He is born in a lower-middle-class family with six siblings. His father was a vegetable vendor and lost him at a very early age. As a new-age finance professional, one needs to build trust with its stakeholders, which is achieved by Cost Control Management, Cash Management, and Compliances. Jayaprakash Kalappan is the Chief Financial Officer & Company Secretary at Panasonic Appliances India Company Limited, Chennai, Japan MNC. As a Company Secretary and Compliance Officer, he constantly focuses on zero-tolerance for non-compliances for his enterprise. Previously, he worked with R. Stahl Private Limited, as Head Finance and Company Secretary and Lumina Datamatics Limited, as Financial Controller and Company Secretary.
“If you are going to change for something, it will become a consistent habit to demand change for everything. An that change will lead to you losing your own identity. It is crucial to transform and evolve with the given circumstances rather than blaming people for our circumstances. I am always loyal to the organisation’s stakeholders (owners, employees, and society) wherever I have worked. The mandate is to work with people, resulting in profit and benefits while improving the environment and governance. Through my childhood struggles, I learned the importance of the value of money, which fueled my desire to become a top finance professional.”
Challenges Teach You The Value Everything
Due to uncertainty, his family had a financial crisis, which forced him to shift to a government school from private to continue further studies. During those days, after school hours, weekends, and summer holidays, his friends were in the playground while he spent time pursuing several part-time jobs. The earnings helped him manage the cost of buying books and basic stationery for his studies without further burdening his family. His first purchase from his salary while in school was the purchase of Clark’s tables Science data book (log book) in August 1992 for Rs.6. He still possesses the book. It keeps him grounded, reminding him how he learnt the value of money through his struggles.
Education Is Your Window To a World of Opportunities
He graduated in Commerce from the University of Madras and became the first generation graduate from his family. Since childhood, he has been passionate about studying to become a finance professional. Taking this forward, he pursued and completed his professional degrees in Chartered Accountant, Cost Accountant and Company Secretary courses while holding Fellow membership with the Institutes. After completing a Chartered Accountant professional course, he embarked on his professional journey from a mid-size company based in Chennai as Executive Accounts in 2001. A two-decade-long journey of a young boy reflects upon the challenges he faced with a humble beginning as a top finance professional in a well-recognized corporate. What became a catalyst in his success story were the progressive rich experience? He shared the knowledge and training he gained through his professional journey helped him immensely. This learning included financial strategy, corporate financing, compliance, regulatory, merger and acquisition, risk management, legal, secretarial and strategic alliances in IT enabled service and manufacturing industries.
Awards and Accolades
Over an extensive career spanning 22 years, Jayaprakash has acknowledged his leadership and financial business and governance strategies. In 2021 he was awarded Best CFO-FMCG (Small) from All India Association of Industries,50 Best Finance Leaders 2021 Award from White Page International, Indian Achievers’ Award for CFO of the year 2021 conferred by Indian Achievers’ Forum & Achievers’ World, CFO Dynamic Team Leader of the year 2021 Award granted by Franklin Templeton India amongst others.
Diligence & Continuous Learning Aid in Constant Growth & Sustainability
As a new-age finance professional, one needs to build trust with its stakeholders, which is achieved by Cost Control Management, Cash Management, and Compliances. In addition, as a Company Secretary and Compliance Officer, he constantly focuses on zero-tolerance for non-compliances for his business.
He has drawn inspiration from everyone he meets since everyone has some positivity to offer. However, he chooses and learns from it selectively. Youth who wish to make a mark and excel in the financial sector should focus on what they want. They must not shy away from hard work, and everything else will fall into place. Mistakes make a man perfect if you try new ideas. So, try it, make mistake and importantly, learn from that mistake. Trying is better than regret. Sky’s the limit.