General Manager – Accounts & Finance
Job Summary
The General Manager – Accounts & Finance will own the complete finance function of a growing, institutionally backed food company. This leadership role involves managing all aspects of finance from monthly close to investor reporting, ensuring accurate and timely financial records, strong controls, tax and statutory compliance, treasury management, and investor relations. The role is hands-on and requires building and leading a finance team and systems to support the company’s scaling ambitions.
Responsibilities
- Prepare annual budgets, financial plans, and periodic forecasts; monitor revenue, costs, profitability, and cash flow against these plans.
- Build monthly management information systems (MIS) and dashboards, including store, channel, and product profitability, and conduct variance analysis.
- Provide financial evaluation for new stores, products, channels, capital expenditure, and expansion projects; identify cost optimization and margin improvement opportunities.
- Ensure timely monthly, quarterly, and annual closure and finalization of accounts under applicable accounting standards.
- Review profit & loss statements, balance sheets, cash flow, and reconciliations to ensure accuracy and integrity of financial records across entities and locations.
- Strengthen ERP/accounting systems and processes for a multi-store, manufacturing, and e-commerce business.
- Prepare financial information, presentations, and reports for the board, investors, and lenders; coordinate investor due diligence and covenant reporting.
- Manage statutory, internal, and tax audits; work with auditors and consultants to close observations promptly.
- Design and strengthen internal financial controls, approval matrices, and documentation to minimize financial and operational risk.
- Oversee direct and indirect tax compliance (GST, Income Tax, TDS); manage assessments, notices, reconciliations, and tax planning.
- Manage banking relationships, structure and maintain facilities, limits, and project funding.
- Forecast and manage cash flow, receivables, payables, and inventory-linked working capital to ensure liquidity for operations and expansion.
- Lead, structure, and develop the Accounts & Finance team with clear responsibilities and key result areas (KRAs).
- Build a disciplined, process-driven finance function and raise the capability of the department.
Qualifications
- Chartered Accountant (CA) qualification is mandatory.
- 12 to 18+ years of experience in accounts and finance, with at least 5 years in a leadership role such as CFO, General Manager, Deputy General Manager, or Finance Controller in an operating company (not audit-only).
- Hands-on experience in manufacturing and/or multi-location retail businesses with inventory, costing, and multiple revenue channels.
- Strong working knowledge of GST, Income Tax, TDS, and statutory audits; personal experience managing audits and tax assessments.
- Experience preparing MIS and board packs, and dealing with banks and lenders.
- Based in Vadodara or willing to relocate.
Preferred Skills
- Background in FMCG, food, dairy, snacks, retail, or consumer manufacturing industries.
- Exposure to investor reporting, fundraising, or due diligence processes involving private equity, venture capital, or family offices.
- Experience financing greenfield plants or large capital expenditure projects.
- Experience working in promoter-driven companies undergoing professionalization.
- ERP implementation or upgrade experience with systems such as Tally, SAP Business One, Oracle NetSuite, GoFrugal, or similar.
Experience
- 12 to 18+ years in accounts and finance roles.
- Minimum 5 years leading the finance function in an operating company environment.
Environment
- Location: Vadodara, Gujarat (on-site; relocation expected).
- Work setting involves close collaboration with the Managing Director & CEO, promoters, board members, investors, auditors, and bankers.
- The role requires a hands-on approach in a fast-moving, promoter-led company transitioning to a professionally managed FMCG and retail business.
Who Will Do Well in This Role
- Leaders who take ownership, learn quickly, and build systems rather than depend on them.
- Individuals who use data-driven insights over opinions and maintain a high standard for themselves and their teams.
- Professionals comfortable working directly with promoters and senior stakeholders, making decisions, and being accountable for outcomes.
- Commercially oriented candidates who interpret business performance through financial data and provide actionable insights.
- Detail-oriented individuals focused on controls and compliance while maintaining a broad business perspective.
- Candidates capable of independently running the entire finance function and building a strong team underneath.
