Job Description: Program Lead- Finance & Compliance for Project Potential
About Project Potential
We aim to solve the problem of lack of aspiration, career awareness, job readiness skills, and opportunities for youth in the poorest districts of Bihar. Our current work focuses on:
- Mobilising, counseling, and connecting youth to upwardly mobile opportunities.
- Nurturing local youth leaders who create an enabling environment for change
- Running eArthshala, our rural R&D campus for sustainable development ideas
About the Role
Role Summary
As the Program Lead – Finance & Compliance at Project Potential, you will play a central role in ensuring the organization’s financial health and regulatory integrity. You’ll oversee finance, accounting, compliance, and risk management systems to strengthen transparency, accountability, and sustainability across all programs. Working closely with leadership and program teams, you’ll ensure that financial planning, monitoring, and reporting are aligned with our broader organizational vision. From building robust processes and safeguarding compliance to nurturing a values-driven culture of fiscal responsibility and supporting team capacity, your role will be key to fostering a resilient organization that empowers rural youth and champions community-led development across Bihar.
Description of where your role will sit in the organization
- You will be a member of the Middle Management Team at Project Potential
- You will be working in close association primarily with the Program teams based in Thakurganj office and eArthshala, in Bihar.
Key Responsibilities
1. Financial Management
a. Finance Strategy
- Develop and align finance strategy with organizational goals
- Set cross-organizational finance goals for specific alignment
- Analyze financial trends and provide recommendations to leadership for strategic decision-making
b. Fund Management
- Track budgetary allocations and expenditures to ensure that the organization stays within budget and can adjust spending as needed
- Oversee that all estimates in the organization are in sync with sectoral and internal terminologies
- Finalize budgets across the organization based on funds raised/available iv. Oversee fund reallocations as per donor commitments and organization strategies
- Prepare financial reports for internal management, and donor compliance
- Ensure compliance with all legal, regulatory, and reporting requirements
c. Team Development
- Explicitly communicate team coordination mechanisms and processes
- Identify gaps in the finance team and identify opportunities to optimize team roles
- When necessary, identify and execute recruitment needs and finalize JD content
- Train, mentor and develop team members to increase their financial literacy, proficiency, and effectiveness in budgeting and managing funds
d. Accounting and Financial Systems
- Oversee all accounting works such as bookkeeping, financial reporting, and taxation
- Maintain existing or build out separate, if required, accounting and financial systems and processes for tracking all transactions, compliance integration, and financial and material donation record
- Maintain financial controls to ensure the accuracy and integrity of financial data
2. Conduct Financial Analysis
- Conduct financial analysis to identify areas for cost savings or revenue generation
- Identify and implement strategies to improve financial performance
- Develop and maintain financial models to support analysis and decision-making
3. Financial Policies and Procedures
- Develop and implement financial policies and procedures to ensure compliance with organizational and regulatory requirements
- Ensure that policies and procedures are communicated and understood by all relevant stakeholders
- Continuously evaluate and update policies and procedures to ensure effectiveness and efficiency
4. Budgeting and Cash Flow Management
- Lead the annual budgeting process and ensure that budgets are aligned with organizational goals and priorities
- Monitor cash flow and manage cash reserves to ensure adequate liquidity for the organization's operations
- Develop and implement strategies to optimize cash flow and minimize financial risk
5. Stakeholder Management
- Manage relationships with banks, financial institutions, and other external stakeholders
- Negotiate favorable terms and conditions with financial institutions and other stakeholders
- Represent the organization in financial discussions and negotiations with external stakeholders
6. Collaboration and Reporting
- Collaborate with other departments to ensure financial data is accurately captured and reported
- Provide regular financial reports to management and the Board of Directors
- Ensure compliance with all reporting requirements, including tax and regulatory filings
- Share knowledge and expertise with team members and other stakeholders.
For detailed information, please check the complete version of the advert attached below.