Head of Finance / Finance Controller

Inera Cropscience | Full-Time | Gurugram

About Inera

Inera is a science-led agricultural biosciences company transforming agriculture through innovative biological solutions. By combining world-class research with deep commercial and field expertise, we develop and commercialize next-generation biostimulants, biofertilizers, and biocontrol solutions that enhance farm productivity, improve crop resilience, and enable more sustainable farming. Backed by leading global investors including Peak XV, Tiger Global, and Alpha Wave, along with strategic investors such as Nadir Godrej and Kunal Shah, Inera is building the next generation of agriculture for India and beyond.

The Role

We are hiring a Head of Finance / Finance Controller to build and own the finance function as the business scales - spanning controllership, compliance, commercial finance, and business partnering. The role reports directly into the CEO/Founders, with the mandate to set up institutional-grade finance processes in a fast-growing, distribution-led agri-inputs business.

Given the current stage of the business, this is a hands-on role, not a purely supervisory one.

Ideal candidate: a Chartered Accountant with 10-18 years of post-qualification experience, preferably in agri-inputs, agrochemicals, seeds, or other channel/distribution-led businesses (FMCG, consumer durables, or similar trade-heavy sectors also relevant).

Key Responsibilities

Financial Controllership & Compliance

- Own month-end/year-end close, financial statements (P&L, Balance Sheet, Cash Flow), and management MIS.

- Ensure Ind AS and Companies Act compliance; manage statutory, tax, and internal audits end-to-end.

- Oversee GST, TDS, and Income Tax compliance; liaise with consultants, auditors, and regulators.

- Build robust internal financial controls (IFC) suited to a high-growth, distribution-heavy business.

Commercial & Channel Finance

- Partner with the sales organisation on channel economics - distributor credit, scheme costs, collections (DSO), and trade margins.

- Set up controls around credit limits, distributor onboarding, and collections discipline.

- Drive SKU- and channel-level profitability analysis to inform pricing and scheme design.

- Track input and landed costs with supply chain and contract manufacturing partners.

Planning, Reporting, Treasury & Business Partnering

- Lead annual budgeting, rolling forecasts, and variance analysis across seasonal demand cycles.

- Partner with the CEO/Founders on capital allocation, fundraising support, investor reporting, and board materials.

- Manage working capital, cash flow planning, banking relationships, and receivables in coordination with field sales.

- Build the finance team and systems (ERP, reporting tools) needed for the next stage of growth.

Must-Haves

- Chartered Accountant with 10-18 years post-qualification experience, including at least 3 years in controllership or finance leadership capacity.

- Prior experience in agri-inputs, agrochemicals, seeds, crop science, or specialty chemicals strongly preferred; alternatively, strong channel/distribution finance background.

- Demonstrated ownership of statutory compliance, audits, and reporting in a finance function.

- Genuinely hands-on.

- Comfortable in a high-growth, founder-led, venture-backed setup - able to build process from scratch.

- Strong grasp of channel economics: distributor/dealer credit, schemes, collections, and seasonal cash flow cycles.

Good to Have

- Exposure to fundraising, investor reporting, or board-level financial communication.

- Experience setting up or scaling ERP and financial systems.

What Success Looks Like

- A finance function producing timely, accurate, audit-ready financials and MIS without firefighting.

- Clear visibility into channel and product profitability, informing commercial decisions in real time.

- Predictable working capital management aligned to the seasonal nature of the business.

- A trusted finance partner to the Founders and leadership team.

Reporting & Location

Reports To: CEO / Founders

Location: Gurugram

Team: Lead the existing finance team and build as the business scales

Learn More: www.inera.ag