Director - Finance

Location : Chennai 

Position Sumary : 

The Finance Director – South Asia serves as a strategic financial leader, driving financial performance, governance, and growth across the region. The role leads FP&A, budgeting, forecasting, cost accounting, OPEX management, and financial analysis while providing strategic consulting and decision support to senior management. It also oversees financial reporting, costing, supplier negotiations, BI tools, and audit readiness, ensuring alignment with Kemin WW Group standards.

Seeking an experienced finance leader to drive forecasting, budgeting, cost accounting, and OPEX management while partnering with senior leadership on strategy and growth. This role oversees financial operations, reporting, compliance, supplier negotiations, and administratively manages the Information Technology team, while leading a high‑performing finance organization to enable data‑driven decisions and long‑term value creation.

A detailed position Charter

1. Financial Planning, Cost Accounting & OPEX Management

• Lead monthly forecasts, annual budgets, long-range planning, and variance analysis.
• Oversee cost accounting processes, ensuring accurate product costing and margin analysis.
• Drive OPEX management, including planning, monitoring, and optimization across functions.
• Analyze trends across revenue, COGS, OPEX, and CAPEX to drive insights.
• Monitor KPI performance and explain unexpected variances.

2. Strategic Finance & Business Partnership

• Provide strategic financial consulting to senior leaders and regional business heads.
• Develop financial models for investments, pricing, new product launches, and marketing ROI.
• Support business cases, M&A assessment, scenario planning, and long-term strategy.

3. Financial Operations & Reporting

• Oversee financial reporting, costing, statutory compliance, governance, and internal controls.
• Ensure accurate and timely monthly & quarterly reporting packages.
• Implement and enhance BI tools, dashboards, and performance analytics.

4. Supplier & External Stakeholder Management

• Lead financial modeling for supplier negotiations, pricing structures, and supply planning.
• Maintain strategic relationships with key suppliers and financial institutions.

5. Leadership & Team Development

• Lead and develop a high-performing regional finance team.
• Promote a hands-on, collaborative leadership culture.
• Strengthen FP&A, costing, OPEX management, business partnering, compliance, and reporting capabilities.

6. Essential Responsibilities (Supporting each Accountability)

• Conduct ad-hoc analysis for strategic initiatives and leadership decision support.
• Prepare Board-level presentations and executive financial reports.
• Improve internal processes to enhance efficiency and enable data-driven decisions.
• Support audit preparation and ensure compliance with global finance governance.
• Drive integration of BI tools, automation opportunities, and performance dashboards.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives in cost accounting and OPEX control.

7. Direct Reports

• Finance Managers, FP&A Analysts, Costing & Reporting Teams (regional scope)

8. Percent of Time Allocation (Annual View)

• FP&A, Cost Accounting & OPEX Management: 30%
• Strategic Finance & Leadership Support: 30%
• Governance, Compliance & Controls: 15%
• Supplier & External Relations: 10%
• Team Leadership & Development: 15% 

This role is critical to the region’s financial and strategic success and supports Kemin WW Group’s commitment to operational excellence, cost discipline, OPEX stewardship, and sustainable growth.

Education & Professional Requirements

• A Chartered Accountant (CA) mandatory.
• CPA or MBA preferred.

Experience Requirements

• Minimum 15+ years of progressive finance or accounting experience in a manufacturing environment
• Work experience in an MNC is preferred
• Strong FP&A, cost accounting, OPEX management, reporting, and financial operations background.
• Experience working across multiple countries/markets preferred.
• Knowledge of international accounting standards is an advantage.

Competencies & Skills

• Strong leadership and negotiation skills.
• High accuracy, precision, and organizational discipline.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills - English
• Ability to translate complex financial insights into clear recommendations.
• Hands-on approach with the ability to work closely with cross-functional teams.
• Demonstrated integrity and strong ethical standards.
• Strong analytical capability in cost structures and OPEX optimization.