JOB DESCRIPTION: Finance Controller
Aga Khan Rural Support Programme India (AKRSP India) is a non-denominational, nonpolitical, non-government organization. AKRSP India was established in 1983 and it seeks to contribute to rural poverty reduction through community involvement and empowerment that leads to efficient management and an improved environment.
Job location: Ahmedabad, Gujarat
Position Summary:
AKRSP(I) is seeking a Finance Controller to bridge the strategic direction of the Chief Finance Officer (CFO) with the on-ground financial execution teams, including Finance teams in regions/SHTs. The Finance Controller will ensure financial accuracy, compliance, timely reporting, Budgeting & Forecasting, oversee internal and external audits, and robust internal controls across all states/SHTs and programmes. He/She will lead the accounting and finalization of books. He/She will also take forward the implementation of new systems and changes in the existing systems and processes.
This is a senior leadership role that enhances alignment, strengthens coordination across SHTs/states, validates all major financial processes, and provides decision-support to the CFO. The position reports to CFO.
Key responsibilities:
Financial Governance & Controls
- Establish, implement, and monitor strong internal control systems across the organisation and all state offices.
- Review and validate key financial processes: payments, receivables, Payables, Advances, reconciliations etc.
- Ensure adherence to AKRSP(I) Finance Policy, FCRA regulations, donor rules, and statutory requirements.
Coordination and Oversight of Finance Teams
- Ensure that the work of SHT/State Finance is reviewed and validated on regular basis/
- Benchmark and Standardise processes, reporting formats, and documentation practices across states to ensure uniformity.
- Review all financial reports and requests before submission to external stakeholders.
- Ensure consistent and policy-compliant processes and practices across all SHT/states.
- Provide technical guidance, mentorship, and capacity-building support to Finance teams.
Financial Planning, Budgeting & Analysis
- Support the CFO in formulation of annual organisational budget, multi-year financial planning, and mid-term budget revisions.
- Review project and SHT/state budgets submitted by program teams at SHT for accuracy, consistency, and donor compliance.
- Monitor budget utilisation, variances, and financial progress of SHT/state programmes.
- Provide financial insights to project/programme heads and the CFO for better planning and decision-making.
Review, validation & reporting
- Review and validate monthly MISconductand utilisation reports from all SHT/states.
- Conduct Ledger Scrutiny and Ensure timely closing of monthly and quarterly books across SHT/states
Audit coordination & compliance
- Lead and coordinate statutory audits, internal audits, donor audits, and special audits across states.
- Ensure that Statustory, Internal, Donor and other audits are properly coordinated and queries responded. He will also supervise the ensure closure of all the audit observations.
- Supervise, Track and ensure compliance with statutory filings – FCRA returns, Income Tax filings, PF/ESIC, GST (if applicable), CSR reporting, etc.
Financial systems & process improvement
- Strengthen and streamline SOPs, workflows, and control mechanisms across the organisation.
- Shall steer the digital transformation of finance processes (ERP/Accounting/HRIS systems).
- Identify and reduce process inefficiencies, manual work, and error-prone tasks.
- Build competencies of finance teams on ERP/Software, donor compliance, and documentation.
Cross team coordination & strategic support
- Serve as the key operational link between the CFO, SHT/State Finance Officers, Project/Programme Heads, Thematic experts, Procurement and HR team.
- Advise project/programme teams/thematic experts on budgeting, fund management, documentation, donor requirements, and financial protocols.
- Facilitate data accuracy for organisational dashboards, donor reporting, and internal performance reviews.
Qualifications:
Essential:
- Chartered Accountant (CA) or Cost Accountant (CMA) OR MBA (Finance) with strong accounting and compliance experience.
- 8 to 12 years of progressive experience in financial management; at least 4 years in a supervisory role in NGO/development sector preferred.
- Strong understanding of statutory requirements, FCRA rules, Income Tax for NGOs, and donor compliance.
- Demonstrated experience in managing or reviewing multi-location/state finance teams.
Desirable:
- Experience in financial oversight of large-scale, multi-state programmes.
- Experience with ERP systems and financial digitalisation initiatives.
- Ability to develop and standardise processes.
Preferred Attributes:
- Strong analytical ability and financial acumen.
- Leadership, people management, and mentoring capability.
- Excellent coordination and communication skills.
- High attention to detail and process orientation.
- Strong integrity, professionalism, and ownership mindset.
- Ability to work effectively with diverse teams across multiple states.
Key Benefits:
- Work with one of India’s most respected rural development organisations.
- Play a critical role in shaping financial governance and operational efficiency.
- Engage with multi-state teams and high-impact programmes.
- Mission-driven, collaborative work culture.
- 5-day work week.
- Comprehensive medical insurance for employee, spouse, and children.
- Maternity and paternity leave as per organizational policy.
- 15 General Leaves and 16.5 earned leaves annually (earned leaves can be encashed if not utilized).
- 10 declared public holidays and 3 optional holidays.
- Diwali break every year.
We strongly encourage women, LGBTQ+ individuals, and specially abled candidates to apply
Please note that we will begin the search immediately, and if a suitable candidate is found, we will close the application process!