Chief Financial Officer - Fashion - CA

Job Description:

Role & Responsibilities:

1. Strategic & Business Leadership:

- Act as an advisor to the CEO and Board on business strategy, growth planning, and transformation initiatives.

- Translate business strategy into robust financial roadmaps, and long-term value creation plans.

- Identify and proactively address margin pressure arising from changing consumer behavior, input costs, channel mix, discounting and inventory management.

2. Revenue Enhancement & Margin Improvement:

- Own P&L, balance sheet, and cash flow management across channels (EBO, MBO, LFR & online retail).

- Drive gross margin improvement through pricing strategy, cost optimization, sourcing efficiencies, and inventory productivity.

- Build strong revenue enhancement levers category profitability, channel mix optimization, markdown control, and sell-through improvement. Deep dive into product pricing strategy, discount management, channel profitability, product mix, and inventory management.

- Partner with Sales, Supply Chain, and Merchandising teams to unlock hidden margins.

3. Financial Management & Governance:

- Manage overall ownership of financial planning, budgeting & forecasting, MIS, and statutory compliance.

- Ensure robust financial controls, risk management frameworks, and governance standards.

- Closely monitor accounts receivables, implementing strategies to improve cash flow.

- Drive accuracy, timeliness, and insight-led reporting for management and Board.

4. Cost Optimization & Efficiency:

- Lead and drive cost optimization initiatives across Indirect, Direct revenue & Support functions, Production, sourcing, logistics & supply chain, retail operations, and back-end functions and lead process improvement.

- Manage cost discipline without impacting brand or customer experience.

- Drive productivity improvements through process redesign and automation.

- Ensure financial alignment during periods of change and scale.

5. Banking, Fund Raising & Investor Relations:

- Lead fund raising initiatives aligned with growth and expansion plans.

- Own investor relations, including presentations, updates, and strategic communication.

- Build credibility with investors, banks, and financial institutions.

- Negotiate and optimize working capital lines, loans, and treasury instruments. Ensure optimal cash flow management and liquidity planning.

6. IT & Finance Automation:

- Oversee finance digitization and IT automation (ERP, BI dashboards, forecasting tools).

- Use data and analytics to enable real-time decision-making and predictive insights.

Key Skills & Competencies:

- Strong strategic mindset with hands-on execution capability.

- Excellent communication and presentation skills; ability to engage with Board, investors, and senior leadership.

- High commercial acumen with deep understanding of consumer-facing businesses.

- Strong negotiation skills with banks and external stakeholders.

- Conversant, articulate, and confident in high-stakes discussions.

Preferred Candidate Profile:

- Chartered Accountant.

- 20 - 22 years of progressive experience, preferably in consumer, retail, fashion, lifestyle, or FMCG companies.

- Proven experience in margin management, fund raising, investor relations, and cost optimization.

- Prior exposure to IT automation, ERP implementation, and finance transformation is highly desirable.