Venkattesh Raman

A Chartered Accountant with over 15 years of rich experience in various facets of Finance - Detail-oriented and believes in driving efficiency through process orientation & automation.

Has varied exposure to industries such as Engineering, Chemicals & Paints, Hospitality, Personal Care, Dairy, Life Sciences, Consulting, IT & ITES, Robotics, Shipping, Automobiles, Cement, Tyres, Logistics, Infrastructure, etc in manufacturing, trading & corporate environments.

As a strong team player & people manager, has overseen multi geographical operations through large teams, taking along people from different cultures and speaking different languages - Has served as a member of the Indirect Tax Committee of ICAI - Has been a regular speaker at ICAI and a sought-after Corporate Trainer.

Having been a chartered accountant in practice and in service, has evolved as a balanced professional - Is keen to play a pivotal role in the long-term success and sustainability of an organization as Head of Finance

In the Current Role:

• Provided strategic leadership and direction to all functions of Finance for a 400-700 Crore Groups, overseeing a team of 20-25 professionals covering -

      - Record to Report

      -Order to Cash

      -Procure to Pay

      -Treasury

      -Taxation & Statutory Compliances

      -MIS

• Transitioned from a traditional person centric organization to a sustainable process oriented finance organization with a clear focus on efficiency, automation & transparency

• Introduced key strategic financial parameters to measure sustainable business performance and have objective, purpose driven and data backed reviews on the theme of Cash, Cost & Compliance

• Improved the working capital cycle through review of credit management, revamped the collection process and negotiated better credit terms with suppliers rto make the organization debt free over a period of 2.5 years

• Set up a Treasury Department to secure optimal credit lines, carry out effective investment of surplus funds and reduce forex losses manage relationships with banks, and ensure compliance with lending agreements.

• Spearheaded initiatives on cost reduction encompassing

       - centralization of back office functions in cost effective geographies

       -development of variable compensation schemes promoting result oriented pay

       -promoting the use of shared infrastructure

       -outsourcing activities such as payroll, travel desk, etc

• Commissioned an Audit & Compliance team with zero tolerance to non-compliances overseeing audits, taxation and secretarial requirement and timelines across multiple geographies

Highlights of Key Contribution In Previous Roles:

• Successfully Implemented a digitized Procure to Pay workflow for uninterrupted remote operations during COVID outbreak in a very short time ensuring continuity of business in CavinKare
• Formed and headed business verticals specializing in GST, IND AS, Internal Audit, Data Analytics & Management Advisory Services in Consulting Capacity as an entrepreneur when in Practice
• Managed multi crore investments of employee benefit trusts in Asian Paints
• Kep player in a massive project on Controlling Material Losses across manufacturing plants of Asian Paints