Assistant Manager, Finance Planning & Analysis

Key Responsibilities

• Support the preparation of Annual Budgets, Latest Estimates, Forecasts, and Long-Range Plans.
• Coordinate with functional and site teams to collect, review, and validate financial assumptions.
• Prepare monthly management reports and analyze Actual vs Budget, Forecast, and Prior Year performance.
• Provide clear commentary on major financial variances, risks, opportunities, and business drivers.
• Analyze manufacturing costs, site operating expenses, absorption, headcount, inventory provisions, and production-related variances.
• Partner with Plant Heads and Functional Leaders to support cost control, operational improvements, and management decision-making.
• Prepare financial models and business cases for capacity expansion, new projects, cost-saving initiatives, and other strategic decisions.
• Ensure accuracy and completeness of financial data through appropriate reconciliations and validations.
• Develop dashboards and automate recurring reports using Advanced Excel, Power BI, Power Query, VBA, Python, or AI-based tools.
• Support ERP and finance transformation initiatives, including SAP reporting, master data validation, and process improvements.

Candidate Profile

Qualification

• Chartered Accountant, CMA, or MBA Finance preferred.

Experience

• 1-3 years of relevant experience

Experience in FP&A, Business Finance, Manufacturing Finance, or Management Reporting within a pharmaceutical or manufacturing organization will be preferred.

Required Skills

• Strong understanding of budgeting, forecasting, financial analysis, and management reporting.
• Good knowledge of P&L, manufacturing cost structures, fixed and variable costs, and operational drivers.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and financial modelling.
• Experience with Power BI or similar visualization tools.
• Working knowledge of SAP, Oracle, JD Edwards, or similar ERP systems.
• Exposure to SAP FI/CO, Product Costing, Cost Center Accounting, or profitability reporting will be an advantage.
• Strong communication, presentation, stakeholder-management, and problem-solving skills.

Ideal Candidate

A hands-on finance professional who can go beyond preparing reports, understand the business story behind the numbers, challenge assumptions, identify improvement opportunities, and communicate financial insights effectively to senior management.