ROLE OBJECTIVE:

The Financial Controller is a hands-on, middle management Finance leadership role with direct accountability for the organisations financial close, statutory and management reporting, and direct and indirect taxation. The role also carries ownership of finance operations outcomes ensuring procure-to-pay, order-to-cash, reconciliations, and compliance processes are executed accurately, completely, and on time.

This is an execution-first role. The Financial Controller is expected to be deeply involved in the numbers reviewing, validating, and signing off on deliverables personally while simultaneously leading a team of finance professionals and serving as the primary interface for statutory auditors, tax authorities, and global reporting stakeholders.

Reporting to the Finance Director, this role owns the integrity, completeness, and regulatory compliance of all financial outputs across the organisations Indian operations and its global subsidiary reporting obligations.

WHY THIS ROLE:

This is a hands-on, high-ownership Finance Controller opportunity for an experienced finance professional who has built rigorous technical foundations in a Big 4 / Big 6 environment and is now ready to drive end-to-end controllership at a globally connected organisation. You will personally own the numbers, lead a strong and very capable team, navigate complex multi-jurisdictional tax obligations, and operate at the interface of Indian statutory requirements and global reporting standards all while playing a meaningful role in the organisations growth story.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Financial Close & Reporting:

- Own the monthly, quarterly, and annual financial close calendar end-to-end from initiation through to final sign-off and publish with >95% on-time delivery

- Personally prepare and review standalone and consolidated financial statements in compliance with Ind AS / IFRS; this is a hands-on role with direct sign-off accountability

- Deliver MIS packs, P&L commentary, balance sheet analysis, and variance reports to senior management, the Finance Director, and investors within agreed timelines

- Ensure completeness, accuracy, and consistency of all financial outputs; build robust review and validation checkpoints to eliminate rework

- Own the board reporting pack, investor reporting schedules, and lender covenant compliance reporting

- Drive structured pre-close planning with clear task sequencing, dependency mapping, and ownership assignment across the team

- Manage global subsidiary reporting ensure intercompany eliminations, GAAP reconciliations, and group consolidation inputs are delivered accurately and on schedule

2. Statutory Audit & Regulatory Compliance:

- Act as the primary owner of the statutory audit process coordinate directly with external auditors for interim and year-end audit fieldwork, management representation, and sign-off

- Prepare all audit schedules, notes to accounts, accounting policy disclosures, and supporting documentation personally or under direct supervision

- Ensure all audit queries are resolved within agreed timelines with complete, well-organised documentation trails

- Design, maintain, and test the Internal Financial Controls (IFC) framework; document controls, perform walkthroughs, and remediate deficiencies ahead of audit

- Ensure full compliance with Companies Act 2013: statutory filings, ROC compliance, maintenance of statutory registers, and coordination with the Company Secretary

- Own the compliance calendar covering GST, TDS, PF/ESIC, MSME, FEMA, and all applicable regulations; maintain a zero-default record on statutory due dates

3. Direct & Indirect Taxation:

Tax is a core pillar of this role. The Financial Controller is expected to have deep, working knowledge of Indian tax law not just oversight of a tax team, but the ability to independently evaluate tax positions, review computations, and engage substantively with tax authorities and consultants.

- Own the companys direct tax position in full: corporate income tax computation, advance tax planning, deferred tax accounting (IAS 12 / AS 22), and effective tax rate management across the year

- Demonstrate strong technical understanding of the Income Tax Act 1961 including provisions on disallowances, deemed income, MAT/AMT, and section-specific interpretations relevant to the business

- Oversee all indirect tax obligations: GST returns (GSTR-1, GSTR-3B, GSTR-9/9C), input tax credit reconciliation, ITC mismatch rectification, and annual reconciliation with financial statements

- Manage transfer pricing: maintain comprehensive documentation, oversee benchmarking studies, and ensure timely filing of Form 3CEB; be capable of reviewing TP positions independently

- Ensure full compliance with TDS / TCS obligations correct deduction, timely deposit, accurate return filing)

- Handle tax assessments, scrutiny notices, and show-cause queries directly draft responses, compile supporting documentation, and manage proceedings in coordination with external tax counsel

- Monitor legislative changes (Union Budget, GST council notifications, CBDT circulars) and assess business impact proactively; brief Finance Director and senior leadership on emerging tax risks and opportunities

- Evaluate tax-efficient structuring options for new contracts, inter-company arrangements, and capital allocation decisions; provide practical, well-reasoned recommendations

- Maintain robust documentation for all tax positions to withstand scrutiny, audit, and potential litigation

4. Finance Operations Outcomes Accountability:

The Financial Controller is accountable for the outcomes of finance operations, ensuring that P2P, O2C, and reconciliation processes deliver accurate, timely, and compliant results. This is an accountability role for outcomes, supported by a team; it requires active oversight, exception management, and process ownership.

- Own the procure-to-pay (P2P) cycle outcomes: vendor onboarding governance, invoice processing accuracy, payment authorisation controls, MSME payment compliance, and DPO management

- Own the order-to-cash (O2C) cycle outcomes: billing accuracy, collections effectiveness, credit policy enforcement, and debtor ageing within acceptable thresholds

- Ensure vendor reconciliations, customer reconciliations, and inter-company account eliminations are completed accurately at each period end

- Maintain ERP master data integrity; drive process standardisation and control discipline across the finance operations team

- Identify process gaps and implement corrective actions; escalate systemic issues to the Finance Director with clear root cause analysis and remediation plans

5. Planning, Budgeting & MIS:

- Partner with business teams on the annual budgeting and quarterly forecasting process; provide controllership inputs on actuals, accruals, and cost recognition

- Deliver monthly actuals vs. budget / forecast variance analysis with clear, business-ready commentary on key drivers

- Maintain the chart of accounts and cost centre structure; ensure consistency and alignment between operational and financial reporting

- Develop and publish financial dashboards and management reports that improve visibility and decision-making across the business

6. Cost Accounting & Profitability Analysis:

- Establish and maintain a cost accounting framework including standard costing, cost of goods sold analysis, and overhead absorption

- Perform product / segment / project profitability analysis and surface margin improvement opportunities to business heads

- Monitor cost centre spending against budget; work with operational teams on targeted cost control initiatives

7. Cross-Functional Leadership & Stakeholder Management:

- Coordinate effectively with AP, AR, Tax, Legal, Operations, and HR to ensure seamless close and compliance execution across functions

- Drive accountability across business functions for timely delivery of finance dependencies accruals, approvals, and data inputs

- Provide finance business partnering to operational teams on cost management, working capital optimisation, and investment decisions

- Serve as the primary finance interface for PE sponsors, lenders, and external stakeholders on financial reporting, compliance, and covenant matters

8. Team Leadership & Capability Development:

- Lead, mentor, and develop a team of finance professionals across reporting, taxation, and operations sub-functions, with direct line management accountability

- Define clear role ownership, set performance objectives, and build a culture of accountability, execution discipline, and continuous improvement

- Identify and close skill gaps; invest in team development on technical accounting, tax, and systems capabilities

- Drive process documentation and knowledge transfer to build team resilience, continuity, and audit readiness

CANDIDATE PROFILE:

Qualifications:

- CPA (Certified Public Accountant), ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants), or CMA (Cost and Management Accountant) any one of these professional qualifications is required Or MBA Finance from a reputed institution is accepted in lieu of, or in addition to, the above professional qualification

- Additional certifications in taxation, IFRS, or ERP systems are an advantage

Experience:

- 10-18 years of progressive finance experience, with a minimum of 5 years in a hands-on controllership or senior finance operations role

- Mandatory: Prior experience at a Big 4 or Big 6 firm (Deloitte, PwC, EY, KPMG, Grant Thornton, or BDO) in an external auditee capacity

- Mandatory: Minimum 5 years directly leading a finance team with full line management responsibility over multiple direct reportees

- Mandatory: Demonstrated hands-on controllership experience personally owning close, statutory reporting, and audit coordination, not just supervising others

- Mandatory: Demonstrated experience managing global subsidiary financial reporting and cross-border compliance obligations

- Desirable: M&A integration experience financial consolidation, carve-outs, or post-merger restructuring

- Desirable: Private equity-backed organisation experience investor reporting, PE sponsor interface, fund governance

Technical Competencies:

- Deep proficiency in Ind AS and IFRS accounting standards with hands-on application experience

- Strong, practical command of Indian direct and indirect tax law Income Tax Act 1961, GST legislation, TDS/TCS provisions, Transfer Pricing regulations, and FEMA; the ability to independently evaluate and review tax positions is essential

- Thorough understanding of GST framework input tax credit mechanisms, reverse charge, place of supply rules, and annual reconciliation

- Working knowledge of transfer pricing principles, arms length pricing, and documentation requirements under Indian TP regulations

- Competent to independently review tax computations, assess deferred tax positions, and engage in substantive discussions with tax authorities

- Solid knowledge of FEMA, Companies Act 2013, RBI regulations, and related statutory frameworks

- Hands-on experience with leading ERP systems (SAP, Oracle, NetSuite, or equivalent); capable of navigating and interrogating system data directly

- Proficient in financial modelling, MIS construction, and management reporting

- Familiarity with Internal Financial Controls (IFC) frameworks and audit readiness protocols

Leadership & Behavioural Competencies:

- Hands-on execution discipline comfortable working in the detail while maintaining strategic oversight

- High degree of ownership and accountability takes personal responsibility for outputs, not just process

- Strong analytical and problem-solving capability with a data-first, evidence-based approach

- Confident stakeholder management capable of engaging auditors, tax authorities, PE sponsors, and lenders directly

- Resilient and calm under pressure maintains quality and composure during close cycles, audit seasons, and regulatory deadlines

- Collaborative business partner translates financial and tax complexity into clear, actionable business insight

- Strong people leadership coaches, develops, and retains high-performing finance talent