Finance Lead

About Godrej Agrovet

Godrej Agrovet Limited (GAVL) is a diversified agri-business company focused on enhancing the productivity of Indian farmers by innovating products and services that sustainably improve crop and livestock yields. It commands leading positions in Animal Feed, Crop Protection, Oil Palm, Dairy, Poultry, and Processed Foods, with a pan-India reach and annual sales exceeding one million tonnes of high-quality feed and nutrition products. The company collaborates closely with farmers to develop large oil palm plantations addressing India's edible oil demand. Its subsidiary, Astec Life Sciences Limited, manufactures fungicides and herbicides. Godrej Agrovet also operates in Dairy, Poultry, and Processed Foods through Creamline Dairy Products Limited and Godrej Tyson Foods Limited, and maintains a joint venture with ACI Group in Bangladesh for animal feed.

Role Overview

The Finance Lead will oversee the entire financial framework for the Oil Palm Business, including strategic financial planning, governance, reporting, and partnering with business units. Reporting to the CFO and CEO, this leader will work in close coordination with manufacturing plants and cross-functional teams to support sustainable growth, operational efficiency, and robust financial outcomes, while leading a team of finance professionals.

Key Responsibilities

• Formulate and implement financial strategies aligned with business growth goals.
• Collaborate with leadership to drive sustainable profitability and value creation.
• Lead annual budgeting, forecasting, and financial planning cycles.
• Deliver insightful financial analysis supporting strategic decisions.
• Drive cost optimization initiatives across manufacturing and operations without compromising quality.
• Evaluate capital projects and assess investment viability to support expansion.
• Ensure timely and compliant preparation of financial statements in accordance with accounting standards.
• Manage working capital and optimize cash flow and liquidity.
• Identify and mitigate financial risks including commodity volatility, forex exposure, supply chain risks, and market fluctuations.
• Ensure adherence to all statutory, taxation, and regulatory compliances; lead internal and external audits.
• Lead, guide, and develop a high-performing finance team fostering accountability and continuous improvement.

Essential Skills and Competencies

• Strong leadership skills with a focus on institution building and ethical standards.
• Strategic thinking with ability to align financial plans to overall business strategy.
• Excellent commercial acumen and capability in business partnering.
• Results-driven with a track record of executing operational and financial excellence.
• Exceptional stakeholder management, communication, and influence skills.

Qualifications and Experience

• Qualified Chartered Accountant (CA).
• 8 to 12 years experience in manufacturing finance.
• Proficient knowledge of Accounting Standards, Direct & Indirect Taxation, Financial Reporting, and Regulatory Compliance.
• Demonstrated experience in senior finance leadership roles managing teams of 12 to 15 members or more.
• Familiarity with plant finance, costing, commercial finance, import/export accounting, and commercial transactions.
• Proven capability in financial strategy formulation, operational efficiency, and profitability enhancement.
• Sound understanding of manufacturing cost structures, inventory management, supply chain dynamics, and working capital optimization.
• Experience with ERP systems and leading finance system implementations or enhancements.

Travel Requirements

This position requires extensive travel to manufacturing units, approximately 10 to 12 days per month, to collaborate with operations teams, review performance, reinforce financial governance, and support strategic initiatives.

Benefits

• Enhanced maternity benefits exceeding statutory norms.
• Flexible return-to-work arrangements following maternity leave and caregiver support during work travel for new mothers.
• Paternity and adoption leave provisions for primary caregivers.
• Gender-neutral anti-harassment policies, equal benefits for same-sex partners, and gender transition support.
• Comprehensive health and personal accident insurance for employees and their families.
• Unlimited sick leave and mental wellness programs including counseling support.
• Structured recognition programs celebrating employee achievements.