Job Description

We are a leading chemical company, with the best teams developing intelligent solutions for our customers, and for a sustainable future.

We connect and develop people with diverse talents all over the world. For you, this means a variety of ways to progress.

Not only your performance but also your personality matter to us, regardless of gender, age, ethnicity, orientation, and background. At BASF, careers develop from opportunities.

Head of Finance India will lead all finance activities for the Service Delivery Unit (SDU) in India, ensuring strong financial control, insightful business partnering, and effective delivery of finance services that support the SDU’s growth and operational excellence. This role combines strategic leadership, operational finance management, process optimization, and people leadership to enable data-driven decisions and alignment with global finance standards.

Key Responsibilities

• Financial leadership & strategy
• Develop and execute the SDU’s strategy in alignment with global objectives.
• Serve as the primary finance business partner to the global Finance GBS community, translating financial implications of strategic and operational decisions.
• Responsible for budgeting, forecasting, long-range planning, and scenario analysis; drive financial discipline and performance.
• Operational finance & process delivery
• Manage end-to-end finance processes delivered by the SDU (e.g., accounts payable/receivable, closing cycles, management accounting), ensuring efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and high service levels.
• Identify and implement process improvements, automation, and standardization
• Manage capacity planning, workload balancing, and operational resilience for peak cycles
• Performance management & reporting
• Define and monitor KPIs and SLAs (closing time, accuracy, payments on time, etc.)
• Use metrics to drive improvement plans and communicate performance trends and risks
• Talent & team leadership
• Build, coach, and retain a high-performing finance team
• Set clear objectives, development plans, and performance expectations; foster a collaborative, continuous-improvement mindset.
• Ensure proper delegation, succession planning, and capability development.
• Governance & stakeholder management
• Maintain strong relationships with Regional/Global Finance, Tax, Legal, and business stakeholders.
• Ensure timely escalation of financial risks and provide recommended mitigation actions.
• Represent the SDU in global finance forums and ensure alignment with corporate policies.

Qualifications & Experience

• Chartered Accountant / MBA Finance / CIMA or equivalent professional qualification preferred.
• 12+ years of progressive finance experience, with at least 5 years in leadership roles; experience in SDU, shared services, or business unit finance preferred.
• Solid exposure to FP&A, accounting, controllership, and finance operations in an international or matrixed organization.
• Proven track record of process improvement and implementing finance automation/ERP systems.
• Strong business partnering skills with the ability to influence senior stakeholders and translate strategy into financial plans.
• Excellent analytical, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
• Demonstrated people leadership, team building, and talent development capabilities.