Finance Associate

Full-Time (Pune - Vijayawada ) 2+ years Experience

**About Leadership For Equity (LFE)**:
Leadership For Skilled Education Foundation (branded as **Leadership For Equity,** LFE), is a non-profit (NGO) based out of Pune, Maharashtra.

**We envision Public Education Systems That Refuse To Let Children Down**

**APPROACH**: In our two-fold approach to change, we build the capacity of government system leaders and we influence system processes. In partnership with the local and state education bodies, we co-create programs that shift teaching-learning practices and improve student learning and well-being. This work coupled with our research and advisory support to influence policies, we hope to create an effective government education system.

Over the last 5 years, LFE has built the capacity of **2100+** system leaders, and **40,200+** teachers to impact **8 million** students across Maharashtra. Additionally, LFE has recently expanded its operations and started working in another 3 states of India including Haryana, Tripura & Andhra Pradesh. In **Maharashtra**, LFE works with **5 districts** (Pune, Nashik, Nagpur, Satara & Akola), **3 municipal bodies** (Pune MC, Pimpri Chinchwad MC & Nagpur MC) & **5** **state level** **education bodies** (School Education Dept, SCERT, Samagra Shiksha, Tribal Development Dept, & TRTI). In **Andhra Pradesh**, LFE works closely with the Samagra Shiksha Office, **SCERT & The World Bank** on a multi-year strategic project to improve the quality of learning across 13 districts of the State. And lastly in **Haryana & Tripura**, LFE works with **SCERTs **of both states in setting up targeted program management units (PMUs) to strengthen delivery of large-scale academic programs.

**BELIEF**: We believe Public Education Systems are the gatekeepers of social EQUITY, especially when India's 120 million poorest-of-the-poor children continue to go to government-run schools. A multi-layered, complex, and systemic problem of educational inequity, will require a solution rooted in the SYSTEMS CHANGE approach. We believe that a COLLECTIVE effort by forging partnerships with governments, like-minded philanthropists, corporates, donors, nonprofits and grassroot organisations will help bring scalable and sustainable social change.

**About the Role: Description & Responsibilities**:
As a Finance Associate you will be an integral part of the team. You will be handling the books of accounts. You will be required to ensure systems are followed, identify and solve issues before they can create roadblocks. You will be required to use technology to your advantage and be a problem solver.

Occasional travel within Pune/Vijayawada.

**JOB RESPONSIBILITIES: Accounts and Finance Function**:

- Responsible for undertaking statutory and regulatory compliances viz. GST, TDS, PT, etc. and processing payroll.
- Handling day-to-day accounting tasks in Tally, including but not limited to journal vouchers, sales, purchases, bank reconciliation, petty cash, filing of documents etc. and working in payroll software like keka etc.
- Undertaking month-end closing of books of accounts and reconciliation of ledgers, investigation of journal entries, vendor confirmations, employee reimbursements etc.
- Comfortable working along with our Finance Manager on issues and procedures in accounting, finance, compliance, taxation, etc.
- Resolving queries during statutory audits, internal/tax audits
- Good knowledge of Tally and Advanced MS Excel skills
- Assuming complete ownership and responsibility of the work; having good communication and soft skills
- Ability to establish and maintain harmonious working relationships with co-workers, staff and external contacts, and to work effectively in a professional team environment

**REQUIRED EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS**:

- A minimum of 2+ years of experience in accounting/finance along with a graduation degree in finance/ accounting/ taxation or equivalent
- Capability to use Tally ERP with cost center feature
- Ability to work in a collaborative, multidisciplinary environment as part of a closely-knit team (demonstrating patience, tenacity and grace under pressure)
- Excellent written and oral communication skills - and a **functional knowledge (oral and written) of Telugu would be highly preferred **with exceptional attention to details.
- Highly effective interpersonal skills
- Any prior experience in monitoring and evaluation will be preferred
- Self-driven personality with the ability to work independently
- Demonstrated curiosity to learn more

**LOCATION AND COMPENSATION**:
**Location**: Pune / Vijayawada.

**Compensation**: Expected to be around **2.40 - 3.00 lakh INR** per annum based on experience.

**Leadership For Equity is an Equal Opportunity Employer and Prohibits Discrimination and Harassment of Any Kind. We do not discriminate on the basis of caste, race, religion, colour, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, or any other non-merit factor.