Chartered Accountant Lead - Plant Finance

Chartered Accountant / Plant Finance Lead

Location: Chennai | Experience: 15+ Years | Reporting to: CFO (Functional) | Notice Period: Immediate Joiners or up to 15 Days preferred

About the Company

A leading manufacturing and electronics conglomerate with a diversified presence across Products & Solutions, Customer Support Services, and Electronics Manufacturing Services (EMS) delivering technology products, manufacturing solutions, and lifecycle support services.

About the Role

The Business Finance Lead acts as the finance business partner for the assigned Business Unit driving financial planning, business performance, profitability, governance, and strategic decision support, while ensuring strong financial controls and sustainable growth.

NOTE:

Mandatory: Qualified Chartered Accountant (CA) with 15+ years of post-qualification experience, with demonstrated hands-on Plant/Manufacturing Finance exposure.
Not suitable: candidates from a pure Corporate/Group Controllership, Holding Company/Fund Accounting, or Audit & Assurance (statutory/internal/external audit firm) background, even with 15+ years and CA qualification. The candidate must show direct ownership of plant-level costing, budgeting, pricing, and CapEx decisions not consolidation, group reporting, or audit sign-off work.

Key Responsibilities

Lead the Annual Operating Plan (AOP), budgeting, rolling forecasts, and long-range planning

Own monthly MIS, dashboards, variance analysis, and executive presentations

Partner with business leaders on pricing, commercial proposals, and investment decisions

Monitor revenue, gross margin, EBITDA, operating expenses, and profitability

Drive cost optimization, productivity improvement, and resource utilization

Manage working capital receivables, payables, inventory, and cash flow

Review CapEx proposals and track ROI

Support monthly closing, audits, compliance, and financial governance

Collaborate cross-functionally with Sales, Operations, SCM, HR, IT, and Corporate Finance

Drive ERP/SAP improvements, automation, and continuous process improvement

Must-Haves (Priority Screening Criteria)

Qualified CA / CMA / MBA (Finance) with 15+ years in Business Finance, FP&A, Commercial Finance, or Financial Controlling

Industry background: Manufacturing, EMS, Automotive, Technology, or Services

Hands-on expertise in SAP S/4 HANA / ERP systems non-negotiable

Strong command of Power BI and Advanced Excel for dashboarding and financial modeling

Working knowledge of   Python / AI-based financial analytics added advantage, strong differentiator

Proven track record of turning around underperforming business units into profitable ones

Demonstrated experience in process automation and digital transformation within finance

Strong stakeholder management, executive presentation, and leadership skills

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Budget & Forecast Accuracy

EBITDA & Margin Improvement

Working Capital

Cost Savings

Timely MIS

Cash Flow

Compliance

Business Partner Satisfaction