Senior Financial Controller

About the role

We are seeking a seasoned finance leader to drive end-to-end finance and accounting for our organisation and select portfolio entities.

This position combines operational excellence with strategic finance, ensuring robust controllership, sharp decision support to leadership, and full compliance.

• End-to-End Finance Ownership
  • Lead and institutionalize full-cycle finance and accounting: general ledger, accounts payable, accounts receivable, treasury, cash flow, banking, payroll, fixed assets, reconciliations, monthly/quarterly/annual close, and audit readiness.
  • Design and deliver accurate, timely management information systems, board decks, and donor/grant reporting; analyze trends, variances, and unit economics to inform strategic decisions.
  • Build and enforce finance policies, internal controls, and risk management frameworks aligned to growth and multi-entity complexity.
• Strategy, Planning, and Decision Support
  • Own budgeting, forecasting, scenario planning, and multi-year financial modeling; partner with leadership on resource allocation, cost optimization, and investment decisions.
  • Evaluate contracts, leases, and vendor agreements; drive commercial negotiations that balance mission, cost, and risk.
• Compliance and Governance (Section 8 Focus)
  • Ensure compliance under Companies Act for Section 8 companies and applicable rules: board/committee governance, statutory registers/records, and ROC filings in partnership with company secretarial.
  • Oversee tax and regulatory compliance: Income Tax (including 12AB/80G maintenance and reporting), TDS, GST (if applicable), professional tax, labor-related compliances.
  • Manage FCRA (if applicable): registration/renewal, bank accounts, utilization tracking, returns (FC-3 series), and donor compliance.
  • Ensure grant/contract fiscal compliance, CSR alignment/CSR-1 (as relevant), and adherence to donor covenants; steward clean statutory and grant audits.
• Stakeholder Management and Communication
  • Act as a trusted partner to the CEO, leadership team, board/committees, donors, auditors, legal/CS, and portfolio organisation heads.
  • Lead clear, persuasive communication of financial insights and recommendations to diverse stakeholders; represent the organization externally when required.
• Team, Systems, and Operations
  • Build and mentor a high-performing finance team; institute SLAs and quality benchmarks.
  • Select and oversee finance systems/ERPs, accounting and reporting tools; drive automation and process excellence.
  • Oversee IT/office procurement policies and vendor management as needed for operational effectiveness.
  Required Qualifications, Skills, and Abilities:
  • Chartered Accountant (CA) with 10–15 years of post-qualification experience in controllership and business finance; demonstrated end-to-end ownership of finance and accounting in multi-entity or nonprofit/Section 8 environments.
  • Strong command of compliance for Section 8 companies under the Companies Act, Income Tax (including 12AB/80G), TDS, GST (if applicable), audit, and grant/grantee fiscal compliance; FCRA exposure preferred.
  • Proven stakeholder management with senior leadership, boards, donors, auditors, regulators, vendors, and portfolio organisations; high executive presence.
  • Exceptional written and verbal communication; ability to craft and deliver crisp MIS, board narratives, and strategic recommendations.
  • Strong strategic thinking and decision-making; adept at budgeting, FP&A, scenario modeling, and translating data into action.
  • Demonstrated ability to build processes and teams from scratch; high ownership, planning, and prioritization.
  • Technology savvy: experience with ERPs/accounting and reporting systems; comfort with automation and data tools.
  Personal Characteristics:
  • Professionalism, integrity, and strong time management
  • Collaborative, flexible, and hands-on; thrives in a mission-driven, fast-paced environment
  • Multitasker who can set priorities and meet deadlines consistently
  • Strong leadership and cross-functional influence