General Manager – Lachmandas Trading Company, (Aswani Lachmandas Group), Ernakulam branch.

1. About Aswani Lachmandas Group

The Aswani Lachmandas Group is a diversified, family-led business group with a strong presence in trading, distribution, retail and allied businesses. Built on a legacy of trust, entrepreneurship and long-standing relationships with principals, customers and business partners, the Group has grown through a combination of strong market execution, people development and disciplined business practices. The Group believes in combining its traditional strengths in distribution and trade relationships with modern management practices, technology, process discipline and continuous improvement.

1. About Lachmandas Trading Company

Lachmandas Trading Company (LTC) is a key distribution and trading business within the Aswani Lachmandas Group. The company has an established presence in the FMCG and tobacco distribution ecosystem and works with a large network of retailers and trade partners. The business operates across multiple categories and channels, including cigarette/tobacco and non-tobacco products, supported by a field sales force, channel managers, team leaders, godown and logistics personnel, accounts and billing teams, and HR support.

The Devi Complex Branch is an important operating unit of the company. The General Manager will be responsible for providing overall leadership to the branch, ensuring coordinated functioning across sales, collections, operations, logistics, finance, administration and people management.

1. Position

Designation: General Manager

Location: Devi Complex Branch

Reporting To: Management / Directors

Department: Overall Branch Operations

1. Role Purpose

The General Manager will be responsible for the overall business performance, profitability, operational efficiency and people management of the Devi Complex Branch. The role requires the GM to act as the single point of coordination and accountability for all major branch functions, with a focus on:

- Driving sales and category growth
- Improving retail throughput and market execution
- Ensuring timely collections and reducing receivables
- Strengthening process discipline and compliance
- Ensuring accurate inventory and efficient logistics
- Developing and managing the branch team
- Improving coordination between departments
- Identifying operational gaps and building the required support structure

The GM will work through the respective Channel Managers, Team Leaders, Salesmen, Godown Coordinator, Stock In-charges, Accounts and Billing In-charge, and HR support staff. The objective is to build a high-performing, process-driven and accountable branch that consistently delivers sales growth, strong collections, efficient operations and excellent customer service.

1. Key ResponsibilitiesA. Overall Branch Leadership and Business Management

- Take complete ownership of the overall performance of the Devi Complex Branch.
- Develop annual, quarterly and monthly business plans in line with company objectives.
- Translate management objectives into clear departmental and individual targets.
- Conduct regular performance reviews across sales, collections, operations and support functions.
- Ensure effective coordination between all departments and eliminate operational silos.
- Identify gaps in people, processes, systems and infrastructure and recommend corrective action.
- Escalate key business risks, market developments and operational challenges to management in a timely manner.
- Create a culture of ownership, accountability, discipline and continuous improvement.

B. Sales and Business Growth The GM will oversee both the cigarette/tobacco and non-tobacco businesses, working through the respective Channel Managers, Team Leaders and Salesmen.

Key responsibilities

- Drive achievement of sales targets across all channels and categories.
- Improve retail throughput and productivity across the outlet universe.
- Increase active outlet coverage and improve the quality of productive outlets.
- Identify opportunities to grow existing categories and introduce new categories.
- Monitor market trends, competition, retailer feedback and emerging opportunities.
- Improve beat productivity, salesman productivity and outlet-level performance.
- Ensure effective execution of company and principal-led initiatives.
- Work with Channel Managers to develop focused plans for underperforming territories, categories or teams.
- Review sales performance regularly and take prompt corrective action where targets are not being achieved.

C. Cigarette / Tobacco Business Management Working with the relevant Channel Managers and sales leadership team, the GM will be responsible for:
- Driving sustainable sales and retail throughput growth.
- Ensuring strong market execution and availability.




- Monitoring competitive activity and taking appropriate action to protect and grow market share.
- Reducing business loss arising from competition, poor execution or process gaps.
- Ensuring compliance with all company, principal and regulatory processes.
- Monitoring GR management and related processes.
- Ensuring timely management of outstanding receivables and LTA payments.
- Improving database accuracy and ensuring correct customer, outlet and transaction information.
- Reviewing market-level exceptions and ensuring timely resolution.
- Driving accountability across the sales hierarchy.

D. Non-Tobacco Sales and Category Management The GM will lead the non-tobacco business through the Channel Managers, Team Leaders and Salesmen.

Key responsibilities include

- Drive growth across all assigned non-tobacco categories.
- Develop specific growth plans for GR1A, GR1B and GR2 categories.
- Improve category-wise outlet penetration and retail throughput.
- Identify opportunities for cross-selling and expanding product range across existing outlets.
- Improve new outlet acquisition and productive outlet conversion.
- Ensure focused execution of category-specific targets and schemes.
- Monitor category profitability and business quality.
- Ensure adherence to all sales, credit, billing and process requirements.
- Maintain strict control over outstanding receivables.
- Identify underperforming categories, territories and sales personnel and implement corrective action plans.

E. Collections, Outstanding and Receivables Management One of the GM's key responsibilities will be to ensure that sales growth is accompanied by strong financial discipline.

The GM will

- Monitor outstanding receivables across all businesses and categories.
- Ensure timely collection of dues and reduce overdue balances.
- Review ageing reports on a regular basis.
- Work with sales and accounts teams to resolve collection bottlenecks.
- Ensure appropriate follow-up on high-risk and long-pending accounts.
- Prevent uncontrolled credit extension.
- Ensure adherence to approved credit policies and limits.
- Monitor LTA and other pending payments.
- Establish clear accountability for outstanding management at Channel Manager, Team Leader and Salesman levels.
- Maintain a healthy balance between sales growth and quality of receivables.

F. Godown, Inventory and Logistics Management The GM will oversee godown and delivery operations with the support of the Godown Coordinator and Stock In-charges.

Responsibilities include

- Ensure smooth and efficient functioning of the godown.
- Maintain accurate inventory and stock records.
- Monitor stock shortages, damages, discrepancies and WSP shortages.
- Ensure timely investigation and closure of stock variances.
- Improve stock handling, storage and movement practices.
- Ensure prompt and accurate order processing and dispatch.
- Monitor delivery turnaround time and customer service levels.
- Ensure efficient vehicle utilisation and vehicle management.
- Track vehicle maintenance, statutory requirements and license renewals.
- Ensure proper scheduling and deployment of delivery resources.
- Maintain high standards of godown cleanliness, hygiene and safety.
- Conduct periodic stock verification and reconciliation.
- Identify opportunities to reduce operational inefficiencies and logistics costs.

G. Billing, Accounts and Compliance Working closely with the Accounts and Billing In-charge, the GM will ensure:

- Prompt and accurate billing.
- Timely completion of accounting and bookkeeping activities.
- Proper adherence to internal processes and financial controls.
- Timely renewal and management of insurance policies and other relevant statutory requirements.
- Proper documentation and record maintenance.
- Timely reconciliation of key accounts and transactions.
- Coordination between sales, godown and accounts to prevent billing and stock discrepancies.
- Timely escalation and resolution of financial or process-related exceptions.
- Compliance with company policies, statutory requirements and principal guidelines.

H. Human Resources and People Management The GM will work with HR Assistants and management to build a strong and motivated branch team.

Responsibilities include

- Ensure appropriate manpower planning across departments.
- Identify manpower gaps and initiate timely recruitment.
- Participate in the selection and onboarding of key employees.




- Ensure proper induction and role clarity for new employees.
- Monitor attendance, payroll inputs and workforce-related records.
- Conduct regular performance reviews of key team members.
- Identify training and capability-building requirements.
- Develop succession and backup plans for critical roles.
- Improve employee engagement and morale.
- Implement staff welfare initiatives in coordination with management and HR.
- Address employee grievances and workplace issues in a timely and fair manner.
- Promote a culture of discipline, teamwork, accountability and respect.

1. Process Compliance and Internal Controls

The GM will be responsible for ensuring that the branch operates in a disciplined and process-oriented manner.

This includes

- Ensuring compliance with approved company processes.
- Identifying areas of process leakage or non-compliance.
- Ensuring timely corrective action.
- Maintaining accurate business and operational data.
- Improving database accuracy.
- Ensuring proper documentation and approvals.
- Monitoring key control points across sales, collections, stock, billing and expenses.
- Supporting internal audits and implementing corrective actions.
- Developing simple dashboards and review mechanisms to track key branch KPIs.

1. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

The performance of the General Manager will be measured across the following areas:

Business Performance

- Achievement of sales targets
- Sales growth versus previous year
- Category-wise growth
- Retail throughput growth
- Productive outlet growth
- Outlet penetration and market coverage
- Sales team productivity

Collections and Financial Discipline
- Outstanding levels
- Ageing of receivables
- Collection efficiency
- Reduction in overdue accounts
- Timeliness of LTA and other payments

Operations and Logistics
- Stock accuracy
- Reduction in stock shortages and discrepancies
- WSP shortage management
- Delivery turnaround time
- Vehicle utilisation and management
- Godown hygiene and operational standards

Process and Compliance
- Process adherence
- Audit observations and closure
- Database accuracy
- Timely license and insurance renewals
- Billing and documentation accuracy

People Management
- Employee productivity
- Recruitment turnaround time
- Employee retention
- Staff welfare and engagement
- Performance management and team development

1. Authority and Resource Support

The General Manager will have the responsibility to identify gaps in the existing organisation structure, skills or support systems. Where a genuine gap is identified, the GM may recommend:
- Recruitment of additional functional in-charges
- Restructuring of responsibilities
- Additional manpower
- Process improvements
- Technology or reporting support
- Training and capability development

Management will support the strengthening of the branch structure wherever there is a clear business need and a defined improvement plan. The expectation from the GM is not necessarily to personally execute every activity, but to build the right team, establish clear accountability, review performance rigorously and ensure that outcomes are delivered.

1. Desired Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate should possess:
- Strong experience in FMCG, distribution, trading, sales or branch management.
- Demonstrated experience in managing multiple teams and functions.
- Strong understanding of sales, collections and receivables management.
- Experience in distribution operations, inventory and logistics management.
- Ability to analyse business data and translate insights into action.
- Strong leadership and people-management capabilities.
- Ability to work in a fast-paced, target-driven environment.
- High levels of ownership, integrity and process discipline.
- Strong communication and coordination skills.
- Comfort in dealing with frontline employees as well as senior management.

1. The Role in One Statement

The General Manager is the overall business and operating leader of the Devi Complex Branch, responsible for ensuring better sales, stronger collections, controlled receivables, efficient operations, accurate stock, prompt deliveries, process compliance and a motivated, accountable workforce. The GM's success will be measured not merely by individual departmental performance, but by the ability to create a well-coordinated, profitable, disciplined and continuously improving branch operation.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: ₹35,000.00 - ₹45,000.00 per month

Perks

- Cell phone reimbursement
- Commuter assistance
- Leave encashment
- Paid sick time
- Provident Fund

Application Question(s):
- Should belong to Cochin Corporation Limits

Education:
- Bachelor's (Required)

Experience:
- Sales management: 5 years (Required)
- General Management: 2 years (Required)

Work Location: In person

📌 General Manager and Branch Head (Kochi)
🏢 Lachmandas Trading
📍 Kochi