Covvalent - Head - Finance - Working Capital & Credit Line Management (7-10 yrs)

Position Summary:

The Head (or Director), Finance will play a pivotal role in securing and managing optimal working capital and credit lines across India and the US. This role requires experience in working with financial institutions to arrange best working capital lines as well as developing most accurate framework for customer risk assessment to align with our business needs. The successful candidate will also build and mentor a junior finance team, aligning finance with business needs to support Covvalent's growth objectives.

Key Responsibilities:

- Credit Line Management & Working Capital Optimization Identify and leverage the most cost-effective credit sources, tailoring financial instruments to maximize working capital efficiency.

- Cultivate relationships with banking and non-banking financial institutions to secure favorable terms for credit lines, ensuring alignment with the company's growth strategy.

- Credit Risk Framework Development Develop and continuously refine a comprehensive credit risk framework tailored to the specialty chemicals industry, incorporating business-aligned metrics and risk assessments.

- Establish internal credit metrics, perform risk assessments, and adjust frameworks as necessary to maintain accuracy and relevance.

- Team Development & Leadership

- Recruit, train, and mentor finance team members, fostering a culture of strategic alignment and performance.

- Provide guidance in areas of working capital management, credit risk, and financial analysis, supporting the team's development.

- Lead the team in financial operations, performance tracking, and strategic initiatives.

- Financial Strategy & Business Alignment Align financial strategy with company objectives, supporting operational and growth plans.

- Deliver insights on credit line requirements, cash flow forecasting, and working capital needs in both domestic and US markets.

- Work closely with senior leadership to drive data-informed decision-making and optimize resource allocation.

Accounting & Compliance:

- Oversee finance and accounting functions, ensuring compliance with both Indian and US GAAP standards.

- Manage audit processes and maintain rigorous financial reporting and record-keeping.

Qualifications:

Education: MBA in Finance, CA, or equivalent qualification.

Experience:

- 7-10 years in finance, with at least 5 years focusing on working capital and credit line management in the chemicals or related sectors.

- Experience with Fintech startups or NBFCs specializing in chemicals finance is strongly preferred.

- 3-4 years of experience in team building, including talent acquisition, training, and mentorship.

Skills:

- Proficiency in developing credit risk frameworks and internal risk metrics.

- Strong business alignment to continually refine credit risk assessments for improved accuracy.

- Knowledge of US and Indian GAAP standards.

- Excellent leadership, relationship-building, and negotiation skills.