Role Overview
We are looking for a seasoned finance professional to lead the plant finance function, ensuring strong financial governance, cost control, compliance, and business partnering with plant operations. The role will play a critical part in driving profitability, operational efficiency, and financial discipline at the manufacturing unit.
Key Responsibilities
- Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A):
- Lead annual budgeting, forecasting, and long-term financial planning for the plant
- Monitor actual performance vs. budget and drive variance analysis
- Provide actionable insights to improve plant profitability and efficiency
- Cost Control & Optimization:
- Drive cost control initiatives across manufacturing, procurement, and supply chain
- Analyze product costing, standard costing, and variance (material, labor, overhead)
- Identify cost-saving opportunities and implement process improvements
- Plant Accounting & Reporting:
- Oversee plant-level accounting, month-end closing, and financial reporting
- Ensure accurate inventory valuation and reconciliation
- Maintain strong controls over fixed assets and capital expenditure tracking
- Inventory & Working Capital Management:
- Monitor inventory levels, slow/non-moving stock, and obsolescence provisions
- Optimize working capital by improving inventory turns and receivables/payables cycles
- Collaborate with operations to ensure efficient material management
- Compliance & Internal Controls:
- Ensure adherence to statutory regulations, internal audit, and SOX/compliance frameworks
- Strengthen internal controls and governance processes
- Coordinate with auditors (internal & external) for plant audits
- Business Partnering:
- Work closely with Plant Head and cross-functional teams (Operations, Procurement, Supply Chain)
- Support decision-making through financial insights and scenario analysis
- Evaluate capex proposals and ROI analysis for new investments
- Team Leadership:
- Lead and mentor the plant finance team
- Drive capability building and performance management within the team
Key Requirements
- Qualified CA / CMA / MBA (Finance)
- 12-15 years of experience in plant finance / manufacturing finance
- Strong exposure to costing, inventory management, and plant operations
- Experience in industries like manufacturing, FMCG, automotive, chemicals, or engineering preferred
- Proficiency in ERP systems (SAP/Oracle) and advanced Excel
- Strong analytical, stakeholder management, and leadership skills
Preferred Skills
- Hands-on experience in standard costing & variance analysis
- Knowledge of lean manufacturing / cost optimization frameworks
- Ability to work in a fast-paced, multi-functional environment
Key Success Metrics
- Improvement in plant cost efficiency and margins
- Accuracy and timeliness of financial reporting
- Reduction in inventory holding and working capital cycle
- Strong audit and compliance track record
(ref:iimjobs.com)
