Senior Accountant

About the Role: We are seeking a meticulous and experienced Senior Accountant who understands the unique financial landscape of the development sector. This role is the backbone of our day-to-day financial operations—ensuring every transaction is recorded accurately, every bill is properly verified, and every rupee is accounted for in compliance with donor requirements. You'll work independently to maintain our accounting systems, verify expenses, and be the go-to person for ensuring our financial records are audit-ready at all times. We need someone who brings both technical accuracy and practical judgment to financial processes. Key Responsibilities: Day-to-Day Accounting - Maintain accurate and timely accounting records in Tally ERP - Record all financial transactions including receipts, payments, journal entries, contra entries - Post vouchers with proper narration, budget heads and project codes - Process supplier payments and staff reimbursements after verification - Handle petty cash accounting and reconciliation - Conduct monthly bank reconciliations for all organizational accounts - Prepare payment schedules and track pending payments Bill Verification & Expense Processing - Scrutinize all bills, invoices and expense claims for accuracy, completeness and authenticity - Verify that expenses have proper supporting documents, authorized approvals and GST compliance - Check expenses against approved budgets and donor guidelines before processing - Flag missing documentation, incorrect classifications or questionable expenses - Ensure bills have proper procurement documents (quotations, POs, GRNs where applicable) - Guide staff on what supporting documents are needed for different types of expenses - Confirm that expenses are allowable under specific project/donor guidelines Budget Tracking & Monitoring - Track project-wise expenditure against sanctioned budgets - Prepare monthly budget vs. actual reports for finance manager and program teams - Alert relevant teams when expenses approach budget limits - Maintain project-wise expense tracking sheets - Support finance manager with budget utilization analysis Compliance & Documentation - Ensure all financial transactions comply with organizational policies and donor requirements - Maintain proper filing of all vouchers, bills, bank statements and financial documents - Prepare supporting schedules for TDS returns, GST filings and other statutory compliances - Keep audit trail clear and documentation audit-ready at all times - Support internal and external audits by providing required documents and schedules - Follow up with staff/vendors for pending bills, documents or clarifications Financial Reporting Support - Generate ledger reports, trial balances and subsidiary reports from Tally - Prepare monthly financial statements and reports as required - Extract project-wise expense data for donor reports and utilization certificates - Support finance manager in preparing financial schedules for quarterly/annual reports - Maintain organized records for easy retrieval during reporting cycles Team Support & Coordination - Guide program and administrative staff on expense documentation requirements - Clarify what expenses are allowable/not allowable under different funding sources - Coordinate with vendors for invoice corrections, payment confirmations - Work with procurement team to ensure proper documentation flow - Support junior staff or accounts assistant with routine queries Essential Qualifications: - B.Com/M.Com with minimum 60% marks - 4-6 years of hands-on accounting experience in NGO/development sector (mandatory requirement) - Strong proficiency in Tally ERP (Version 9 or Prime) - Good working knowledge of MS Excel for data management and analysis - Understanding of GST, TDS and basic taxation applicable to Section 8/Trust/Society organizations - Familiarity with NGO accounting practices, fund accounting and donor compliance Must-Have Traits & Skills: - NGO sector experience - understands how development sector finances work: multiple donors, restricted vs. unrestricted funds, specific compliance requirements, audit intensity - Meticulous attention to detail - catches errors in bills, spots missing documents, ensures accuracy in data entry; nothing gets past you - Strong verification skills - naturally questions expenses that seem off; knows what to look for in bills and supporting documents - Independent & self-driven - manages own workload, sets priorities, maintains steady pace without needing constant supervision or follow-up - Financial prudence - has good judgment about what's appropriate spending; flags questionable expenses proactively - Organized & systematic - maintains neat records; knows exactly where every document is; keeps systems updated - Can-do attitude - doesn't make excuses during busy periods; finds ways to get work done even with challenges - Integrity - completely honest in financial matters; cannot be pressured into irregular approvals - Practical problem-solver - when there are documentation gaps or issues, figures out solutions rather than just escalating - Good communication - explains financial requirements clearly to non-finance colleagues without being condescending - Deadline-oriented - completes month-end closings, report preparations and audit schedules on time What Makes a Candidate Stand Out: - Experience handling accounts for multiple projects/donors simultaneously (CSR, foundation grants, bilateral funding) - Exposure to FCRA accounting and compliance - Experience supporting statutory audits, donor audits, tax audits in NGO context - Knowledge of government scheme finances (NRLM, NHM, etc.) - Understanding of program finances in health/education/rural development sectors - Familiarity with cost allocation across multiple funding sources - Previous experience training or mentoring junior accounts staff What We Value: - Reliability: You deliver consistent, accurate work; management doesn't have to worry about your portfolio - Ownership: You treat organizational finances as your responsibility; take pride in maintaining clean books - Practical wisdom: You bring both policy knowledge and ground-level judgment to financial processes - Self-motivation: You work at your own steady pace and maintain high standards without supervision - Team player: You support colleagues with financial guidance rather than creating roadblocks - Growth mindset: You're willing to learn new systems, adapt to changing donor requirements Why This Role Matters: Clean accounts don't happen by magic—they happen because of dedicated professionals like you. Every accurate entry you make, every questionable bill you flag, every reconciliation you complete contributes to our organizational credibility. Donors fund us because they trust our financial systems. Audits pass smoothly because of your meticulous work. Programs run without financial hiccups because you've ensured proper processing. If you take pride in being thorough, value integrity above convenience, and want your accounting skills to serve social impact work, we want to meet you. What This Role Is NOT: This is not a role where you just mechanically enter data or rubber-stamp bills. We need someone who engages with the numbers, asks questions when something doesn't add up, maintains systems proactively, and takes personal ownership of the quality of our financial records. If you're looking to just punch in and punch out, this won't be the right fit. If you're looking to be a valued, trusted member of the finance team in a mission-driven organization, let's talk.