Head Finance & Accounts

Role Purpose

The Head Finance & Accounts will lead the companys finance, accounting and commercial-control functions. The role is responsible for reliable financial reporting, project finance oversight, budgeting, treasury, taxation, statutory compliance, internal controls and decision support. The incumbent will partner with business, projects, procurement and operations teams to strengthen profitability, cash flow and financial discipline across corporate offices, branches and project sites.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead annual budgeting, periodic forecasting, long-range planning and management information reporting.
• Prepare timely, accurate financial statements, dashboards and variance analyses for management review.
• Oversee project financials, including budgets, cost-to-complete estimates, revenue recognition, billing, collections, cash flow, margins and profitability.
• Review tender and contract commercial terms, customer purchase orders, payment milestones, taxes, guarantees, liquidated damages and financial risk provisions.
• Partner with procurement and project teams on vendor terms, cost controls, claims, change orders and margin improvement.
• Drive working-capital performance, including receivables, payables, inventory, advances, retention money and fund utilisation.
• Manage treasury, banking relationships, cash planning, credit facilities, bank guarantees, letters of credit and foreign-exchange exposures, as applicable.
• Lead monthly, quarterly and annual closing and the finalisation of statutory accounts.
• Ensure compliance with applicable accounting standards, direct and indirect taxes, company law and other statutory requirements.
• Coordinate statutory, tax and internal audits and ensure timely closure of observations and corrective actions.
• Design, implement and monitor internal financial controls, delegated authorities, policies and standard operating procedures.
• Monitor financial performance and controls across branches, locations and project sites.
• Identify financial, commercial and compliance risks and establish appropriate mitigation and escalation mechanisms.
• Support strategic decisions through pricing, scenario analysis, capital allocation, investment appraisal and cost optimisation.
• Lead, coach and develop the finance and accounts team; establish clear goals, review mechanisms and succession capability.
• Coordinate effectively with auditors, banks, insurers, consultants, legal advisers, customers, vendors and regulatory stakeholders.

Qualifications and Experience

• CA / CMA / MBA - Finance.
• 18-22 years of progressive experience in finance and accounts, including senior leadership responsibility.
• Substantial experience in an EPC, engineering, water-treatment, infrastructure or project-based manufacturing environment is strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated expertise in project accounting, working-capital management, financial reporting, taxation, audits and internal controls.
• Experience reviewing contracts, tender terms, customer purchase orders and procurement-related commercial terms.

Key Skills

• Financial planning and analysis, budgeting, forecasting, variance analysis, and management reporting
• EPC project accounting, project costing, cost-to-complete analysis, revenue recognition, and margin control
• Working-capital management covering receivables, payables, retention money, mobilisation advances, and inventory
• Treasury and fund management, including cash-flow planning, banking relationships, bank guarantees, and letters of credit
• Financial reporting, statutory account finalisation, audit coordination, and internal financial controls
• Direct and indirect taxation, statutory compliance, and sound knowledge of applicable accounting standards
• Commercial evaluation of tenders, contracts, customer purchase orders, procurement terms, claims, and change orders
• Business partnering, pricing support, cost optimisation, profitability analysis, and financial risk management
• Leadership, team development, stakeholder management, negotiation, communication, and decision-making