Chief Financial Officer - M&A/Fund Raising - Retail

About the Role :

We are looking for a seasoned and strategic Chief Financial Officer (CFO) to lead the organization's finance function and drive long-term business growth. The ideal candidate will be a mature finance leader with extensive experience in fund raising, mergers & acquisitions, IPO readiness/execution, strategic financial planning, corporate governance, and business partnering. Experience in Retail, Shopping Malls, QSR or other consumer-facing businesses will be highly preferred.

The CFO will work closely with the CEO, Board of Directors, investors, and key stakeholders to shape the company's financial strategy while ensuring strong governance, compliance, and sustainable growth.

Key Responsibilities :

Strategic Finance & Leadership :

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

- Serve as a strategic advisor to the CEO and Board on financial, investment, and growth decisions.

- Drive long-term financial planning, capital allocation, profitability, and value creation.

- Lead enterprise-wide financial transformation and process optimization initiatives.

Fund Raising & Investor Relations :

- Lead equity and debt fundraising initiatives.

- Build and manage relationships with investors, banks, financial institutions, PE/VC funds, and other stakeholders.

- Structure financing solutions to support business expansion and acquisitions.

- Present financial performance and strategic plans to investors and the Board.

Mergers & Acquisitions :

- Identify, evaluate, and execute mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, and strategic partnerships.

- Lead financial due diligence, valuation, deal structuring, negotiations, and post-merger integration.

- Assess investment opportunities and support expansion initiatives.

IPO & Capital Markets :

- Lead IPO planning and execution, including readiness assessment, compliance, and coordination with investment bankers, legal advisors, auditors, and regulators.

- Ensure adherence to SEBI and stock exchange requirements.

- Drive public company governance and reporting standards.

Financial Planning & Control :

- Oversee budgeting, forecasting, MIS, treasury, taxation, working capital, and cash flow management.

- Ensure optimal capital structure and liquidity management.

- Monitor business performance through robust financial analytics and KPIs.

- Drive cost optimization while supporting business growth.

Audit, Risk & Compliance :

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

- Ensure compliance with applicable accounting standards, Companies Act, taxation laws, and regulatory requirements.

- Strengthen internal controls, risk management frameworks, and corporate governance practices.

- Liaise with auditors, regulators, and statutory authorities.

Team Leadership :

- Build and mentor a high-performing finance organization.

- Foster a culture of accountability, business partnership, and continuous improvement.

- Collaborate with cross-functional leadership teams to drive business performance.

Desired Candidate Profile :

- Chartered Accountant (CA) is mandatory; MBA (Finance) is an added advantage.

- 18-25+ years of progressive finance leadership experience, with significant tenure as CFO or Finance Head.

- Proven experience in Retail, Shopping Malls, QSR, Consumer, FMCG, or Hospitality sectors.

Demonstrated success in

- Fund raising (Debt & Equity)

- Mergers & Acquisitions

- IPO planning and execution

- Investor Relations

- Treasury Management

- Financial Strategy

- Business Finance

- Corporate Governance

- Audits & Compliance

- Strong understanding of capital markets, corporate finance, valuation, and financial structuring.

- Experience working with promoters, Board members, investors, and private equity firms.

- Excellent leadership, negotiation, stakeholder management, and communication skills.

- Mature, commercially driven, and capable of influencing strategic business decisions.