Head Plant Finance & Accounts

Freelancer; Thoothukudi; On-site; INR 4,000,000 - 6,500,000; Full time

Job summary

Freelancer is seeking a Head of Finance & Accounts to lead the plant's end-to-end finance and accounting functions, ensuring strong financial control, compliance, cost optimization, and timely reporting to the CFO and Unit Head.

The role covers financial management, budgeting, costing, treasury, audits, tax compliance, and staff leadership. Tamil language proficiency is required, with 18–20 years post-qualification experience and a strong background in SAP FI/CO within manufacturing.

Qualifications

• CA qualified with extensive post-qualification leadership experience in manufacturing plants.
• Experience 18-20 years with at least 10 years in leadership.
• Proven costing, CAPEX/OPEX monitoring, compliance, treasury, and vendor negotiations.
• SAP FI/CO experience is mandatory.
• Tamil language proficiency is essential.
• Experience handling PF Trust/KHSS or similar trusts.
• Experience with multi-product plant.

Responsibilities

• Oversee plant-level finance operations including GL, AP/AR, costing and payroll.
• Ensure compliance with Ind-AS and company policies.
• Close books monthly/quarterly/yearly with timely reporting to HO.
• Manage budgeting, forecasting, and cost control at plant level.
• Lead product costing, variance analysis, and cost audits.
• Handle statutory dues payments and audits.
• Lead treasury, working capital, and insurance risk management.
• Mentor and develop finance team and coordinate with CFO/HO.

Skills

Leadership

SAP FI/CO

Vendor negotiations

Costing

Budgeting & cost control

Treasury management

Compliance management

Tamil language

Education

Chartered Accountant (CA)

ICWA

Tools

SAP

Job description

Role Description

The Head of Finance & Accounts will lead the end-to-end finance and accounting function at the plant, ensuring strong financial control, compliance, cost optimization, and timely reporting to Functionally CFO and Administratively to Unit Head.

Responsibilities

Financial Management & Reporting

• Oversee plant-level finance operations: general ledger, accounts payable/receivable, costing, and payroll.
• Drive compliance with Indian Accounting Standards (Ind-AS) and company policies.
• Ensure timely closure of books of accounts every month/quarter/year.
• Deliver timely & accurate MIS reports with budget variance analysis to HO.
• Maintain accurate records in SAP with high data integrity.

Budgeting & Cost Control

• Regular monitoring and review of CAPEX & OPEX budgets.
• Drive plant-level budgeting, forecasting, and financial planning.
• Standardize unit rates for contract services through a special committee.
• Collaborate with HoD Commercial for rates negotiation with vendors of major raw materials and contract services to reduce costs.

Costing & Profitability Management

• Lead the product costing process including standard costing, actual costing, and variance analysis.
• Monitor RM, PM, utilities, and overhead costs and ensure cost optimization.
• Review BOMs, routing, labor hours, overhead absorption, and cost allocation.
• Conduct cost audits and lead cost improvement initiatives.
• Analyze contribution margins, yield losses, and process efficiencies.

Compliance & Audit

• Ensure timely payment of statutory dues (PF, ESI, GST, TDS, etc.) and filing of all related returns.
• Actively manage plant-level compliance with Companies Act, Direct/Indirect taxes.
• Ensure effective implementation of internal audit recommendations and closure of quarterly statutory audit observations.
• Handle statutory, internal, cost, and GST audits seamlessly.

Insurance & Risk Management

• Ensure there is no over/under coverage of insurance for materials, plant & machinery, equipment, and project erection.
• Participate actively in insurance claim process under IAR and/or LOP policies.

Treasury & Working Capital Management

• Manage plant-level treasury operations, cash flow, vendor payments, and bank coordination.
• Optimize working capital (receivables, payables, and inventory) in alignment with operations.

Trust & Special Responsibilities

• Act as Trustee Exempted DCW PF Trust (Sahupuram) and oversee PF Trust administration.
• Act as Trustee KHSS and manage KHSS financial administration.

Leadership & Business Partnering

• Lead, mentor, and develop the plant finance & accounts team.
• Partner with plant leadership, operations, and supply chain for cost optimization and efficiency.
• Serve as the key financial link between the plant and CFO/HO.

Qualifications

• Chartered Accountant (CA)
• 18-20 years of post qualification experience with minimum 10 years in a leadership role
• Strong exposure to manufacturing/chemical industry plant finance. Worked with a multi-product plant.
• Proven track record in costing, CAPEX/OPEX monitoring, compliance, treasury, and vendor negotiations.
• SAP (FI/CO module) experience mandatory.
• Experience in handling PF Trust/KHSS or similar trust financial administration preferred.
• CA, ICWA with 18 plus years exp.
• Tamil language a must.