Ca Ajay Banka

Senior finance leader and qualified Chartered Accountant (All India 19th Rank, CA Final) with over 17 years of multigeography, multi-sector finance leadership experience across global MNCs — Haleon/GSK, Mondelēz International, Walmart/Flipkart, Vodafone and ITC. Currently serving as Europe CMO & Procurement Finance Lead at Haleon, managing GBP 1Bn+ raw/pack material costs and GBP 300Mn+ contract manufacturing spend across 15+ third-party manufacturers. Proven track record in full P&L ownership, manufacturing finance, supply chain cost control, strategic planning, governance/SOX compliance, investor & board-level stakeholder management, and cross-border team leadership.

Demonstrated ability to drive profitable growth in complex environments — including a Morocco country Head of Finance assignment (delivering +30% topline recovery) and supply chain FP&A leadership across South-East Asia ($1Bn portfolio). Has participated in M&A project work at Haleon. Ready to step into a CFO mandate for a large listed manufacturing business.

Europe CMO & Procurement Finance Lead (FP&A) - Haleon / GSK Consumer Healthcare - GCC Bangalore (Hybrid)

(2022-08)

Haleon is a FTSE 100 global consumer healthcare leader (Sensodyne, Voltaren, Panadol). Role spans Europe CMO network and GBP 1Bn+ procurement finance.

• CMO / Contract Manufacturing Finance Lead: Own end-to-end finance for GBP 300Mn+ contract/comanufacturing (CMO) spend across 15+ third-party manufacturers spanning Western & Eastern Europe — covering cost governance, variance analysis, contract negotiations support and make-vs-buy decisions.
• Procurement Finance: Manage GBP 1Bn+ raw & packaging material and commodity cost portfolio; drive annual planning, quarterly forecasting, monthly LE and deep variance analysis vs. prior year and budget.
• Productivity & Cost Improvement: Architect and track cost improvement and productivity programs; devise and manage energy cost strategy including commodity hedging to mitigate supply chain inflation risk.
• Entity Set-Up: Led finance team establishment within the newly de-merged Haleon entity post GSK Consumer Healthcare separation — built processes, governance frameworks and reporting cadence from ground up.
• M&A Project Team: Participated in a confidential M&A project at Haleon — contributing financial analysis and due-diligence support within the European manufacturing finance remit.
• Key Achievement: Delivered material COGS savings through structured CMO spend review and renegotiation; successfully embedded energy hedging strategy to protect margin through volatile energy markets.

East Europe Finance Controller - Nielsen UAE - UAE

(2022-05 - 2022-07)

Short-Term Stint

• Led finance controlling for 15+ Eastern European countries including Russia during a transition period.
• Stabilised new organisational structure and managed outsourcing of key finance activities to Pune Hub.

Head of Finance – B2B Business (FP&A) - Walmart / Flipkart - Bangalore

(2021-09 - 2022-04)

Led FP&A for the $1Bn B2B business (Cash & Carry stores + eCommerce), reporting to CFO.

• Owned short-to-long-term strategic business planning, performance monitoring and course correction for the $1Bn B2B portfolio.
• Anchored corporate deliverables and leadership team presentations; led business finance for support functions — marketing, technology and HR.

Multiple Roles – FP&A & Country Finance Head - Mondelēz International - Morocco / SEA / Africa

(2017-08 - 2021-09)

Progressive FP&A and country finance leadership across three geographies in four years.

• Morocco Head of Finance (Expat — Sep 2020 to Sep 2021): Member of Morocco Leadership Team; full P&L ownership for $100Mn country business over a 1-year expat assignment. Managed budgeting, trade spends, credit control, internal/external audit and compliance. Led new distributor stabilisation and RTM improvement — delivered +30% topline recovery and return to positive operating income.
• Gum, Candy, Bev & Meal Category FP&A — Sub Saharan Africa (Apr–Aug 2020): Planning, forecasting, pricing, innovation finance and A&C spend management. Awarded by regional finance team for developing SKUwise P&L framework.
• Supply Chain FP&A — South-East Asia (Dec 2018 – Sep 2020): Budgeted and managed overall supply chain costs ($1Bn) for SEA. Led monthly closing and reporting; delivered record productivity in FY2020, recognised by Global CFO.
• India Capex & Sricity Plant Controller (Aug 2017 – Dec 2018): Member of Plant Leadership Team. Managed monthly closures, costing, MIS, SOX compliance. Led successful set-up of new manufacturing plant and clean first internal audit. Partnered on strategic Capex investment evaluation.

AGM – Corporate Assurance - Vodafone India - Mumbai

(2015-08 - 2017-08)

• Architected and rolled out internal control processes, guidelines and automated self-assessment across 23 circles, 4 subsidiaries and shared service centres.
• Led a team of 10 to ensure tight SOX and IFC compliance for business reporting; drove process improvement through automation and synergies.
• Identified as 'Potential Talent' for future succession within the organisation.

Financial Controller & Project Controller - ITC Hotels / ITC Limited - Chennai / Gurgaon

(2008-11 - 2015-08)

• Financial Controller — My Fortune (Chola Sheraton), Chennai (Mar–Aug 2015): Finance head for Rs. 60Cr hotel; managed team of 25 across P&L, taxation, credit control, capex, budgeting and compliance.
• Project Controller — ITC Grand Bharat Resort & Villas (May 2010–Mar 2015): Financial, commercial and administrative head for $100Mn luxury resort project. Led entire tender/order/import management; managed MIS, cash flow, Govt. liaison and subsidiary accounts.
• Assistant Manager Finance — Hotel Division, Projects (Nov 2008–May 2010): Financial viability analysis for hotel renovation and greenfield projects; finance lead for windmill implementation division.

Direct Tax Consultant - S R Batliboi & Associates (Ernst & Young) - Mumbai

(2008-01 - 2008-10)

• Income tax returns, withholding/advance tax, tribunal representations, complex tax research and advisory (structuring, technical memos).

Statutory Audit & Tax Consultant - Pradeep Singhi & Associates - Surat

(2005-09 - 2008-01)

• Statutory audit, tax consultancy and fixed asset verification.

CA (Final) - Chartered Accountancy - ICAI (2007-11)

CA (Inter) - Chartered Accountancy - ICAI (2005-05)

CPA - Chartered Professional Accountancy - CPA Australia (2019-02)

ICWA (Final) - Cost Accountancy - ICWAI (2009-06)

B.Com - Commerce - South Gujarat University, Surat (2006-05)

LLB - Law - South Gujarat University, Surat (2007-11)