About the Client:

Our client is a leading publicly listed global food manufacturing and distribution company with operations across 60+ countries. The organization has built a strong portfolio of ethnic and international food brands spanning sauces, pickles, chutneys, ready-to-cook, ready-to-eat products, frozen foods, and specialty packaged foods.

With manufacturing operations in India and an extensive global distribution network, the company serves consumers across North America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. The business is undergoing significant growth and transformation, creating an opportunity for a seasoned finance leader to play a key role in strengthening controllership, governance, and finance operations across domestic and international entities.

Role Overview:

We are seeking an experienced and strategic Finance Controller to lead financial controllership across multiple entities within the group. The role will be responsible for ensuring robust financial controls, accurate and timely financial reporting, statutory compliance, treasury management, audit governance, and finance transformation initiatives.

The ideal candidate will bring strong controllership experience from listed or large-scale organizations, possess deep technical accounting expertise, and demonstrate the ability to partner effectively with business leaders across geographies.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Financial Control & Reporting:

- Lead the preparation of monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements.

- Ensure compliance with applicable accounting standards, including Ind AS, IFRS, and/or US GAAP.

- Drive budgeting, forecasting, and variance analysis processes.

- Strengthen financial controls, governance frameworks, and reporting accuracy.

- Oversee financial consolidation across domestic and international entities.

2. Audit Management:

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

- Serve as the primary liaison with external and internal auditors.

- Ensure timely closure of audit observations and implementation of recommendations.

- Enhance audit readiness and documentation standards across the organization.

3. Internal Controls, Compliance & Governance:

- Design and strengthen internal control frameworks and financial governance processes.

- Partner with internal audit and IFC teams to ensure effective compliance.

- Ensure adherence to statutory and regulatory requirements including GST, Income Tax, Companies Act, FEMA, and other applicable regulations.

- Monitor regulatory changes and drive timely implementation of required actions.

- Support compliance oversight for overseas subsidiaries and international operations.

4. Working Capital & Treasury Management:

- Drive cash flow optimization and working capital improvements.

- Manage banking relationships and funding requirements.

- Oversee receivables, payables, inventory controls, and liquidity planning.

- Monitor treasury operations and support strategic financing initiatives.

5. Process Excellence & Finance Transformation:

- Drive standardization and automation of finance processes across entities and geographies.

- Partner with ERP and technology teams to enhance financial systems and reporting capabilities.

- Lead process re-engineering, shared services, and finance transformation initiatives.

- Improve efficiency, scalability, and control effectiveness within finance operations.

6. Export Operations & Trade Finance:

- Oversee financial aspects of export transactions, including invoicing, documentation, and reconciliations.

- Ensure compliance with export regulations, customs requirements, DGFT, and FEMA guidelines.

- Manage export incentives, duty drawback schemes, and related benefits.

- Coordinate trade finance activities including Letters of Credit, Bank Guarantees, packing credit, and forex transactions.

- Monitor foreign exchange exposure and support hedging strategies.

7. Strategic Finance Leadership:

- Act as a trusted advisor to the CFO on financial risks, opportunities, and business performance.

- Partner with business leaders across functions to support strategic decision-making.

- Support M&A transactions, due diligence, integration activities, and business restructuring initiatives.

- Lead capital restructuring and legal entity optimization projects where required.

8. Team Leadership:

- Build, mentor, and develop a high-performing finance organization.

- Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

- Drive succession planning and capability development within the finance team.

Qualifications:

- Chartered Accountant (CA) is mandatory.

- 12 to 15+ years of progressive controllership experience within manufacturing, consumer goods, food & beverage, exports, or multinational organizations.

- Prior exposure to listed companies and multi-entity structures will be highly preferred.

- Experience managing audits, compliance, treasury, and financial reporting at scale.

Key Competencies:

- Strong technical accounting and financial reporting expertise.

- Deep understanding of internal controls, governance, and regulatory compliance.

- Experience in export finance and trade finance operations.

- Excellent stakeholder management and leadership capabilities.

- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.

- Ability to thrive in a dynamic, growth-oriented environment.