Chief Financial Officer Human Touch

The Corporate Institute; Chennai District; On-site; INR 5,000,000 - 9,000,000; Full time

Job summary

The Corporate Institute is seeking a CFO-Designate to join the executive leadership team and steer the entire finance function. The role focuses on corporate strategy, FP&A, taxation, audit, and compliance while ensuring a seamless leadership transition over a defined period.

The incumbent will partner with the MD/CEO and the Board on strategic initiatives, including expansions, M&A evaluations, and funding strategies, while driving digital finance transformation and robust governance across

Qualifications

• CA or equivalent professional qualification (CPA, MBA-Finance)
• 20+ years of progressive finance leadership experience
• At least 5 years at CXO or board-facing level
• Experience in hospitality, consumer-facing services, or multi-site operations is ideal

Responsibilities

• Oversee the entire finance function including corporate strategy, FP&A, governance, taxation, audit and compliance
• Lead transition into CFO role with phased succession planning
• Drive long-term financial planning, budgeting and forecasting aligned with growth
• Support IPO readiness, due diligence, and coordination with advisors
• Manage M&A activities including due diligence, valuation, and integration
• Lead fundraising through debt and equity, including investor relations
• Strengthen financial controls at unit/SBU level and optimize working capital
• Ensure robust tax compliance and governance across finance operations
• Engage with Board, banks, auditors and financial institutions
• Drive automation and data analytics in finance with IT and digital teams

Skills

Strategic financial thinking

Operational financial control

Stakeholder management

Risk and compliance oversight

Digital orientation

Leadership and change management

Education

Chartered Accountant (CA) or equivalents (CPA, MBA-Finance)

Job description

Role Overview:

The CFO-Designate will be a core member of the executive leadership team. This CXO-track role is designed to ensure a seamless leadership transition while enabling enterprise-wide financial stewardship. The individual will be responsible for the entire finance function including corporate strategy, financial planning and analysis, commercial governance, investor relations, taxation, audit, and financial compliance.

Key Responsibilities:

• Transition and Succession Planning: Work closely with the incumbent CFO to understand existing processes, systems, and strategic initiatives. Lead and manage a phased transition into the CFO role over an agreed time frame.
• Strategic Finance Leadership: Lead long-term financial planning, budgeting, and forecasting aligned with business growth objectives. Support the MD and CEO and Board in strategic initiatives including expansions, M&A evaluations, and funding strategies.
• IPO: Experience in supporting IPO readiness, including financial reporting, internal controls, compliance, due diligence and coordination with advisors.
• M&A: Experience in managing M&A activities, including financial due diligence, valuation, deal structuring, integration and coordination with internal and external stakeholders.
• Fundraising: Experience in fundraising through debt and equity, including investor/bank coordination, financial modelling, due diligence, documentation and negotiations.
• Commercial and Operational Finance: Strengthen unit-level and SBU-level financial controls. Lead profitability initiatives, cost rationalization, and working capital optimization.
• Compliance, Taxation and Risk: Ensure robust compliance with all statutory, tax, and audit requirements. Implement governance frameworks across finance operations, internal audits, and financial reporting.
• Investor and Stakeholder Engagement: Represent the organization credibly in Board and investor meetings. Maintain strong relationships with banks, auditors, and financial institutions.
• Technology and Digitization of Finance: Drive automation and finance analytics in partnership with IT and Digital teams. Enable data-driven decisions across departments.

Qualifications and Experience:

• Chartered Accountant (CA) or equivalent qualification (CPA, MBA-Finance)
• 20+ years of progressive finance leadership; at least 5 years at CXO or Board-facing level
• Background in hospitality, consumer-facing services, or multi-site operations is ideal
• Experience in strategic planning, audits, stakeholder management, and finance tech

Key Competencies:

• Strategic Financial Thinking and Business Acumen
• Operational and Commercial Financial Control
• Stakeholder Management and Board Communication
• Risk and Compliance Oversight
• Digital Orientation and Process Automation
• Leadership Maturity and Change Management