Director - Finance, Governance & Legal

• Serve as the primary financial advisor to the CEO, COO, and Board of Trustees, providing data-driven insights to inform organizational strategy.
• Lead the development of multi-year financial plans aligned with Arpan's growth roadmap and 100x Impact trajectory.
• Oversee preparation of annual organizational budgets, ensuring alignment with programmatic priorities and funder requirements.
• Analyze financial performance against strategic goals and communicate findings to senior leadership and the Board.
• Participate in high-value tender / contract negotiations, MoUs, and large-ticket expenditure decisions alongside the leadership team.

2. Financial Management & Accounting

• Ensure overall financial management, accuracy, and integrity of all accounting processes across programmes and cost centers.
• Oversee proper classification of income and expenditure under designated heads in accordance with programme and funder requirements.
• Supervise payroll processing, TDS workings on salary and vendor payments, and ensure all statutory deductions are accurately computed and remitted.
• Ensure timely payments through digital banking and offline modes as appropriate.
• Maintain financial hygiene through robust internal controls, reconciliations, and oversight of the accounting team.
• Manage accounting in Tally and ensure accurate, up-to-date records at all times.
  

• Prepare and present monthly management accounts covering income, expenditure, budget-vs-actuals, funder balances, and allocation statuses.
• Prepare periodic financial reports (monthly, quarterly, semi-annual, annual) for donors as per grant agreements.
• Provide financial data and modelling to support new funder proposals and fundraising initiatives.
• Track funder utilization and flag risks of over- or under-spend proactively.
• Produce insightful, Board-ready financial reports for Trustees and Senior Management as required.
  

• Ensure timely and complete compliance with all applicable government norms including FCRA, FEMA, Companies Act (Section 8), Income Tax Act (12A/80G), CSR regulations, and other NGO-specific statutes.
• Oversee filing of all required statutory documents and returns within prescribed timelines.
• Act as the primary interface for all legal matters, liaising with legal counsel as required.
• Maintain and update the organization's compliance calendar and ensure zero lapses in statutory obligations.
• Support governance processes including Board meeting preparation, trustee documentation, and policy reviews.
• Ensure Arpan's Child Protection Policy compliance requirements are embedded in all vendors, partner, and contractor agreements.
  

• Manage relationships with external statutory and internal auditors, facilitating smooth audit processes.
• Ensure timely completion of audits and issuance of audited fund utilization certificates for donors.
• Liaise with bankers, tax authorities, government departments, and other external stakeholders on financial and compliance matters.
  

• Lead, mentor, and develop the Finance & Accounts team, building capacity and ensuring succession planning. Foster a values-based, high-performing, and collaborative culture.
• Establish and continuously improve financial systems, processes, and controls to support Arpan's scale.
• Drive adoption of digital finance tools and improve financial reporting infrastructure.
  

• Anticipate and manage financial risks related to programme delivery, safeguarding, and operational efficiency.
• Ensure compliance with all legal, ethical, and internal organizational policies.

• CA mandatory
• Minimum 15 years of progressive experience in Finance & Accounts, Legal & Governance
• 5+ years of diversified experience in a senior leadership role
• Prior experience in the non-profit / NGO sector mandatory