidated financial reporting or multi-entity accounting
• Knowledge of trade finance and working capital optimization

KEY COMPETENCIES

• Problem-solving & Process Orientation: Ability to analyze complex financial challenges and implement scalable solutions
• Attention to Detail: High accuracy threshold; ability to spot discrepancies and drill into root causes
• Ownership Mentality: Takes responsibility for financial accuracy, compliance, and team performance
• Stakeholder Management: Communicates complex financial concepts to non-finance audiences
• Adaptability: Comfortable in a fast-moving, scaling environment; able to prioritize amid competing demands