Role Overview

We are looking for a strategic and hands-on Chief Financial Officer (CFO) to join a high-growth retail fashion startup. This role is critical in driving the companys financial strategy, fundraising, investor relations, capital structuring, and long-term value creation.

The CFO will work closely with founders, investors, and the board, leading all aspects of financial planning, governance, M&A, and scale-up initiatives. The ideal candidate currently operates in a startup or new-age retail environment and brings deep experience managing PE/VC relationships and growth-stage finance challenges.

Key Responsibilities:

Fundraising & Investor Relations:

- Lead fundraising initiatives including PE/VC rounds, strategic investments, and debt financing.

- Manage end-to-end investor relationships, board communications, and investor reporting.

- Prepare investment decks, financial models, and business cases for fundraising discussions.

- Act as the primary interface with PE/VC firms, bankers, advisors, and strategic partners.

Financial Strategy & Business Partnering:

- Define and execute the companys overall financial strategy aligned with growth objectives.

- Partner closely with founders to drive strategic decision-making and business planning.

- Provide insights on pricing, margins, expansion, and profitability levers in retail fashion.

FP&A, Budgeting & Financial Control:

- Own financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, and long-term financial modeling.

- Track performance against plans and drive corrective actions.

- Ensure strong cash flow management and working capital optimization.

Governance, Compliance & Risk Management:

- Strengthen financial controls, governance frameworks, and compliance standards.

- Oversee statutory compliance, audits, taxation, and regulatory requirements.

- Ensure high-quality financial reporting aligned with investor and board expectations.

Mergers, Acquisitions & Due Diligence:

- Lead M&A evaluations, due diligence, valuation, and integration planning.

- Support inorganic growth opportunities and strategic partnerships.

- Manage transaction structuring and coordination with legal and financial advisors.

Scaling & Team Leadership:

- Build and lead a high-performing finance team capable of supporting scale.

- Implement scalable systems, processes, and ERP frameworks.

- Enable finance to function as a strategic growth enabler, not just a control function.

Key Performance Areas (KRAs):

- Successful fundraising rounds and capital efficiency

- Investor confidence, engagement, and reporting quality

- Financial discipline, governance, and audit outcomes

- Cash flow and working capital optimization

- Support to expansion, M&A, and strategic initiatives

- Finance team capability and scalability

Ideal Candidate Profile:

Must-Have:

- Qualified Chartered Accountant (CA)

- 15+ years of experience in finance leadership roles

- Current or recent experience in a retail startup / new-age consumer brand

- Proven expertise in fundraising, PE/VC interactions, and investor relations

- Strong background in financial modeling, governance, and scaling businesses

Strongly Preferred:

- Experience in fashion, D2C, omnichannel, or consumer retail startups

- Hands-on exposure to Series A/B/C fundraising or beyond

- Mumbai-based or willing to relocate

Skills & Competencies:

- Strategic and commercial mindset

- Strong negotiation and stakeholder management skills

- Ability to operate in ambiguity and high-growth environments

- Leadership presence with hands-on execution capability

- Excellent communication with founders, investors, and boards

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