Chief Finance Officer - Ahmedabad, India - AKRSP-India

Description

AKRSP (India)

AKRSP (India) is a non-denominational, non-government development organization. AKRSP(I) works as a catalyst for the betterment of rural communities by providing direct support to local communities. They are active in over 3255 villages of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, and Maharashtra and have impacted lives of over 3.5 million people from marginalised sections of society. Over 80% of the households impacted by AKRSP(I)'s work belong to marginalised communities like tribals, dalits, and minorities. Over 60% of beneficiaries are women who form a core group for program interventions.

AKRSP(I) has pioneered various participatory development approaches in the country and has won various national and international accolades for this. The backbone of their work is the empowerment of rural communities, particularly in underprivileged communities and for women - through collectivization as well as promotion of individual enterprises. Building self-reliant people's institutions for financial inclusion, livelihoods enhancement and improved rural governance is the heart of the organization's approach. Currently AKRSP(I) has major interventions in the areas of:

• Agriculture and Climate Resilience
• Work and Enterprise
• Rural Governance
• Health and Nutrition

The Position

AKRSP(I) seeks an experienced finance professional to serve as the Chief Finance Officer to be based out of their Ahmedabad office. The CFO will provide strategic leadership to the organization as a member of the leadership team and would be responsible for creating the financial strategy. S/He would be guiding, reviewing and monitoring the development and implementation of systems and processes for finance, accounts, and all legal compliance for the organization.

The Chief Finance Officer is responsible for organizing the financial functions to ensure efficiency of business processes and full compliance of financial activities, financial recording and reporting system and audit follow-up with local legislation, donor requirements, AKRSP(I) rules, regulations, policies, and strategies.

Dimensions

Dimensions – are the significant quantities (financial, material, related to staff) on which the job has some direct or indirect impact. It provides annual numerical data, which give a feeling for the scope and scale of the job. Expressed as an annual sum.

• Financial Dimensions- Annual budget: approximately $12 million (INR 100 Crores) in 2023
• Non-financial Dimensions – Number of active projects: around 40 projects and Number of donors: around 35 donors.

Key Accountabilities:

Financial Reporting

• The incumbent will be responsible for organizing the financial reporting system to support management and provide information as and when required, to ensure all financial reports to donors, government, and board of directors are accurate and timely.
• Directly works with donors and donor auditors, document policy and procedures, and advises on how to strengthen internal control system.

Financial Planning

• The incumbent will be responsible for organizing the development, consolidation, getting approval from the CEO and presentation to the Board of the annual budget, as well as the overall control and signoff on all project budgets.
• Monitors and reviews the budget on a continual basis to ensure that it is adhered to.
• Facilitating program teams to better monitor their progress on a continuous basis.

Compliance and Financial Review

• The incumbent will be responsible for organizing financial and compliance review of implementing teams through direct field visits to each program location at least 1 or 2 times a year.
• Builds up employee' financial capacity by providing support and counsel to employees and financial departments of implementing teams by means of holding inception workshops, trainings and learning sessions, to ensure their compliance to local legislation and donor requirements and aid problem-solving for financial planning matters.
• Responsible for timely preparation and filing of all returns such as FCRA, GST, IT etc.
• Responsible for complying with audit observations highlighted by internal, statutory or donor auditors.

Financial Accounting

• The incumbent will be responsible for overseeing the development and implementation of AKRSP's financial accounting policies and procedures, charts of accounts, management information review formats and grant administration mechanism, in line with the adopted accounting standards, ensuring compliance with the statutory, regulatory, and corporate governance requirements.
• Responsible for building the capacity of finance grants unit to take a wider role in grant management including the project proposals, budgets, verification of the narrative reports with the financial, grant audit management.
• Responsible for timely disbursements of funds to the vendors, field units etc.
• Responsible for ensuring timely and accurate booking of all expenses incurred by the organization.

Procurement

• The incumbent will be responsible for developing and organizing the procurement function, overseeing that all purchases adhere to contract and procurement governance, processes, standards, policies, and procedures, including those made by AKRSP.
• Oversees the analysis of procurement needs and identification of potential economies of scale, cost saving opportunities.
• Reviews and authorizes purchase orders where necessary in accordance with the delegation of authority, especially non-standard procurements.

Policy Development

• The incumbent will be responsible for developing, reviewing, and directing amendments to the Finance policies and procedures to ensure consistency of practice and compliance with the government / sector / donor requirements and regulations.
• Responsible for leading and directing the continuous improvement of systems, processes, and practices including automation of work processes and ERP system implementation, within the Finance department while considering best practices, changes in local and international legislation and standards, and any changes in the business environment which demand proactive action plans.

Key Internal And External Relations Management

• Within the framework of the job and as a member of certain specialized and other collegial management bodies, builds and develops relationships with key decision makers and stakeholders.
• Establishes and maintains a partner network with colleagues, ensures effective communication with external partners and state bodies representatives, ensures transparency of activities, timely and reliable provision of information to ensure efficient decision making, as well as defend interests and create a favourable business reputation of AKRSP.

Personnel Management

• Formulates and communicates key performance indicators for subordinates, creates a productive working environment in the team under job's control, determines goals and assesses performance of direct subordinates with the purpose of establishing and maintaining conditions required for continuous increase of motivation and performance.
• Ensures that employees adhere to Safeguarding policies and procedures.
• Play supportive role to program units.
• Ensuring the positive employee experience

Experience And Competencies

Must Haves

• Chartered Accountant (CA) or MBA (Finance) from reputed university with minimum 15 years of work experience in the finance function at different levels in the organization with at least 5 years of managerial experience.
• Experience in field work to be able to understand how funds and programs operate.
• Deep understanding of all financial management processes, the business and related compliances applicable to a development sector agency.
• Technically sound knowledge of IT, FCRA, GST and other laws applicable to a not-for-profit company.
• Deep understanding of budgeting, reporting, returns filing etc.
• Ability to gather developments in (international and local) legal and internal rules, standards and frameworks and translate these into risk implications for the organization.
• Grant management experience including implementation of ERP systems and optimization of business processes.
• Good knowledge of finance best practices, experience of working with internal and statutory auditors

Key Competencies

• Experience in developing a strategy and being able to effectively deliver this to a team and create a strategic vision.
• Effective people management skills with proven ability to lead and manage large multi-skilled teams.
• Ability to communicate effectively with colleagues and clients, both verbally and in writing, including experience of negotiation with external stakeholders including senior government officials and donors.
• Ability to work in a matrix organization and display flexibility, agility and the ability to solve challenges
• Ability to mentor and build the capacity of team members and ensure a harmonious work culture.

Language Proficiency

• Fluency in English and Hindi

Performance Criteria

• Compliance of all financial operations to legal and donor requirements and regulations.
• Accurate and timely financial reports to donors, government, and board of directors.
• Timely payments, error-free expense bookings etc.
• Effective implementation and use of ERP system.
• Field visits and effective coordination with other departments.
• Pleasant experience of sub-ordinates, other departmental units, donors etc.
• Upholding the mission, vision, and culture of AKRSP.
• Innovations and continuous improvements in finance unit.

Interested Candidates: Please send your latest curriculum vitae, three references and a covering letter explaining your interest, suitability, and fitment for the position of Chief Finance Officer at AKRSP to