Summary:

Responsible for managing regional commercial operations with a focus on store profitability, budgeting, inventory management, statutory compliance, franchisee reconciliation, cost optimization, audit compliance, and protection of company assets. The role supports business development and new store openings, ensures effective commercial and inventory controls, monitors P&L and MIS performance, manages statutory licenses and remittances, oversees franchisee settlements, and drives corrective actions to improve operational and financial performance. The role also involves leading, coaching, and developing the commercial team to achieve business objectives and maintain high standards of compliance and operational efficiency.

Key Responsibilities:

Business Development and Profitability:

- Provide support to the Regional Operations Lead in business development activities by preparing the project feasibility reports.

- Provide commercial and operational support for new store openings, ensuring adherence to defined SOPs and timelines.

- Analyze store performance and recommend corrective actions to improve store/RO profitability and operational efficiency.

Commercial Support:

- Manage end-to-end commercial requirements of stores, including administrative expenses, vendor/service-provider management, and commercial controls.

- Monitor store expenses against approved budgets and identify, investigate, and escalate significant deviations.

- Ensure effective implementation of internal audit recommendations and monitor closure of identified audit observations.

- Establish, monitor, and strengthen commercial controls across stores to minimize financial and operational risks.

- Ensure adherence to company policies, processes, SOPs, and defined commercial controls.

Statutory Compliances:

- Ensure timely adherence to all applicable statutory compliances, remittances, filings, and regulatory requirements for stores.

- Manage procurement, renewal, and maintenance of all required licenses, registrations, permits, and statutory documents for existing and new stores.

- Maintain appropriate records and ensure stores remain compliant with applicable statutory requirements.

Inventory Management:

- Manage and monitor reconciliation of inward and outward inventory movements between RDCs and Stores, ST to RDCs and ST to Vendors.

- Ensure adherence to inventory management SOPs covering stock takes, stock audits, stock adjustments/discrepancies (SAD), and related controls.

- Periodically review and control online inventory movements, including SVI/S2D transactions, in line with inventory management processes.

- Monitor and control inventory shrinkage, damages, and negative inventory within prescribed limits.

- Manage adherence to inventory SOPs with respect to stock takes and stock audits.

- Strengthen inventory controls to minimize stock losses and protect company assets.

- Fulfillment of non-trade requirements to Stores and RDCs.

Franchisee Reconciliation:

- Manage end-to-end billing, margin sharing, and reconciliation processes with franchisees as per defined timelines and contractual agreements.

- Monitor and ensure all payments due to franchisees are processed accurately and within agreed timelines.

- Manage and ensure franchisee-operated stores comply with applicable statutory and company requirements.

- Maintain accurate documentation and records related to franchisee settlements and commercial transactions.

Budgeting and MIS Reporting:

- Develop and manage the commercial and inventory MIS framework for the region.

- Prepare and review store-level budgets in line with defined timelines and business requirements.

- Monitor and report P&L performance against budget, highlighting key variances and business drivers to relevant stakeholders.

- Analyze store performance and identify areas requiring corrective and preventive action.

- Monitor store, Regional Office (RO), and RDC costs against approved budgets.

- Ensure significant cost deviations are identified, escalated, and addressed through timely corrective actions.

- Provide accurate and timely commercial, inventory, and financial reports to support management decision-making.

- Drive continuous improvement in reporting accuracy, visibility, and analytical insights.

People Management:

- Select the right team members.

- Set expectations and give regular feedback to team.

- Provide adequate support and motivate the team to deliver on the job.

- Guide, coach, train and develop the team.