Financial Controller-Finance, Compliance & Business Operations

Job Description This is a remote position. Role Level: Senior Leadership Experience:5–10 years Qualification: CA / MBA Finance Department Location: To be confirmed Reporting to: Founder ABOUT THE ROLE We are looking for a highly driven and commercially strong Financial Controller to lead the finance and accounts function for a fast-growing FMCG business. The role requires complete ownership of financial reporting, controls, compliance, budgeting, working capital, distributor finance management, inventory controls, and business planning. The ideal candidate should have strong experience in FMCG operations, distribution-led business models, inventory accounting, taxation, and MIS-driven decision making. This role demands a hands-on leader who can build systems, improve financial discipline, and partner with business teams to drive profitability and scale. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES: Financial Reporting & Compliance • Own end-to-end financial reporting — P&L, Balance Sheet, Cash Flow Statements — on a monthly, quarterly, and annual basis. • Ensure timely compliance with GST, TDS, Income Tax, ROC filings, and all other statutory obligations. • Manage statutory and internal audits; prepare audit schedules and coordinate with auditors. • Monitor deferred tax, advance tax computation, and tax audit requirements. Budgeting, Forecasting & Business Planning • Lead annual budgeting, quarterly forecasting, and long-range financial planning exercises. • Prepare and present MIS dashboards, variance analyses, and business performance reports to the Founder and leadership team. • Partner with sales, supply chain, and operations teams to support commercial decision-making with financial insights. • Conduct profitability analysis by SKU, channel, and distributor to identify margin improvement opportunities. Working Capital, Cash Flow & Distributor Finance • Manage and optimise working capital — debtors, creditors, inventory, and bank limits. • Oversee distributor payment cycles, credit terms, scheme accounting, and distributor reconciliations. • Monitor daily cash position and ensure liquidity for business operations. • Liaise with banks for working capital facilities, term loans, and trade finance instruments. Inventory, Costing & Internal Controls • Oversee inventory accounting, stock reconciliations, and periodic physical verification processes. • Build and maintain a robust product costing framework — standard costing, variance analysis, and landed cost tracking. • Design and enforce internal financial controls, SOPs, and accounting policies across the business. • Manage ERP/accounting system hygiene — chart of accounts, approval hierarchies, and system-based reconciliations. Team Leadership & Stakeholder Management • Build, lead, and mentor the finance and accounts team to deliver timely and accurate financial outputs. • Act as the primary finance business partner to the Founder — translating financial data into strategic insights. • Manage relationships with auditors, bankers, tax consultants, and regulatory authorities. Requirements REQUIREMENTS & QUALIFICATIONS • Qualified Chartered Accountant (CA) from ICAI; MBA Finance from a reputed institution will be considered. • 5–10 years of post-qualification experience, with a strong preference for FMCG, Consumer Goods, or Distribution-led businesses. • Hands-on expertise in GST, TDS, Income Tax, and statutory compliance management. • Proven experience managing financial reporting, MIS, budgeting, and business planning in a growth-stage or mid-sized company. • Deep understanding of FMCG distribution models — scheme accounting, primary/secondary sales accounting, distributor finance. • Strong command of ERP systems (Zoho Books) and advanced MS Excel. • Demonstrated ability to build finance processes, systems, and teams from scratch or significantly improve existing ones. • Excellent analytical, communication, and stakeholder management skills. • High ownership mindset — comfortable operating in a fast-paced, founder-led environment . Benefits WHAT WE OFFER: Direct access to Founder & leadership team High-ownership, high-impact leadership role Fast-growing FMCG brand with strong market presence Competitive compensation benchmarked to market Opportunity to build the finance function ground-up Performance-linked incentives & growth path