Role Overview:
The Chief Financial Officer will be responsible for the full spectrum of financial management across the Group’s India operations spanning accounting, auditing, statutory compliance, treasury, banking relationships, and fundraising. The ideal candidate is a Chartered Accountant or person with accounting/finance background who combines deep technical accounting expertise with the strategic acumen to manage banking relationships, drive fundraising, and align India’s financial operations with Group objectives across Ship recycling, Ship owning and Cash Buyer business lines.
Key Responsibilities:
Financial Accounting & Reporting
- Oversee financial accounting, management reporting, and financial statements in compliance with Ind AS, IGAAP, and IFRS.
- Ensure timely monthly, quarterly, and annual account closures; lead budgeting, forecasting, and variance analysis.
- Establish and maintain robust internal controls, financial policies, and SOPs across India entities.
Treasury & Cash Flow Management
- Monitor cash positions, inflows, outflows, and deployment of surplus funds across India entities.
- Ensure forex exposure is appropriately handled for designated entities; implement appropriate hedging policies.
- Reduce overall borrowing costs through active management of financing instruments and debt structure.
Banking Relationships & Fundraising
- Manage and deepen relationships with PSU, private, and foreign banking partners in India.
- Negotiate and secure banking facilities and credit lines; lead refinancing initiatives to eliminate cash deficit risk.
- Ensure zero overdue on all loan repayments and interest payments; report regularly to the Board on banking and fundraising milestones.
- Implement targeted strategies to progressively reduce the Group’s overall borrowing cost.
- Establish robust monitoring and reporting mechanisms for related-party balances, ensuring full transparency and compliance.
- Facilitate a smooth financial transition in connection with the Group’s financial goals.
- Drive India IPO readiness from a financial, regulatory, and investor reporting perspective.
Statutory & Regulatory Compliance
- Ensure full compliance with Companies Act, Income Tax, GST, FEMA, RBI, and SEBI requirements.
- Manage statutory, internal, and tax audits; liaise with auditors, tax authorities, and regulatory bodies.
- Oversee related-party transaction reporting, board resolutions, and annual statutory filings.
Strategic Financial Planning
- Partner with leadership on long-term financial strategy, capital allocation, and investment decisions.
- Lead financial structuring and due diligence for vessel acquisitions and strategic transactions.
Investments & Trade Finance
- Oversee trade finance instruments from India; drive continuous cost reduction and manage insurance-related compliance.
- Monitor India-connected investment workstreams and report on milestones and IRR targets to the Group.
Team Leadership
- Lead and develop the India finance team; ensure succession planning and training programs are in place.
- Coordinate effectively with Group Finance and other Group entities.
- Engage with senior management on India-specific banking strategy and relationship management.
- Deliver regular, structured updates to the Board on Banking and fundraising milestones.
Qualifications & Experience
Qualification
- Chartered Accountant (CA) / MBA / CFA / CPA / Banking Professional.
Experience
- Minimum 10 years of progressive experience in accounting, finance, audit, and regulatory compliance, with at least 4 years in a senior leadership role.
- Strong track record in managing Indian banking relationships, negotiating credit facilities, and leading fundraising.
- Solid knowledge of Ind AS, IGAAP, Companies Act, GST, FEMA, RBI, and SEBI frameworks.
- Experience in treasury, forex risk management, trade finance, and investment monitoring.
- Exposure to IPO processes and capital markets in the Indian context.
- Experience in maritime, Ship recycling, shipping, shipowners, or Cash Buyer industry is strongly preferred.
Key Competencies
- Dual strength in technical accounting and strategic financial management and banking.
- Strong banking relationship management and fundraising capability.
- High integrity, governance orientation, and attention to compliance.
- Clear communicator with strong leadership and team development skills.
- Proficiency in ERP systems (SAP, Oracle, or Tally) and advanced Excel.
