Position Overview
Apeejay Shipping Limited is seeking a highly accomplished, dynamic, and forward-looking Chief Financial Officer (CFO) who will serve as a strategic partner to the CEO and the Board. The CFO will be responsible for driving the organization's financial strategy, governance, business performance, capital management, and long-term value creation.
The ideal candidate will combine strong finance and accounting expertise with commercial acumen, business insight, and strategic thinking. While experience in the shipping, logistics, or asset-intensive sectors would be advantageous, we are equally interested in candidates from diverse industries who possess the intellectual agility to quickly understand business models, industry dynamics, and growth opportunities.
This role requires a proactive leader who can challenge conventional thinking, provide informed business advice, support strategic decision-making, and build a world-class finance function that drives operational and financial excellence.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership & Business Partnership
- Act as a trusted advisor to the CEO and Board on business strategy, growth initiatives, investments, capital allocation, and risk management.
- Contribute actively to corporate strategy formulation and execution.
- Evaluate business opportunities, acquisitions, investments, partnerships, and expansion initiatives.
- Provide commercial insights and financial recommendations to support key business decisions.
- Drive long-term value creation through effective financial stewardship and strategic planning.
- Participate in Board meetings and present meaningful financial and business insights.
Financial Strategy & Performance Management
- Lead the development and execution of the Company's financial strategy aligned with overall business objectives.
- Oversee budgeting, forecasting, financial planning, and performance management processes.
- Monitor business performance and drive initiatives to improve profitability, efficiency, and return on capital.
- Develop financial models and scenario analyses to support strategic decision-making.
- Establish robust KPIs and management reporting frameworks.
Finance, Accounting & Controls
- Ensure accurate and timely preparation of financial statements and management reports.
- Maintain strong accounting standards, financial controls, and governance frameworks.
- Oversee statutory reporting, regulatory compliance, tax planning, audits, and corporate governance requirements.
- Drive continuous improvement in financial processes, systems, and reporting capabilities.
Treasury, Banking & Capital Management
- Manage banking relationships, working capital, liquidity, financing arrangements, and cash flow optimization.
- Lead debt management, refinancing initiatives, capital raising activities, and negotiations with financial institutions.
- Monitor capital structure and funding requirements to support business growth.
- Oversee foreign exchange, interest rate, and financial risk management strategies.
Business & Commercial Finance
- Partner with business leaders to evaluate commercial performance and strategic opportunities.
- Drive profitability improvement through data-driven financial analysis and business insights.
- Influence pricing, investment, contract evaluation, and operational decision-making processes.
- Support business development initiatives through rigorous financial evaluation and risk assessment.
Risk Management & Governance
- Strengthen enterprise risk management frameworks across financial and operational areas.
- Identify emerging business, financial, regulatory, and market risks.
- Ensure appropriate mitigation strategies and governance mechanisms are implemented.
- Maintain the highest standards of transparency, integrity, and corporate governance.
Leadership & Team Development
- Lead and inspire a high-performing Finance and Accounts function.
- Build organizational capability through mentoring, coaching, and succession planning.
- Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement.
- Drive digital transformation and automation initiatives across finance operations.
Candidate Profile
Education
- Chartered Accountant (CA) is essential and Must Have criteria
- MBA, CFA, or other advanced finance/business qualifications would be advantageous.
- Strong academic background from reputed institutions preferred.
Experience
- 12–18 years of progressive experience in Finance and Accounts, including significant leadership responsibility.
- Proven track record as a CFO, Finance Director, Head of Finance, or equivalent senior finance leader.
- Experience in asset-intensive industries, manufacturing, infrastructure, logistics, engineering, energy, shipping, or related sectors would be beneficial.
- Demonstrated experience in strategic finance, treasury, business partnering, corporate finance, and stakeholder management.
Leadership & Personal Attributes
We are looking for a candidate who is:
- Young, energetic, ambitious, and commercially driven.
- A strategic thinker with strong business judgment.
- Capable of acting as a sounding board and trusted advisor to the CEO and Board.
- Highly analytical with strong problem-solving abilities.
- Confident in engaging with investors, bankers, regulators, and senior stakeholders.
- Entrepreneurial in mindset with the ability to balance strategic thinking and operational execution.
- Adaptable, intellectually curious, and capable of rapidly understanding new business environments and industry dynamics.
- A strong communicator and influencer with high personal integrity and credibility.
The successful CFO will:
- Be a strategic partner rather than merely a financial controller.
- Help shape the future direction of the Company.
- Drive profitability, capital efficiency, and sustainable growth.
- Build credibility with the CEO, Board, lenders, and external stakeholders.
- Create a modern, agile, and business-oriented finance function that supports long-term value creation.
Ideal Age Profile: Approximately 40-50 years, with the maturity to engage effectively with the Board and the energy to drive transformation and growth.
