Development Consortium
Location: New Delhi
Programme: DC-Core
Type: Full time
Reports to: Associate Director – Finance & Operations
About DC
Development Consortium (DC) is a non-profit organization (registered in India), dedicated to working with young people and vulnerable communities across India - empowering them to overcome health, education and rights, abuse & injustice issues. At the very core of our existence is the belief that a better future for humanity depends on our capacity to harness change. It is the building of this capacity that is at the heart of our working model.
DC firmly believes that influencing behaviour change is critical to the success of an impactful program. Many programs run into cultural traditions and taboos that result in constituents resisting an initiative that might dramatically improve their lives. In many cases, the solution is a matter of sequencing, where opening constituents’ minds to a program’s promise precedes efforts to execute the program itself. At the core of most of our intervention designs is a process to encourage beneficial behaviour change, without taking the paternalistic approach of imposing the change on constituents. These could be a mix of approaches such as engaging constituents directly, by enlisting local, trusted peers to investigate cultural norms and elicit change from within the community; or to impact constituents indirectly, by incentivizing critical collaborators to change their behaviours.
Core Values
- Belief - We believe in what we do.
- Resilience –We have the courage and strength to overcome obstacles.
- Empower – We enable agency and nurture potential.
- Accountability – We are responsible for our actions.
- Transparency – We are open and honest.
- Empathy – We listen, understand and respect We are an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace.
We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, colour, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic. At DC we value people from diverse backgrounds, working to create an open atmosphere of trust, honesty and respect.
About the Opportunity
The Head of Finance & Management Reporting at Development Consortium will be responsible for leading the financial strategy, overseeing financial operations, ensuring compliance with statutory regulations, and providing financial insights to management to support strategic decision-making. This role requires a seasoned professional with expertise in financial management within the non-profit sector, particularly in multi-donor and multi-project environments, both under FCRA and CSR to ensure sustainable financial practices and growth. The Head of Finance will report directly to the Associate Director – Finance and Operations and work closely with project teams and external stakeholders.
Responsibilities
Financial Strategy and Leadership
- Develop and lead DC’s financial strategy to ensure long-term financial sustainability.
- Provide financial advice and support to senior leadership, which guides decision-making.
- Optimize cash flow to meet DC’s operational needs and project commitments.
- Oversee financial planning, including budgeting, forecasting, and financial risk management for ongoing and new projects.
Accounting, Reporting, and Financial Controls
- Manage and maintain appropriate accounting systems, operating rhythm and processes and ensure adherence to timelines with closely working with project leads
- To setup and manage accountable finance and administrative function. Ensure the timely and accurate closure of books of accounts, in line with internal policies and applicable regulations.
- Ensure ERP system is functioning seamlessly.
- Supervise the preparation of monthly, quarterly, and annual financial information and donor-specific financial reports.
- Lead on the development and implementation of financial policies, procedures, and internal controls to safeguard DC’s assets.
Compliance and Audit Management
- Responsibility for full compliance with all statutory obligations in India
- Ensuring accurate taxes have been deducted as per tax laws as applicable
- Ensuring financial and accounting transactions at DC are compliant with statutory rules and regulations (FCRA, Income Tax, RBI Rules, etc.)
- Providing support for the completion of external audits and implementing any feedback
- Manage relationships with auditors, ensuring that all audits are conducted smoothly and that any feedback is implemented effectively.
- Ensure compliance with donor agreements and financial reporting requirements, coordinating closely with project teams.
- Coordinate and lead on donor and project audits
Budgeting and Financial Planning:
- Lead the preparation of detailed project and organizational budgets, ensuring alignment with strategic objectives and project needs.
- Coordinate with project teams to prepare budget revisions and forecasts as necessary.
- Provide financial analysis and guidance to project leads on budget utilization and fund requests, helping to monitor project balances.
Donor and Grant Management:
- Collaborate with program teams to ensure timely reporting to donors, including financial statements and grant-specific reports.
- Work closely with external stakeholders at the time of grant closure to submit final reports and financial reconciliations.
- Ensure all grant management practices align with DC’s financial policies & donor requirements.
Team Leadership and Capacity Building:
- Lead, mentor, and manage the finance team, including Senior Manager Finance and Senior Finance Officers, ensuring high levels of performance and professional growth.
- Work closely with the legal team to address any compliance issues and ensure that contracts and agreements meet financial requirements.
- Provide training and support to staff on financial management practices and compliance requirements to build organizational capacity.
Stakeholder Engagement:
- Engage with external partners, donors, and government agencies to represent the consortium’s financial interests and ensure the sustainability of funding streams.
- Work closely with the leadership team, project teams, and external stakeholders to ensure that financial reports and MIS are shared in a timely manner to support strategic decision-making.
Risk Management and Sustainability:
- Identify, assess, and manage financial risks to the organization, ensuring appropriate mitigation strategies are in place.
- Develop financial models to support organizational growth, ensuring sustainable financial practices.
- Lead on the development of strategies for financial sustainability and resource mobilization for future projects.
Qualifications and Experience
- Education: CA, or master’s degree in finance, accounting, or a related field. Additional Professional certifications (e.g., ACCA, CPA, etc) are highly desirable.
- Experience: Minimum of 5 years of experience in financial management, with at least 3 years in a leadership role within the non-profit or development sector.
- Excellent knowledge of Tally (ERP) and MS Office. Proficiency in Excel is a must.
- Experience of budgeting and managing finances in a fast-changing environment.
- Ability to lead a high functioning team and communicate clearly to diverse audiences
- Strong attention to detail and to see things through to a very high standard
- Strong communication, planning and project management skills.
- Strategic thinker with the ability to translate ideas into action.
- Ability to learn and adapt rapidly based on feedback.
- Ability to perform under tight timelines and pressure.
- Willing to travel within India as necessary
Remuneration: Competitive
Joining: Immediate
The non-monetary benefits include a unique opportunity to be part of an innovative, meaningful, and entrepreneurial organization that is transforming the lives of thousands of people by addressing various health and education related challenges. The head of finance will be provided a conducive and flexible working-cum-learning environment, where they will have the opportunity to explore their creative and innovative potential in moving towards our vision. They will be working directly with the Associate Director – Finance & Operations. We value inputs from our colleagues and endeavour to make them a part of our organization-building