Unlocking Value, Driving Change
Shubhranshu Shekhar Trivedy
Associate Vice President Finance & Accounts ((Finance Head)
Unlocking Value, Driving Change
Shubhranshu Shekhar Trivedy
Associate Vice President Finance & Accounts ((Finance Head)
International Tractors Limited (Sonalika Group)
Some finance leaders report numbers. Others change the trajectory of the business. Shubhranshu Shekhar Trivedy is firmly in the latter category. With over 24 years of rich, crossfunctional experience, Shubhranshu has consistently delivered financial clarity and strategic direction across Indian and global multinationals. As Head of Finance & Legal in his previous role with CLAAS India (German MNC) and as Associate Vice President – Finance & Accounts (Finance Head) in his current role at International Tractors Limited (Sonalika Group), his leadership goes beyond financial stewardship—it’s about unlocking value, driving turnarounds, and building systems that scale. Among his standout achievements is leading a complex M&A transaction, where he oversaw intricate tax and regulatory matters, structured the deal, and ensured compliance related to foreign investments and share transfers between resident and non-resident shareholders. His strategic handling helped deliver a seamless, compliant outcome aligned with business goals. Another milestone was the successful conclusion of a highly intricate Advance Pricing Agreement (APA) with the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT). Over nearly 30 months, Shubhranshu coordinated across teams, negotiated with precision, and brought deep regulatory insight to the table. The result was long-term tax certainty and streamlined cross-border operations. He has also led high-impact transformation at a financially strained company, forming a core project team to drive capital restructuring, optimise working capital, reduce inventory, and leverage idle capacity for in-house production. The result: restored profitability and a stronger, more resilient business model. Shubhranshu’s hands-on expertise in SOX compliance, treasury management, tax planning, platform pricing, and systems like SAP, BAAN, HFM, and BCS positions him as a powerful force in finance. His multicultural experience across Indian, German, Japanese, and Italian corporate ecosystems enriches his ability to lead with agility in complex environments. He has a proven track record of delivering innovative solutions that drive business growth and compliance. In conversation with TradeFlock, he reflects on his strategic approach to finance, solving complexity with clarity and enabling sustainable growth.
How have diverse work cultures shaped and evolved your financial leadership style?
Yes, it’s true that working across such diverse cultural environments has profoundly shaped my leadership DNA in finance. Each culture taught me something unique that I carry with me to this day. In the German environment, I learnt the immense value of structure, precision, and thoroughness. Their disciplined approach to planning and data accuracy ingrained in me the importance of getting the details right, optimising processes, and driving efficiency at every level. From the Japanese culture, I took away the power of collaboration and the value of involving diverse perspectives in decisionmaking. The philosophy of “Kaizen”, or continuous improvement, really resonated with me. It taught me to never settle and always seek incremental ways to enhance processes and team performance. Working with Italian organisations exposed me to a more creative, innovative mindset, where taking calculated risks is encouraged. This pushed me to become more forwardthinking and proactive, always looking for new opportunities to drive growth. The Indian business landscape, with its hierarchical but entrepreneurial spirit, showed me the importance of navigating organisational dynamics, communicating effectively at all levels, and being adaptable in a fast-changing environment. Together, these experiences have helped me develop a balanced leadership style— combining structure with creativity, discipline with empathy, and rigour with flexibility, allowing me to lead finance as a true strategic partner in business success.
Describe a financial strategy you led that broke the mould and delivered exceptional results.
We digitised the accounts payable process, drastically reducing invoice processing time, improving efficiency, and cutting manual costs. Additionally, we automated the monthly financial closure process, reducing timelines from several days to just one. These initiatives broke away from traditional methods, freeing up resources, enhancing operational agility, and delivering measurable impact. Embracing automation has proven transformative in streamlining workflows and unlocking strategic bandwidth across the finance function.
What’s your leadership mantra for cross-cultural finance teams?
Miscommunication is often the biggest hurdle in leading finance teams within cross-cultural, matrix environments. Differences in communication styles and language barriers can quickly lead to misunderstandings, conflicts, and lost productivity. Overcoming this obstacle requires cultivating cultural intelligence, fostering open communication, building trust across diverse backgrounds, and creating an inclusive team culture. Effective cross-cultural leadership isn’t about rigid rules but about embracing patience, adaptability, and a commitment to continuous learning. In today’s interconnected world, mastering these skills enables leaders to turn cultural complexities into strengths, unite diverse perspectives, and drive innovation, ultimately elevating financial performance and team success.
Which underrated finance innovations will shape the next decade, and how are you adopting them?
The future of finance lies in adopting quietly powerful technologies like cloud accounting, RPA, AI fraud detection, and blockchain. These aren’t flashy trends but game-changing enablers. Cloud systems allow real-time collaboration, RPA eliminates routine inefficiencies, and AI flags anomalies before they become losses. Blockchain offers unparalleled transparency and trust. At our organisation, we’re gradually embedding these tools not just as IT upgrades but as strategic investments. By freeing finance teams from manual drudgery and improving data confidence, we’re reshaping the finance function to be more proactive, insight-driven, and resilient to tomorrow’s demands.
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