Lead - Finance & Accounts

Location : Mumbai

About the Opportunity

A fast-growing beauty and personal care business focused on building premium, contemporary cosmetic and skincare brands for the Indian market. The business combines innovative product development, evolving consumer insights, and a strong digital-first approach to create aspirational beauty experiences for a diverse, modern consumer base.

Role Purpose

Lead the Finance & Accounts function, ensuring robust financial governance, accurate reporting, regulatory compliance and effective financial controls across the company's offline and online business channels. Partner with business stakeholders to drive financial discipline, operational efficiency and profitable growth.

Responsibilities

1. Financial Accounting & Reporting

- Oversee end-to-end accounting operations, including accounts payable, accounts receivable, reconciliations and monthly/year-end closures.

- Drive accurate and timely preparation of financial statements, MIS and management reports.

- Manage statutory and internal audits, ensuring timely closure of observations and implementation of appropriate controls.

2. Business Finance & Commercial Operations

- Oversee financial operations across General Trade, Modern Trade, EBOs, kiosks, D2C, e-commerce marketplaces and quick commerce platforms.

- Monitor channel-wise profitability, margins, trade schemes, discounts, commissions and promotional spends.

- Partner with Sales, Marketing, Supply Chain and E-commerce teams on commercial decisions, budgeting and cost optimisation.

3. Working Capital & Financial Controls

- Drive receivables management, distributor/customer reconciliations, vendor payments, and working capital efficiency.

- Oversee inventory accounting, stock reconciliations, provisions, returns, damages, and inventory-related financial controls.

- Strengthen financial processes, internal controls, approval mechanisms, and SOPs across business operations.

4. Taxation & Regulatory Compliance

- Ensure timely and accurate compliance with GST, TDS, income tax, and other applicable statutory requirements.

- Oversee tax reconciliations, assessments, audit requirements, and coordination with external consultants/advisors.

5. Planning, Budgeting & Stakeholder Management

- Lead annual budgeting, periodic forecasting, variance analysis, and financial performance reviews.

- Provide actionable financial insights to business leadership to support strategic and operational decision-making.

- Drive process improvements, automation, and effective utilisation of ERP/accounting systems.

Ideal Profile

- CA preferred, with over 10 years of relevant experience in Finance & Accounts.

- Strong experience in FMCG, Beauty & Personal Care, Consumer Goods, Retail or D2C businesses preferred.

- Hands-on exposure to financial accounting, taxation, audits, MIS, working capital, and commercial finance.

- Understanding of multi-channel distribution, marketplace settlements, inventory accounting, and trade schemes would be advantageous.

- Strong proficiency in Excel and ERP/accounting systems, with sound analytical and stakeholder management capabilities.

- Ability to independently manage finance operations in a fast-paced, growing consumer business.