Shailza Maheshwary

Strategic Business Finance Leader with 18+ years across FP&A, commercial finance, and financial controllership — including tax, statutory audit, treasury, and intercompany governance — spanning Indian listed companies, US-based MNCs, and hospitality and IT organisations. Brings board advisory and IPO readiness experience, alongside financial modelling and valuation, having built finance and transformation capabilities from the ground up. Currently leads FP&A for a ₹1,000+ crore promoter-led Indian MNC, partnering closely with the Founder, CEO, COO, and CHRO on enterprise-wide decision-making.

CA | CS | IIM C | CFA Level III Candidate, targeting CFO / Deputy CFO / Head of Finance mandates.

Group Head — FP&A & Finance Transformation at QualityKiosk Technologies Pvt. Ltd. (2022-08 – Present)

• Built the centralised FP&A function, Deal Desk and financial controls framework for an enterprise-wide Finance Operating Model transformation at ₹1,000+ Cr revenue scale.
• Applied design-thinking to reimagine finance processes, building digital analytics infrastructure on NetSuite and Power BI with AI-driven reporting.
• Transformed pricing, commercial governance, forecasting and financial planning, introducing structured commercial controls that delivered a 5% margin uplift.
• Set up governance cadences and performance reviews across business units in an expanded remit alongside the COO.
• Owned HR KPI & performance reporting across leadership levels, strengthening cross-functional accountability.
• Partnered directly with the CEO as strategic Finance Business Partner, translating performance and commercial insight into capital allocation and growth strategy.
• Advanced IPO readiness — led due diligence and built financial models and post-listing governance frameworks.
• Drove change management across a multi-entity organisation, embedding standardised processes, reporting cadences and performance management frameworks.

Head — FP&A, Africa & APAC at Puma Energy (Trafigura Group) (2021-07 – 2022-08)

• Directed regional finance across 20+ countries with a team of 16 Finance Controllers, overseeing multi-currency operations, cross-border reporting and IFRS-compliant governance.
• Owned the Annual Operating Plan, quarterly forecasting and 5-year strategic planning, partnering with the C-suite on capital allocation, portfolio strategy and investment decisions.
• Implemented a Shared Services and centre-led FP&A operating model, including capex evaluation and IRR modelling for energy infrastructure projects.

Head — Finance FP&A, India & MEA at FIS Global (2018-03 – 2021-06)

• Headed FP&A for a USD 150M revenue portfolio, owning AOP, rolling forecasts, financial modelling, budgeting and performance management across a multi-country environment.
• Business partner to regional leadership, delivering executive MIS and variance analysis that improved forecast accuracy by 5% and informed deal strategy and resource allocation.
• Drove pricing strategy and deal profitability analysis across USD 1,000M+ in deal value, embedding IFRS-compliant revenue recognition into commercial governance and deal decision-making.

Cluster Financial Controller at Marriott International (2015-12 – 2018-02)

• Directed finance across three Marriott properties with ₹500+ Cr combined revenue, leading a 50-member team across accounting, taxation, audit, procurement, MIS and reporting.
• Drove governance and controls transformation across the cluster, reducing audit findings by 10%.
• Led direct & indirect tax, statutory audit closures, and intercompany transaction governance.
• Ran end-to-end GST implementation and statutory compliance, covering transition planning, systems configuration, process change and regulatory filings, while driving working capital and treasury/cash flow management across the cluster.

Financial Controller & Corporate Transformation Lead at Indian Hotels Company Ltd. (Taj Group) (2007-10 – 2015-11)

• Progressed through eight years of finance leadership across Taj properties and the corporate office, culminating as Corporate Transformation Lead.
• Steered end-to-end Hyperion FP&A and Oracle ERP upgrade programmes — planning, stakeholder alignment and adoption.
• Redesigned corporate finance processes across the Taj Group, transforming budgeting, forecasting and management reporting, with oversight of tax, statutory audit, intercompany transactions, and working capital & treasury management.

Chartered Accountant in Accounting – ICAI (2007)

Company Secretary in Corporate Law and Governance – ICSI (2005)

CFA Level III Candidate in Investment and Finance – CFA Institute

Advanced Investment & Strategy in CXO Leadership Programme – IIM Calcutta

Business Analytics & Financial Accounting in Business and Finance – Harvard Business School (HBX) (2015)

Bachelor of Commerce in Commerce – Rohilkhand University (2004)