My Client is a multiregional oil and petroleum products company. It acts as an intermediary in the supply chain, facilitating transactions between producers, refineries, and consumers.

Role: Finance and Budget Manager

Location: Pune

Responsible for managing the financial aspects of the bioethanol plant construction, ensuring the project stays within budget.

Key Responsibilities:

Project Budget Development & Management:

- Lead the development of a comprehensive and detailed project budget for the bioethanol plant construction, in collaboration with engineering, procurement, and construction teams.

- Establish cost codes and allocation methodologies to accurately track expenditures against specific project phases and components.

- Implement robust budget control mechanisms and proactive measures to prevent cost overruns.

- Review and approve budget change requests, ensuring proper documentation and justification.

Cost Tracking & Control:

- Continuously monitor, track, and analyze all project expenses, including direct costs (materials, labor, equipment) and indirect costs (overhead, administrative).

- Reconcile actual expenditures against the approved budget on a regular basis (e.g., weekly, monthly).

- Identify potential cost variances, discrepancies, and risks, and promptly escalate them to relevant stakeholders.

- Implement corrective actions and cost-saving initiatives to ensure costs remain within approved limits.

- Manage and track contingency budgets, ensuring their appropriate utilization.

Financial Operations & Payments:

- Work closely with the Procurement team to review vendor contracts, purchase orders, and payment terms, ensuring alignment with financial policies and project budget.

- Collaborate with Project Managers and site teams to verify work completion and approve progress payments to contractors and vendors in a timely and accurate manner.

- Oversee the processing of invoices, ensuring proper documentation, approvals, and adherence to payment schedules.

- Manage cash flow forecasting for the project, ensuring sufficient liquidity for operational needs and scheduled payments.

- Resolve any payment disputes or discrepancies with contractors and vendors efficiently.

Financial Reporting & Forecasting:

- Prepare and present accurate, timely, and insightful financial reports for internal and external stakeholders (e.g., senior management, investors, lenders).

- Develop detailed financial forecasts (e.g., cash flow forecasts, cost to complete, earned value analysis) to predict future financial performance and potential challenges.

- Conduct variance analysis and provide clear explanations for deviations from budget and forecasts.

- Develop and maintain financial models to support project decision-making and scenario planning.

- Ensure compliance with relevant accounting standards, tax regulations, and company policies.

Risk Management & Compliance:

- Identify and assess financial risks associated with the project, including market fluctuations, material price volatility, and currency risks.

- Develop and implement mitigation strategies to minimize financial exposure.

- Ensure strict adherence to all internal controls, financial policies, and regulatory requirements.

- Support internal and external audits related to project expenditures.

Stakeholder Communication & Collaboration:

- Act as the primary financial liaison for the construction project, fostering strong relationships with project managers, procurement, engineering, and senior leadership.

- Communicate financial performance, risks, and opportunities clearly and concisely to non-financial stakeholders.

- Participate in project review meetings and provide financial insights to support strategic decisions.

Qualifications:

- Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or a related field. MBA or a professional accounting qualification (e.g., CA, CPA, ACCA) is highly preferred.

- Minimum of 8-10 years of progressive experience in financial management, with at least 3-5 years specifically in project finance or cost control for large-scale industrial construction projects (ideally in process industries, renewable energy, or similar).

- Proven experience in managing budgets exceeding.

- Strong understanding of project management methodologies and financial principles (e.g., earned value management).

- Proficiency in financial modeling, forecasting, and variance analysis.

- Expert-level proficiency in Microsoft Excel; experience with project management software (e.g., Primavera P6, Microsoft Project) and ERP systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle) is a significant advantage.

- Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.

- Exceptional communication (written and verbal) and interpersonal skills, with the ability to effectively communicate financial information to diverse audiences.

- High level of integrity, attention to detail, and accuracy.

- Ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.

- Prior experience in the bioethanol or chemical processing industry is a plus.

Working Conditions:

- Primarily office-based, but may require occasional visits to the construction site.

- May involve extended hours during critical project phases.