Role: Head of Finance

Reports To : Managing Director / CEO / Founder

Location: Hyderabad

Role Summary:

The Head of Finance will lead the organization's finance function, driving financial planning, fundraising, compliance, governance, ERP implementation, and strategic decision-making. The role is responsible for building scalable financial processes, strengthening controls, and partnering with leadership to support sustainable business growth.

Job Responsibility:

A. Financial Visibility, Budgeting & Planning (FP&A):

- Establish a single, reliable source of truth for the company's financial position - what we have, what we owe, where money is going, and where it is leaking.

- Build the annual budget and rolling forecasts in collaboration with department heads, and track actuals against budget with clear variance analysis.

- Develop cash-flow forecasting and working-capital planning so the business always knows its runway and liquidity position.

- Create scenario and sensitivity models to support major business decisions (expansion, new lines, capex, hiring).

B. Financial Health Assessment & Restructuring

- Conduct a thorough diagnostic of the current financial state - accounts, liabilities, receivables, payables, cost structure, and existing obligations.

- Identify risks, inefficiencies, cost-saving opportunities, and areas of financial leakage.

- Lead the restructuring of the finance function and cost base, putting in place a cleaner, more disciplined financial architecture.

- Recommend and implement corrective actions to stabilise and secure the company's financial footing.

C. Fundraising, Capital Structure & Treasury

- Assess the company's funding requirements and design a capital-raising roadmap.

- Identify and recommend appropriate financial instruments and funding routes - equity, debt, working-capital lines, term loans, NCDs, venture debt, grants, or other vehicles suited to our stage.

- Build and manage relationships with banks, lenders, investors, and financial institutions.

- Prepare investor- and lender-ready materials (financial models, projections, information memoranda, data rooms).

- Manage treasury, banking relationships, and optimise the cost and structure of capital.

D. Systems & ERP Implementation

- Evaluate, select, and implement an ERP / financial system suited to the company's size and growth plans.

- Lead the migration from current informal/manual processes to a structured, automated, audit-ready environment.

- Ensure data integrity, integration across departments, and reliable real-time reporting through the system.

E. SOPs, Internal Controls & Governance

- Design, document, and roll out Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) across all finance processes - procure-to-pay, order-to-cash, payroll, expense management, approvals, and month-end close.

- Put in place internal controls, approval matrices, and segregation of duties to safeguard company assets and prevent fraud or error.

- Drive adherence to SOPs across the organisation - not just write them, but embed them as the way the company operates.

- Establish a financial governance framework and a disciplined month-end / year-end close calendar.

F. Accounting, Statutory & Tax Compliance

- Ensure accurate and timely accounting, in line with applicable accounting standards.

- Own all statutory and regulatory compliance - GST, TDS, income tax, ROC / Companies Act filings, PF/ESI, and other applicable obligations.

- Manage statutory, internal, and tax audits, and serve as the primary point of contact for auditors and regulators.

- Keep the company fully compliant and audit-ready at all times.

G. Reporting & MIS

- Build a robust MIS and management reporting framework delivering accurate, timely, decision-useful information to leadership.

- Present monthly financial performance, KPIs, and dashboards to the MD/CEO and leadership team.

- Provide financial insight and challenge to support strategic and operational decisions.

H. Team Building & Leadership

- Assess the current finance team, define the right structure, and build a robust, capable finance team.

- Recruit, mentor, and develop talent; define roles, responsibilities, and accountability.

- Create a culture of discipline, ownership, and continuous improvement within the function.

2. Qualifications & Experience

Required

- Chartered Accountant (CA) and/or MBA (Finance); CPA/CMA also considered.

- 12-18 years of progressive finance experience, with at least [5] years in a senior finance leadership role.

- Demonstrated experience setting up or transforming a finance function - ideally in a growing, scaling, or restructuring company.

- Hands-on experience implementing an ERP / financial system from selection through go-live.

- Proven track record in fundraising and/or working with banks, lenders, and investors across debt and equity instruments.

Preferred:

- Experience in a high-growth, founder-led, or turnaround environment.

- Exposure to building SOPs, internal controls, and governance frameworks from scratch.

3. Skills & Competencies

Technical:

- Strong command of budgeting, FP&A, financial modelling, and cash-flow management.

- Deep knowledge of accounting standards, taxation, and statutory compliance.

- Capital structuring, fundraising, and treasury expertise.

- ERP / financial systems implementation and process automation.

Leadership & Behavioural:

- A builder's mindset - comfortable creating structure out of ambiguity.

- Hands-on and detail-oriented, while keeping the strategic picture in view.

- Strong ownership, integrity, and a high standard of financial discipline.

- Clear communicator able to translate finance for non-finance leadership.

- Ability to drive change and adherence across the organisation.

Note: This is a senior leadership role with a transformation mandate. Depending on company size and stage, it may be calibrated toward a "Finance Controller," "Head of Finance," or "CFO" title - adjust the title, experience bar, and compensation accordingly.