finance director.

Location: Mumbai

Reports To: Global CFO

Direct Working Relationships: Managing Director (India) & Local Executive Leadership Team

We are seeking an accomplished Finance Director to lead our Finance function in India. The Finance Director will be a driving force in ensuring that financial and commercial considerations are at the heart of the business's strategy, decision-making, and execution across the region.

This position is responsible for providing leadership and overseeing strategic direction, day-to-day operations, and continual enhancements across a broad spectrum of activities-including financial business partnering, financial planning & analysis (FP&A), controlling, tax, compliance, and magazine print production operations.

The role requires an individual who is both strategic and pragmatic: a leader who can develop and implement progressive ideas to transform and grow the business while maintaining an efficient, highly compliant financial operation. You must be an expert finance operative and a business partner capable of navigating change successfully within a complex global matrix organization.

Leveraging technology, rigor, and a natural drive for operational excellence, you will continuously improve the Finance function to elevate overall business performance.

1. Financial Business Partnering & Global Connectivity

• Act as a strategic business partner to the India Managing Director and executive leadership team.
• Lead the local execution of global financial strategies, goals, procedures, and initiatives.
• Identify, evaluate, structure, and drive new revenue, profit, and cash flow opportunities.
• Bridge local operations with the global operating model and Corporate HQ, ensuring unified reporting standards, strategic alignment, and seamless cross-functional collaboration.
• Leverage global shared service hubs (such as the Bangalore Hub) as strategic partners to drive operational improvements, process standardization, and scalable financial execution.
• Foster an accountable, high-performance environment across the organization and within the local Finance team.
• Represent the India region within the global Finance leadership community, influencing global strategy through insightful recommendations and best practices.

2. Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A)

• Lead all aspects of financial planning and reporting-including strategic long-range planning, annual budgeting, re-forecasting, and monthly management reporting-ensuring accurate, timely, and actionable output.
• Provide full visibility into financial and non-financial business performance with meaningful analysis and strategic recommendations.
• Develop a deep understanding of commercial drivers and operational levers across brands and business units to help leaders achieve and exceed target performance.
• Evaluate new initiatives, business proposals, and capital investments, monitoring ROI post-implementation.
• Provide proactive guidance on growing revenue, managing cost structures, and enhancing short- and long-term financial performance.

3. Controlling, Tax, Treasury, Audit & Corporate Governance

• Oversee and continually improve local controlling activities in alignment with best practice controls, processes, and corporate accounting policies.
• Ensure strict compliance with regulatory requirements, statutory reporting, tax filings, and local audits; serve as the primary contact for external auditors.
• Provide clear accounting guidance and financial policy interpretation across local operations.
• Oversee treasury operations, including cash flow management, liquidity forecasting, and local banking relationships.
• Direct all direct and indirect tax planning, filings, and compliance.
• Drive consistency in internal controls and risk management across global finance network standards.

4. Operations & Team Leadership

• Oversee magazine print production and manufacturing operations, ensuring timely production and adherence to premium brand quality standards.
• Lead, mentor, and motivate the local Finance team, setting performance standards, supporting professional development, and building a high-trust culture.
• Lead technology and process transformation initiatives to modernize the Finance function.
• Maintain the highest standards of integrity, professional conduct, and compliance with corporate ethics policies.
• Proactively identify, communicate, and mitigate potential operational and financial risks.

• Internal: Corporate HQ Finance Team, India Managing Director, Local Functional Heads, Global Shared Services Hubs, and global network peers.
• External: External Auditors, Local Tax Authorities, Banking Partners, Vendors, and Regulatory Bodies.

• Commercial & Leadership Acumen: Proven track record as a commercially focused finance leader with strong executive presence, high business acumen, and the ability to influence senior executive stakeholders.
• Industry Experience: Direct experience within media, publishing, entertainment, or consumer-facing digital content industries is strongly preferred.
• Technical Expertise: Strong technical accounting background with expertise in financial controlling, statutory reporting, audit oversight, and tax compliance. CPA or Chartered Accountant (CA) qualification preferred; working knowledge of US GAAP/IFRS required.
• Matrix & Global Organizations: Demonstrated ability to navigate, align, and drive performance within a complex, multi-brand, matrixed global organization.
• Operations Support: Experience overseeing operational workflows, supply chain, or print production processes to maintain premium delivery and quality standards.
• Systems & Tools: Proficient in enterprise financial software; experience with Oracle EPM and Workday is highly preferred.
• Change Management: Proven capability in leading organizational transformation, driving continuous improvement, and implementing new technologies and controls.
• Communication: Exceptional verbal and written English communication skills.

experience