Vegrow - Business Finance Partner (4-7 yrs)

Company Description:

Vegrow operates in the fresh fruits sector with an addressable market size of $60 billion. As a tech platform, Vegrow partners with farmers, aggregates supply, and sells to organised demand through strategic partnerships. Vegrow simplifies farming practices and improves land utilisation for farmers. The company is a VC-funded startup, founded by a group of IITians with a passion for agritech. The team brings experience from agri-input and agri-output companies like AgroStar and ITC, as well as from building and scaling products at organisations such as UrbanCompany and Chronus.

Location: Bangalore (Work From Office, 5 days a week)

Role Overview:

- We are seeking a dynamic and detail-oriented BizFin Partner with 4-7 years of core Business Finance (BizFin) experience. The Business Finance Partner will lead and co-own the Profit & Loss of a Business Unit BU alongside the BU Head. This role involves close collaboration with the business team to drive overall business including profitability, optimize costs, and ensure alignment of financial strategies with business goals. The ideal candidate will bring strong financial acumen, a proactive problem-solving approach, and the ability to act as a strategic advisor.

Key Responsibilities:

P&L Ownership & Financial Management:

- Co-own the BU P&L with the BU Head, ensuring alignment of financial strategies with business goals.

- Monitor financial performance regularly and provide insights into revenue, expenses, and profitability.

- Drive initiatives to meet or exceed budgeted targets and address financial variances promptly.

Budgeting & Forecasting:

- Lead the budgeting and forecasting process for the BU, working closely with cross-functional teams.

- Collaborate with the central FP&A team to integrate BU plans into the company's overall financial plan.

- Provide updates and adjustments to forecasts based on changing business dynamics.

Strategic Partnership & Business Advisory:

- Partner with the business team to provide financial guidance on key business decisions, investments, and new projects.

- Act as a trusted advisor to the BU Head, providing insights and analysis to drive strategic decision-making.

- Lead efforts to identify growth opportunities, manage risk, and improve the BU's financial performance.

Cost Management & Efficiency:

- Identify areas for cost optimization, negotiate with vendors, and implement initiatives to enhance cost efficiency.

- Monitor expenses below contribution margins and ensure adherence to financial targets.

- Collaborate with procurement and operational teams to drive efficiency and improve the cost structure.

Performance Analysis & Reporting:

- Develop regular and ad-hoc financial reports to provide actionable insights for the business team.

- Conduct variance analysis and identify the root cause of variances to suggest corrective actions.

- Prepare presentations and reports for leadership, offering clear visibility into BU financial performance.

Process Improvement & Financial Controls:

- Identify opportunities to streamline financial processes and improve accuracy and timeliness of reporting.

- Ensure that financial controls are in place and adhere to company policies and compliance requirements.

- Participate in audits and reviews as needed, ensuring transparency and accountability in financial operations.

Cross-functional Collaboration:

- Liaise with other finance and operational teams to ensure a cohesive approach to business challenges.

- Work closely with central planning teams to develop company-wide solutions for any identified financial gaps.

- Support the Finance leadership team with strategic initiatives and special projects as required.

Qualifications:

- Chartered Accountant (CA) or MBA in Finance (or both) from a reputable institution.

- 4-7 years of experience in a finance business partnering role, preferably with P&L ownership. (2017 - 2020 Batch)

- Biz Fin experience is a must.

- Must have worked with the business team day in and out.

- Demonstrated ability to work closely with business leaders and influence decision-making.

- Strong proficiency in financial modelling and analysis tools, with advanced knowledge of Excel.

- Experience working with MySQL and dashboarding tools (Tableau, Power BI, or Looker Studio) is essential.

- Excellent communication, presentation, and negotiation skills.

- Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment and manage cross-functional teams.

- Strong problem-solving skills with a strategic mindset.

Travel Requirements:

- 20%-30% travel within India to understand business needs, engage with vendors, and meet customers.

PS.: Vegrow is a Series C company experiencing rapid growth. Having been part of scaling startups, this role offers incredible learning and development opportunities. You will have the chance to work closely with the core team, playing a key role in shaping the business and driving its success.

PPS : Candidates must come prepared with insights from Vegrow's P&L (publicly available).