Assistant Vice President - Finance Lead

Description:

We are seeking an experienced and detail-oriented Senior Finance Manager to lead and manage the organization's end-to-end finance and accounting operations. The ideal candidate will be responsible for financial reporting, taxation, compliance, payroll management, cash flow planning, investor reporting, statutory audits, and working capital optimization. The role requires strong expertise in Indian financial regulations, stakeholder management, and strategic financial planning, particularly in high-growth or investor-backed organizations.

Key Responsibilities:

- Lead end-to-end accounting and financial operations.

- Ensure accurate maintenance of books of accounts in compliance with accounting standards and statutory requirements.

- Manage General Ledger (GL), Accounts Payable (AP), Accounts Receivable (AR), fixed assets, accruals, and reconciliations.

- Oversee month-end, quarter-end, and year-end financial closing processes.

- Monitor financial controls and ensure adherence to accounting policies.

- Drive automation and process improvements across finance functions.

- Ensure timely filing and compliance of GST returns, TDS, Income Tax, and other statutory obligations.

- Manage direct and indirect tax assessments, notices, and audits.

- Liaise with tax consultants, auditors, and government authorities.

- Handle ROC filings, Companies Act compliance, annual returns, and board resolutions.

- Ensure RBI and FEMA compliance for foreign investments, remittances, and cross-border transactions.

- Stay updated with evolving tax laws and regulatory changes.

- Prepare monthly, quarterly, and annual MIS reports for investors, leadership teams, and board members.

- Develop financial dashboards, KPIs, variance analysis, and business performance reports.

- Support fundraising activities through financial modeling, data room preparation, and investor presentations.

- Coordinate financial due diligence processes during funding rounds, audits, mergers, or acquisitions.

- Maintain investor relations from a finance and reporting perspective.

- Oversee end-to-end payroll processing ensuring accuracy and compliance.

- Manage employee reimbursements, benefits accounting, gratuity, PF, ESI, and related statutory requirements.

- Coordinate with HR teams for payroll reconciliations and reporting.

- Ensure timely salary disbursements and statutory deductions.

- Prepare and monitor rolling cash flow forecasts.

- Optimize working capital by managing receivables, payables, and inventory financing.

- Ensure adequate liquidity for business operations and growth initiatives.

- Monitor banking relationships, treasury operations, and fund utilization.

- Develop strategies to improve cash conversion cycles and financial efficiency.

- Support annual budgeting, forecasting, and financial planning processes.

- Analyze business performance and identify cost optimization opportunities.

- Provide actionable insights to senior management for strategic decision-making.

- Develop scenario planning and financial projections.

- Lead statutory audits, internal audits, and tax audits.

- Coordinate with external auditors and regulatory authorities.

- Strengthen internal financial controls and governance frameworks.

- Identify and mitigate financial and compliance risks.

- Ensure audit readiness and timely closure of audit observations.

- Partner with business leaders to provide financial guidance and support.

- Collaborate with legal, HR, operations, and external advisors.

- Present financial insights and recommendations to leadership and board members.

- Manage relationships with banks, investors, auditors, consultants, and regulatory bodies.

Required Skills & Qualifications:

- Chartered Accountant (CA) Mandatory / Preferred

- MBA (Finance) or equivalent qualification preferred

- Bachelor's degree in Commerce, Finance, Accounting, or related field

- Strong knowledge of Indian Accounting Standards (Ind AS) and financial reporting.

- Expertise in GST, TDS, Income Tax, ROC, FEMA, and RBI regulations.

- Experience in investor reporting, fundraising support, and due diligence.

- Strong understanding of payroll accounting and compliance.

- Financial modeling, budgeting, forecasting, and MIS reporting.

- Advanced Excel, financial analysis, and reporting skills.

- Experience with ERP systems such as SAP, Oracle, NetSuite, Zoho Books, Tally, or Microsoft Dynamics.

Areas of Expertise:

- End-to-end Finance & Accounting Operations

- Financial Controls & Governance

- Taxation & Regulatory Compliance

- Investor Relations & Reporting

- Treasury & Cash Flow Management

- Working Capital Optimization

- Audit Management

- Budgeting & Forecasting

- Fundraising Support

- Risk Management

- Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities.

- Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills.

- Ability to work in a fast-paced, high-growth environment.

- Leadership and team management experience.

- High attention to detail and ownership mindset.

- Strong business acumen and strategic thinking.

- Experience in startup, fintech, SaaS, NBFC, wealth management, venture-backed, or high-growth organizations.

- Exposure to investor-funded businesses and multiple funding rounds.

- Experience handling RBI/FEMA compliance and foreign investments.

- Proven track record of managing finance operations independently and leading teams.