Interim CFO - Automotive Manufacturing

Location: Manesar & Bhiwadi, Haryana

Engagement: Interim / Transformation Assignment

Reporting to: Managing Director and a Board Member

Experience: 20+ years

Industry: Engineering / Automotive Manufacturing

About the Role:

Our client, a leading organisation in the automotive manufacturing sector, is seeking an experienced Interim CFO to strengthen and transform its finance function.

The mandate is focused on improving the overall performance and effectiveness of the Finance & Accounting function, enhancing the utilisation of the existing SAP ERP system, strengthening inventory and financial controls, supporting management decision-making, and preparing the organisation for a smooth transition to a permanent CFO.

The Interim CFO will work closely with the Managing Director and the Board and will be expected to bring strong operational finance leadership, business partnering capability and hands-on experience in SAP-driven finance environments.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Finance Function Transformation:

- Review and assess the current Finance & Accounting function, processes, and organisation structure.

- Reframe and restructure responsibilities within the finance team to improve accountability, efficiency, and effectiveness.

- Strengthen financial controls, reporting processes, and overall finance governance.

- Identify gaps and implement practical improvements in finance operations.

2. Statutory Compliance & Governance:

- Ensure robust statutory and regulatory compliance across the organisation.

- Strengthen the finance function's preparedness for statutory audits and regulatory requirements.

- Support the process of evaluating and transitioning to a new statutory audit firm, where required.

- Ensure timely and accurate financial reporting to the MD and Board.

3. SAP ERP & Finance Transformation:

- Drive greater functionality and utilisation of the organisation's SAP ERP system.

- Identify opportunities to improve finance processes and management reporting through SAP.

- Ensure that relevant financial and operational data from SAP is effectively used for business decision-making.

- Improve the quality, accessibility, and reliability of management information.

4. Inventory & Working Capital Management:

- Strengthen inventory monitoring, controls, and reporting.

- Leverage SAP-generated data to improve inventory visibility and decision-making.

- Identify opportunities to optimise working capital and improve financial discipline.

- Partner with business functions to address inventory-related issues.

5. Business & Management Decision Support:

- Provide financial insights to support key management decisions.

- Support evaluation of contracts, pricing, customers, and suppliers from a financial and commercial perspective.

- Develop meaningful financial analysis and MIS to facilitate informed business decisions.

- Act as a strategic finance partner to the MD and senior leadership team.

6. CFO Succession & Transition:

- Support the identification and evaluation of potential candidates for the permanent CFO position.

- Facilitate a structured handover to the incoming CFO.

- Document key processes, priorities, and ongoing initiatives to ensure continuity.

- Ensure a smooth transition from the Interim CFO to the permanent CFO.

Key Result Areas:

- Improved performance and effectiveness of the Finance & Accounting function.

- Strengthened statutory compliance and financial governance.

- A fully functional and better-utilised SAP ERP system.

- Improved inventory management and controls.

- Better management decision-making based on reliable SAP and financial data.

- Clearer allocation of responsibilities within the Finance function.

- Successful preparation and transition to the permanent CFO.

Candidate Profile:

We are looking for a senior finance leader / CFO with a proven track record of managing and transforming finance functions in complex manufacturing environments.

Essential Qualifications & Experience:

- 20+ years of overall experience in Finance & Accounting.

- Significant experience in a CFO / Finance Director / senior finance leadership role.

- Experience in automotive manufacturing or a closely related manufacturing environment.

- Strong hands-on experience with SAP ERP and finance transformation.

- Strong understanding of statutory compliance, financial controls and audit processes.

- Demonstrated experience in restructuring or improving finance teams and processes.

- Strong understanding of inventory, working capital and cost management.

Desired Skills:

- Finance function transformation.

- SAP implementation / optimisation.

- Management reporting and MIS.

- Inventory and working capital management.

- Statutory compliance and audit.

- Commercial finance and business partnering.

- Financial controls and governance.

- Stakeholder management at MD / Board level.

- CFO succession and transition management.

Ideal Candidate:

The ideal candidate would be a seasoned CFO or senior finance professional who can operate both strategically and hands-on. The person should be comfortable entering an existing organisation, quickly assessing the current finance environment, identifying gaps, implementing improvements and leaving behind a stronger, more structured and sustainable finance function.

Preferred Background:

- Automotive / Auto Components / Engineering / Manufacturing.

Location:

- Manesar & Bhiwadi, Haryana.

Engagement:

- Interim CFO / Transformation Assignment.