Amit Singla : Driving Succes Via A Journey Through Leadership, Financial Strategy & Innovation
Amit Singla
Head of Treasury & Finance
In a personal interview with us, Amit shared his experience and also his plans for the organization.
Could you provide a summary of your profes- sional history and exper- iences?
I am a Chartered Accountant by quali-fication. My career began with PwC, where I worked for almost eight years. I started in their Gurgaon office, primarily in auditing, and later moved to London for two and a half years, focusing on audits of clients related to financial services. Before this, I completed a three-year training in Delhi, which was part of the CA curriculum. Following my time in London, I returned to India and joined the Altruist Group as the Head of Treasury & Finance.
In PwC, I learnt that while I may have audited numerous balance sheets as an auditor, I have now learnt to read and analyse balance sheets and financial results in a completely new manner wearing the lens of an analyst and investor.
At Altruist, my role involves managing the treasury, over seeing mergers and acquisitions, conducting due diligence to ensure fair pricing in acquisitions, and managing
global finances for the group, which operates across 30 entities worldwide. I've been handling treasury management for about two and a half years now, and it’s been altogether a new experience from being an Auditor to being an Investor & Treasury Manager. Additionally, I run my independent firm, Ace Partners, where we assist international clients in accounting and financial reporting. This summarises my professional journey to date.
What factors do you take into account to assess the profitability of an invest
ment?
In our partnership, we emphasize on fundamentals over technical aspects. We analyse the financials of companies listed on the stock market, applying specific criteria to decide whether to invest in it or not. If a share meets these criteria and is available at a fair price, we proceed with the investment. In addition to equities, I have expertise in the F&O (Futures and Options) segment. At Altruist Group, we do in-house arbitrage activities, creating an alpha of around 6-10 percent,, which is highly competitive compared to the market. By doing this and investing in debt funds with the highest rating papers, the group consistently generates returns of 12-16 percent, without taking on the risks associated with equities.
How do you identify acquisition opportunities, and how would you describe your role in ensuring the successful completion of transactions?
At Altruist Group, we have long-standing relationships with several investment bankers who consistently present acquisition opportunities from both domestic and international markets. This practice predates my tenure at the company, which began two and a half years ago. Altruist has been acquiring businesses actively since 2009 and continues to do so. Once an opportunity is presented, we evaluate and perform due diligence. We aim to close deals quickly, typically within one to two weeks, unlike many companies that take months or years to finalise transactions. Our swift approach allows us to act before deals become widely known in the market. My role is to ensure that the due diligence process is completed efficiently, enabling us to finalise deals within a short time frame.
Welcoming change & demonstrating flexibility can catalyze enriching experiences & significant growth in one's career
What factors do you take into account to assess the profitability of an invest
ment?
In our partnership, we emphasize on fundamentals over technical aspects. We analyse the financials of companies listed on the stock market, applying specific criteria to decide whether to invest in it or not. If a share meets these criteria and is available at a fair price, we proceed with the investment. In addition to equities, I have expertise in the F&O (Futures and Options) segment. At Altruist Group, we do in-house arbitrage activities, creating an alpha of around 6-10 percent,, which is highly competitive compared to the market. By doing this and investing in debt funds with the highest rating papers, the group consistently generates returns of 12-16 percent, without taking on the risks associated with equities.
How do you identify acquisition opportunities, and how would you describe your role in ensuring the successful completion of transactions?
At Altruist Group, we have long-standing relationships with several investment bankers who consistently present acquisition opportunities from both domestic and international markets. This practice predates my tenure at the company, which began two and a half years ago. Altruist has been acquiring businesses actively since 2009 and continues to do so. Once an opportunity is presented, we evaluate and perform due diligence. We aim to close deals quickly, typically within one to two weeks, unlike many companies that take months or years to finalise transactions. Our swift approach allows us to act before deals become widely known in the market. My role is to ensure that the due diligence process is completed efficiently, enabling us to finalise deals within a short time frame.
As a leader, I believe in giving my team the freedom to explore, learn, and offer their unique insights based on their experiences. Rather than strictly directing them to follow predefined tasks or processes, I prefer to give them the autonomy to discover new, smarter ways of achieving goals. I encourage innovation, thinking outside the box, and finding more efficient solutions instead of simply working harder. My leadership style focuses on creating an environment where the team feels empowered to take initiative and contribute fresh ideas.
What new financial strategies or advancements is the organization pursuing? What financial roadmap do you have in place for the organization?
As mentioned earlier, on the treasury management side, we aim to generate more alpha internally through the F&O segment. We are developing AI bots to analyze F&O data and determine which strikes and combinations are likely to perform better. My team and I are consistently exploring ways to leverage AI for placing orders and identifying alpha-generating strikes within the F&O segment.
What advice would you offer to emerging financial leaders in the industry?
Though I have only 15 years of experience and much more to learn, I would advise emerging financial leaders to stay open to new opportunities and challenges. My career has seen multiple transitions, from corporate audits at PwC, to auditing the financial service industry in London, and then back to India, where I now manage audits rather than conducting them. Embracing change and adaptability can lead to valuable experiences and significant career growth.
Amit Singla, Head of Treasury & Finance, Altruist Technologies
Amit Singla is a qualified Chartered Accountant from ICAI with extensive experience in external audit and managing Treasuries. Throughout his career, he has had the privilege of working with PwC in India, Canada, and the UK, where he refined his skills in preparing audit procedures and reports, as well as finalizing accounts in various accounting frameworks, including Indian GAAP, UK GAAP, and IFRS. He was one of the brains behind PWC's Lease Fix, a Tool for helping the industry with accounting per IFRS 16 or Ind AS 116.
What new financial strategies or advancements is the organization pursuing? What financial roadmap do you have in place for the organization?
As mentioned earlier, on the treasury management side, we aim to generate more alpha internally through the F&O segment. We are developing AI bots to analyze F&O data and determine which strikes and combinations are likely to perform better. My team and I are consistently exploring ways to leverage AI for placing orders and identifying alpha-generating strikes within the F&O segment.
What advice would you offer to emerging financial leaders in the industry?
Though I have only 15 years of experience and much more to learn, I would advise emerging financial leaders to stay open to new opportunities and challenges. My career has seen multiple transitions, from corporate audits at PwC, to auditing the financial service industry in London, and then back to India, where I now manage audits rather than conducting them. Embracing change and adaptability can lead to valuable experiences and significant career growth.
Amit Singla, Head of Treasury & Finance, Altruist Technologies
Amit Singla is a qualified Chartered Accountant from ICAI with extensive experience in external audit and managing Treasuries. Throughout his career, he has had the privilege of working with PwC in India, Canada, and the UK, where he refined his skills in preparing audit procedures and reports, as well as finalizing accounts in various accounting frameworks, including Indian GAAP, UK GAAP, and IFRS. He was one of the brains behind PWC's Lease Fix, a Tool for helping the industry with accounting per IFRS 16 or Ind AS 116.