Head of Department (HOD) – Finance & Accounts

Job Description:

Role Overview

The HOD – Finance & Accounts will lead the organisation’s complete finance and accounting function from its Kolkata Head Office. The incumbent will provide strategic and operational oversight across banking and finance, treasury, forex, imports and exports, financial reporting, taxation, statutory compliance and commercial matters.

The position will lead seven functional/vertical heads and a large finance and accounts team while coordinating closely with the management, manufacturing plants, the Mumbai office, banks, auditors, consultants, customers and government authorities.

Key Responsibilities

1. Finance Leadership and Team Management

• Lead the entire Finance and Accounts function across the Head Office, branch office and manufacturing units.

• Manage, guide and review the performance of seven functional heads and the wider finance and accounts team.

• Establish strong financial controls, review mechanisms, accountability and standardised processes across locations.

• Partner with senior management on financial planning, business decisions, risk management and organisational growth.

• Build team capability and ensure timely completion of all finance, accounting and compliance deliverables.

2. Banking, Treasury and Working Capital

• Manage relationships and regular coordination with approximately five to six banks.

• Handle working-capital facilities, cash-credit limits, term loans, bank guarantees, letters of credit and other fund-based and non-fund-based limits.

• Lead bank-limit assessment, enhancement, renewal and documentation processes.

• Monitor cash flow, liquidity, fund utilisation, borrowing costs and working-capital efficiency.

• Prepare and submit financial information, projections, stock statements and other reports required by banks and financial institutions.

• Negotiate banking terms, interest rates, charges and credit facilities in the organisation’s best interest.

3. Forex, Imports and Exports

• Oversee financial and banking activities connected with the import of raw materials and export of finished products.

• Manage letters of credit, buyers’ credit, export finance, remittances, export realisation and import-payment documentation.

• Monitor foreign-exchange exposure and manage forex risk, forward contracts and hedging in accordance with company policy.

• Ensure compliance with FEMA, RBI guidelines, authorised dealer bank requirements and applicable import-export regulations.

• Coordinate with banks, customs authorities, logistics teams and internal commercial teams for timely completion of import-export transactions.

4. Accounts and Financial Reporting

• Oversee the complete accounting cycle, including general ledger, receivables, payables, fixed assets, inventory accounting and consolidation.

• Ensure timely and accurate monthly, quarterly and annual closing of accounts.

• Prepare and review MIS reports, budgets, forecasts, cash-flow statements, variance analyses and management reports.

• Ensure accurate financial reporting in accordance with applicable accounting standards and statutory requirements.

• Review plant-wise, unit-wise and business-vertical-wise financial performance, costs and profitability.

• Strengthen internal controls and ensure accuracy, completeness and integrity of financial data.

5. Taxation and Statutory Compliance

• Oversee direct and indirect taxation, including Income Tax, TDS and GST.

• Ensure accurate and timely filing of returns, tax payments, reconciliations, assessments and statutory submissions.

• Manage GST matters involving multiple locations, manufacturing units and interstate transactions.

• Handle tax assessments, notices, scrutiny, audits, appeals and departmental queries in coordination with consultants, where required.

• Liaise with GST, Income Tax and other government departments and personally attend offices or hearings whenever necessary.

• Stay updated on changes in taxation, finance and regulatory requirements and assess their impact on the business.

6. Audit, Compliance and Governance

• Coordinate statutory, internal, tax, bank and other audits and ensure timely closure of audit observations.

• Ensure compliance with all applicable financial, corporate, banking, commercial and regulatory requirements.

• Maintain proper documentation, records and audit trails across finance and accounts activities.

• Identify financial and compliance risks and implement effective preventive and corrective controls.

7. Commercial, Customs and Cross-functional Coordination

• Handle customs-related and other commercial finance matters arising from manufacturing, procurement, imports, exports and customer transactions.

• Review significant contracts, commercial terms, payment terms and financial implications of business arrangements.

• Coordinate with procurement, sales, supply chain, logistics, production and plant teams on finance and commercial matters.

• Visit customer offices, banks, manufacturing facilities and government departments as required.

• Travel to the Mumbai office and manufacturing locations across India, including Gujarat and other plant locations, based on business requirements.

8. ERP and Process Improvement

• Ensure effective use of ERP systems for accounting, taxation, inventory, reporting and financial controls.

• Drive process automation, data accuracy, system integration and timely availability of management information.

• Identify and implement improvements in financial processes, reporting standards, controls and operational efficiency.

Candidate Profile

• Chartered Accountant qualification is strongly preferred.

• 15–20 years of progressive experience in Finance and Accounts, including substantial experience in a senior leadership role.

• Mandatory experience in a manufacturing organisation; exposure to chemicals, industrial products, packaging, agrochemicals or a process-manufacturing environment will be advantageous.

• Strong experience managing both Finance and Accounts functions across multiple plants, units or locations.

• Proven experience leading multiple functional heads and a sizeable finance and accounts team.

• In-depth knowledge of banking, working-capital management, credit limits, treasury and coordination with multiple banks.

• Strong practical knowledge of forex, imports, exports, FEMA/RBI requirements and trade-finance documentation.

• Sound expertise in financial reporting, MIS, budgeting, taxation, GST, TDS, Income Tax, statutory compliance, audit and commercial matters.

• Hands-on experience with ERP-based accounting and reporting systems.

• Ability to liaise confidently with banks, auditors, consultants, customers and government authorities.

• Strong leadership, analytical, negotiation, communication and problem-solving capabilities.

• Willingness to travel across India and attend external offices or authorities whenever required.

Key Competencies

• Strategic and commercial financial acumen

• Leadership and team development

• Banking and stakeholder management

• Treasury and working-capital management

• Import-export finance and forex risk management

• Financial reporting and analytical ability

• Taxation and regulatory compliance

• Strong controls and governance orientation

• ERP and process-improvement mindset

• High integrity, ownership and execution discipline