General Manager Finance (Banking, Funding & Treasury)

Senior Leadership | Debt Fundraising, Lender Relationships & Repayment Discipline

Role Summary

The General Manager – Finance will own all borrowing across Cheran Group. The role has three mandates: raise the funds the Group needs for its projects and operations, on time and on the best available terms; act as the single point of contact for every bank and financial institution the Group deals with; and make sure every instalment, interest payment and lender covenant is met on or before its due date.

Success in this role is measured in three numbers: zero missed or delayed repayments, a steadily falling weighted average cost of debt, and a Group credit profile that lenders compete to finance.

Role Overview

Job Title

General Manager – Finance (Banking, Funding & Treasury)

Department

Group Finance – Banking & Treasury Desk

Reports To

Group Director(s) / Board of Directors

Scope

All Cheran Group borrowing entities – companies, trusts, plantation & beverage, aquaculture and financial services businesses

Location

Coimbatore HQ (fully on-site; no travel)

Experience Level

12 to 15+ years, including at least 6 years in corporate banking, credit or debt raising

Employment Type

Full time, Senior Leadership

Compensation

Competitive fixed pay + annual performance bonus linked to interest savings and repayment record

Core Responsibilities

- Fundraising & Debt Structuring: Build the annual borrowing plan for each entity from its capex and working-capital needs. Raise and close term loans, lease rental discounting (LRD), construction finance, working-capital limits (CC/OD/WCDL), equipment finance and project loans. Evaluate government refinance, interest-subvention and credit-guarantee schemes (e.g., through SIDBI and NABARD) where the Group is eligible. Match loan tenor and repayment profile to each asset’s cash flows.
- Bank & Lender Relationship Management: Act as the Group’s single point of contact for all banks and financial institutions. Maintain an active panel of public and private sector banks so the Group is never dependent on one lender. Bring relationship managers, branch and credit heads to Group HQ for regular review meetings, and drive sanctions, documentation, security creation and disbursement to closure.
- Cost of Debt Reduction: Track the weighted average cost of debt by loan, entity and lender. Negotiate spread reductions and fee waivers,



move loans to cheaper benchmarks where beneficial, and refinance or take over high-cost debt through balance transfers. Use surplus cash to prepay the costliest borrowings first. Obtain and improve external credit ratings to unlock lower pricing.
- Repayment Discipline & Debt Servicing: Maintain a Group-wide debt servicing calendar covering every EMI, interest date, bullet repayment and renewal. Run a rolling 13-week cash flow for debt service and alert management 90, 60 and 30 days ahead of any funding gap. Ensure no account is ever classified SMA-0/1/2 and that the Group’s CIBIL and CRILC record stays clean.
- Covenants, Security & Lender Compliance: Track and certify all financial covenants (DSCR, FACR, TOL/TNW, LTV). Submit stock and book-debt statements, QPRs, audited financials, end-use and CA certificates on time. Manage stock audits, insurance of secured assets, charge creation and satisfaction with the ROC and CERSAI, and custody of title documents. Avoid all penal interest and charges.
- Treasury & Liquidity Management: Consolidate visibility of cash across all entities. Hold a liquidity buffer for upcoming debt service, deploy surplus funds to reduce interest cost, and structure inter-entity funding within the limits of the Companies Act and applicable trust rules.
- Credit Proposals & Board Reporting: Prepare CMA data, DPRs, project reports, financial models and information memoranda for lenders. Present a monthly debt MIS to the Board covering outstanding debt by entity and lender, cost of debt, maturity profile, covenant status, sanctioned-but-undrawn limits and upcoming obligations.
- Team & Coordination: Lead the banking and treasury desk. Work closely with accounts, legal, company secretarial, statutory auditors and external valuers so lender requirements are met without delay.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

- Repayment Record: 100% of EMIs, interest and bullet repayments paid on or before the due date; zero SMA classification on any account, in any entity.
- Cost of Debt:



Reduce the Group’s weighted average cost of debt by at least 50 bps in Year 1 and 100 bps cumulatively by Year 2, measured against the portfolio at the date of joining.
- Funding Delivery: Board-approved funding requirements sanctioned within 90 days and disbursed in line with project milestones.
- Lender Compliance: 100% of limits renewed before expiry; all stock statements, covenant certificates and lender submissions filed on time; zero penal interest or charges.
- Liquidity Cover: Available liquidity (cash plus undrawn limits) always covers at least the next 3 months of debt service.
- Credit Rating: Obtain, or upgrade by at least one notch, the external credit rating of the key borrowing entities within 24 months.
- Board Reporting: Monthly debt MIS delivered to the Board by the 7th of every month.

Qualifications & Ideal Candidate Profile

- Educational Qualification: Chartered Accountant (CA) or MBA in Finance. CFA or CAIIB is a strong plus.
- Experience: 12 to 15+ years, of which at least 6 years in corporate banking, credit appraisal, debt syndication, or heading banking relationships for a multi-entity business group. A demonstrated record of raising and refinancing large-ticket term debt across multiple lenders.
- Sector Exposure: Hands-on experience with real estate funding (LRD, construction finance) is essential. Exposure to lending to educational trusts, plantations, agriculture or food and beverage businesses is a strong advantage.
- Technical Competencies: Working command of RBI lending norms, the SMA/NPA framework, security and loan documentation, CMA data and DPR preparation, debt financial modelling, credit rating processes, and Companies Act provisions on borrowings and charges.
- Lender Network: Established working relationships with credit and relationship teams at leading public and private sector banks, particularly in Tamil Nadu.
- Personal Attributes: High integrity, a strong negotiator, disciplined about deadlines, and credible in front of bank credit committees. Fluency in Tamil and English preferred.

What We Offer

- Group-Wide Mandate: Ownership of the complete borrowing portfolio of a diversified group spanning real estate, education, plantations, beverages, aquaculture and financial services.
- Performance-Linked Reward: An annual bonus tied directly to measurable interest savings and a clean repayment record.
- Board Visibility: Direct access to the Group Directors and Board, with a central role in funding the Group’s next phase of growth.

📌 General Manager - Finance (Coimbatore)
🏢 Cheran Foundation Trust
📍 Coimbatore