Job Description:

The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) is responsible for leading the overall financial strategy, governance, treasury, commercial finance, investor relations, risk management, and statutory compliance of the organization. The CFO will play a critical role in ensuring the financial sustainability and profitability of the company's Electric Bus Manufacturing and Public Transport Operations business across multiple cities in India.

The role requires strong expertise in infrastructure, mobility, manufacturing, fleet operations, project finance, government contracts, and Public Private Partnership (PPP)/Gross Cost Contract (GCC) business models where revenue is primarily derived from Per-KM payments from State Transport Undertakings (STUs) and Government Transport Authorities.

1. Financial Strategy & Leadership:

- Develop and execute the company's financial strategy aligned with business growth objectives.

- Support the Board, CEO, and executive leadership team in strategic decision-making.

- Evaluate new business opportunities, city bids, fleet expansion projects, and manufacturing investments.

- Drive profitability, cash flow optimization, and return on capital employed.

- Establish long-term financial planning and capital allocation frameworks.

2. Business Finance & Commercial Management:

Manufacturing Business:

Monitor manufacturing costs including:

1. Battery systems

2. Vehicle assembly

3. Raw materials

4. Vendor procurement

5. Warranty provisions

- Drive cost reduction initiatives and margin improvement programs.

- Establish product costing and pricing frameworks.

Bus Operations Business:

- Oversee financial performance of city-wise operations.

Monitor:

1. Revenue per KM

2. Cost per KM

3. EBITDA per bus

4. Depot profitability

5. Fleet utilization

- Ensure commercial viability of operating contracts.

- Evaluate route economics and operating efficiency.

3. Revenue Assurance & Billing Management:

- Ensure accurate billing and collection under GCC / Per-KM contracts.

- Establish controls around:

1. KM validation

2. Service-level compliance

3. Availability-linked payments

4. Deductions and penalties

5. Incentive calculations

- Monitor receivables from State Transport Undertakings.

- Lead commercial negotiations regarding disputed claims and deductions.

- Improve billing cycle efficiency and cash realization.

4. Treasury & Fund Raising:

- Lead treasury operations and liquidity management.

- Develop short-term and long-term funding strategies.

- Manage:

1. Working capital facilities

2. Project finance

3. Equipment financing

4. Battery financing

5. Lease structures

6. Green financing opportunities

- Establish relationships with:

1. Banks

2. NBFCs

3. Financial institutions

4. Infrastructure funds

5. Private equity investors

- Manage debt servicing and covenant compliance.

5. Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A):

- Lead annual budgeting and forecasting processes.

- Develop city-wise, depot-wise, and business-unit-wise financial models.

- Prepare rolling forecasts and sensitivity analyses.

Monitor key business drivers:

1. Fleet availability

2. Vehicle utilization

3. Energy cost

4. Maintenance cost

5. Driver productivity

6. Battery replacement costs

- Provide actionable MIS reports to management.

6. Capital Projects & Infrastructure Finance:

Evaluate investments in:

1. Manufacturing facilities

2. Charging infrastructure

3. Depots

4. Battery swapping facilities

5. Fleet expansion

- Conduct project viability assessments and ROI analysis.

- Ensure optimal capital deployment.

7. Accounting, Controls & Governance:

Ensure compliance with:

1. Indian Accounting Standards (Ind AS)

2. Companies Act, 2013

3. SEBI regulations (if applicable)

4. Corporate governance requirements

- Establish strong internal financial controls.

Oversee:

1. Monthly closures

2. Consolidation

3. Statutory audits

4. Internal audits

5. Management reporting

8. Taxation & Regulatory Compliance:

Ensure compliance with:

1. GST

2. Income Tax

3. TDS

4. Customs duties

5. State-specific regulations

- Optimize tax structures while maintaining full regulatory compliance.

- Manage assessments, audits, and litigation.

9. Risk Management:

- Develop enterprise risk management framework.

Identify and mitigate:

1. Contractual risks

2. Credit risks

3. Funding risks

4. Regulatory risks

5. Operational risks

- Establish insurance and risk transfer mechanisms.

10. Stakeholder Management:

Serve as the primary financial interface with:

1. Board of Directors

2. Investors

3. Lenders

4. Auditors

5. Government authorities

6. State Transport Undertakings

- Support business development teams during bid submissions and contract negotiations.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs):

Financial Performance:

- EBITDA Margin (%)

- Net Profit Margin (%)

- Return on Capital Employed (ROCE)

- Free Cash Flow

- Cost per KM

- Manufacturing Cost per Bus

Working Capital:

- Debtor Days

- Collection Efficiency

- Cash Conversion Cycle

- Working Capital Utilization

Treasury:

- Debt Service Coverage Ratio (DSCR)

- Interest Coverage Ratio

- Fund Raising Achievement

- Cost of Borrowing

Revenue Assurance:

- Billing Accuracy (%)

- Revenue Leakage (%)

- Recovery of Contractual Claims

- Reduction in STU Payment Delays

Compliance:

- Audit Observations Closure Rate

- Statutory Compliance Score

- Zero Material Financial Non-Compliance

Educational Qualification:

Essential:

- Chartered Accountant (CA)

Experience:

Essential:

- 18-25 years of progressive finance leadership experience.

- Minimum 8-10 years in a senior finance leadership role.

Preferred Industry Experience:

- Electric Mobility

- Public Transport Operations

- Automotive Manufacturing

- Infrastructure

- Logistics & Fleet Operations

- EPC / Asset-Heavy Businesses

- Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Projects

Experience managing:

- Government contracts

- Per-KM/GCC revenue models

- Multi-location operations

- Large fleet financing programs

- Manufacturing finance