Financial Controller - Agri Commodity Trading

Job Description:

We are looking for a Financial Controller to lead the Finance & Accounts function for an agri-commodity procurement, trading and trade-finance business.

The role will have end-to-end ownership of financial control, reporting, working capital, cash flows, trade accounting, taxation, compliance and commercial finance. The Financial Controller will provide financial oversight across the complete transaction cycle - from commodity procurement and inventory holding through customer release, financing, sales and collections.

Key Responsibilities:

- Own the overall Finance & Accounts function and ensure accuracy, timeliness and integrity of financial reporting.

- Review and approve monthly P&L, Balance Sheet, Cash Flow and MIS prepared by the finance team.

- Drive monthly, quarterly and annual book closure.

- Establish and strengthen accounting processes, internal controls and financial checks.

- Ensure strong accounting hygiene across all trade and financial transactions.

Commodity & Trade Finance:

- Oversee accounting for commodity procurement, inventory, customer releases, sales and trade-finance transactions.

- Monitor customer-wise exposure, outstanding receivables and financing periods.

- Review and ensure accurate accounting of interest/financing income and related costs.

- Monitor profitability and financial performance at the transaction/customer/commodity level.

- Ensure appropriate accounting and revenue recognition across trade transactions.

Working Capital & Treasury:

- Own working-capital management and cash-flow planning.

- Monitor inventory funding, receivables, payables, customer advances and overall liquidity.

- Liaise with banks for working-capital, trade-finance and banking requirements.

- Review bank, loan and trade-finance reconciliations.

- Monitor financing costs and identify opportunities to improve the cost and efficiency of funds.

Tax, Audit & Compliance:

- Oversee GST, TDS, taxation and statutory compliances.

- Lead interactions with statutory and internal auditors, tax advisors and other external stakeholders.

- Review audit schedules, financial controls and compliance requirements.

- Ensure timely resolution and closure of audit observations.

MIS & Commercial Finance:

- Provide management with meaningful financial MIS, business analysis and performance insights.

- Analyze customer profitability, commodity margins, inventory position, customer exposure and cash conversion.

- Identify financial risks, leakages and opportunities to improve working capital and profitability.

- Work closely with Procurement, Sales and Operations teams to understand underlying transactions and ensure appropriate financial controls.

Team Management:

- Lead, mentor and develop the Finance & Accounts team.

- Review team deliverables and ensure accuracy and timely completion of financial activities.

- Build robust finance processes and systems that can support the company's growth.

What We're Looking For:

- Qualified Chartered Accountant (CA).

- 4+ years of post-qualification experience.

- Strong experience in commodity trading, agri-business, agri commodities, NBFC or other working-capital-intensive businesses.

- Strong understanding of inventory-led businesses, customer funding/exposure and financing/interest income.

- Hands-on experience in financial reporting, book closure, taxation, GST, audits and financial controls.

- Strong understanding of working-capital management and cash-flow planning.

- Strong Excel and ERP proficiency.

- Excellent analytical and stakeholder-management skills.