Role Overview We are looking for a Head of Finance / Finance Controller to take ownership of the finance function at Habanero Foods. This is a high-ownership role for someone who is comfortable operating in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment and can independently manage the core finance function while partnering closely with the founder and the CFO. The role will cover accounting, financial reporting, MIS, AR/AP, inventory, cash flow forecasting, cash management, compliance, controls and commercial finance. The successful candidate will also have the opportunity to build and lead a finance team as the business scales. Key Responsibilities 1. Finance & Accounting • Own the day-to-day finance and accounting function. • Drive timely monthly book closure and ensure accuracy of accounting records. • Prepare monthly P&L, Balance Sheet, Cash Flow and management MIS. • Ensure appropriate accounting for revenue, expenses, inventory, receivables and payables. • Manage and improve accounting processes and finance systems. • Coordinate with auditors, tax advisors and other external stakeholders. 2. MIS & Business Reporting • Own the monthly MIS and management reporting process. • Prepare detailed variance analysis against budgets, forecasts and prior periods. • Develop business dashboards and KPIs for management. • Provide insights on revenue, gross margins, contribution margins, operating costs and profitability. • Work closely with the CFO and founder on financial and business analysis. • Develop reporting that enables management to make faster and better decisions. 3. Cash Flow & Working Capital Management • Own weekly and monthly cash flow forecasting. • Maintain a rolling cash flow forecast and proactively identify funding requirements and cash gaps. • Monitor collections, vendor payments, inventory and overall working capital. • Drive improvement in the cash conversion cycle. • Support cash management, banking and treasury activities. • Work with the founder and the CFO on working capital strategy and funding requirements. 4. Accounts Receivable & Payable • Own the AR and AP function. • Monitor customer collections and outstanding receivables. • Manage reconciliation of customer accounts and resolve deductions, claims and disputes. • Ensure timely and accurate vendor payments. • Establish appropriate credit, collection and payment processes. • Track ageing and working capital metrics and escalate issues proactively. 5. Quick Commerce & Marketplace Finance • Own financial reconciliations across Blinkit, Zepto, Instamart, Amazon, Flipkart and other platforms. • Reconcile platform sales, settlements, commissions, discounts, claims, deductions, marketing spends and other charges. • Identify and recover incorrect deductions, claims and short payments. • Track platform-wise revenue, gross margin and contribution margin. • Work closely with sales and operations teams to improve channel profitability. • Develop robust processes for marketplace reconciliation and settlement tracking. Prior experience with quick-commerce or marketplace platforms will be a significant advantage. 6. Inventory & Cost Management • Own inventory accounting and stock reconciliation. • Monitor inventory levels, ageing, stock movement and inventory holding periods. • Analyse product-level gross margins and manufacturing costs. • Track wastage, expiry, write-offs and inventory variances. • Support costing and financial evaluation of new product launches. • Partner with operations and supply chain teams to identify cost optimisation opportunities. 7. Budgeting & Financial Planning • Support annual budgeting and business planning. • Prepare rolling forecasts and periodic reforecasts. • Build financial models for new products, channels and growth initiatives. • Analyse profitability across products, channels and customers. • Support decisions around pricing, promotions, marketing spends and channel expansion. 8. Compliance & Financial Controls • Ensure timely compliance with GST, TDS, Income Tax and other applicable statutory requirements. • Coordinate statutory and tax audits. • Strengthen internal financial controls and SOPs. • Establish appropriate controls across procurement, inventory, sales, collections and payments. • Drive automation and digitisation of finance processes. 9. Team Building & Finance Function Development • Build and develop the finance team as the business scales. • Define roles, responsibilities and processes within the finance function. • Mentor and develop finance team members. • Establish scalable finance processes and controls. • Build a finance function that can support the company's growth from an entrepreneurial setup to a larger, professionally managed organisation. Desired Candidate Profile Qualification • CA preferred • CMA / MBA (Finance) with strong relevant experience may also be considered. • Strong accounting and finance fundamentals are essential. Experience • 4–6 years of relevant experience in Finance & Accounts / Financial Controllership. • Experience in D2C, FMCG, Food & Beverage, e-commerce, consumer brands or quick commerce strongly preferred. • Experience managing a finance function independently will be an advantage. • Experience with Blinkit, Zepto, Instamart, Amazon, Flipkart or similar marketplace platforms is highly desirable. • Strong experience in AR/AP, inventory accounting, working capital and cash flow management. • Experience in a high-growth entrepreneurial environment preferred. Technical Skills