Manager - Finance and Accounts

Role & responsibilities:

The Manager Finance & Accounts (Region) will assist the COO/CFO in ensuring effective compliance of all applicable statutes/internal requirements as defined in policies, proper recordkeeping and accounting, timely reporting, clean audits, etc. In doing so Manager Accounts (Region) will explore opportunities for process improvement, strengthen internal control, and report on any non-compliance of any statutes/policies or any leakages.

Budget & MIS related Activities:

• In close coordination with the units, prepare the respective unit (School/Hostel/AKPs) and Regional Office Budget. Inputs for the Budget will be provided by the individual units including the justification/programmatic needs. The first draft of the budget (including the KPIs) will be vetted and agreed upon by the respective units (HR/Facilities/IT/Safety & Security component of the budget will be driven by the respective functions). Coordinate closely with the Senior Manager Budget/MIS for any clarifications/queries/changes/etc.
• Ensure timely and smooth monthly closing of the respective unit books of accounts, verify and review the monthly and quarterly reports of the respective units prepared by the Accountant (Region) including the KPIs. In coordination with the units, report on the reasons/justification for the variances to the Senior Manager Budget/MIS and respond for any clarifications/queries/changes/etc.
• Review the cash flow position of the respective units, generate any grant requests thereafter to ensure that funds are available for the units planned spending or seek approval to invest any short term investible surplus.

Statutory compliances and Audits:

• Ensure all registrations and compliances including that of Board of Directors/Trustees related filings/changes under the Companies Act/Societies Act, Income Tax Act (tax exemption status and donor tax deductible certification as applicable), FCRA Act, GST Act, etc. are kept current and updated for each legal entity.
• Ensure and review for proper statutory deductions and statutory compliances thereof including all statutory payments (ESI, PF, PT, TDS, TCS, GST, etc) and the timely filing and reporting of returns thereof for each of the units/legal entity.
• Ensure compliance to any other compliances across all states of operation
• Responsible for timely and successful closure of statutory audit of each of the legal entity, ensuring that all the required books of accounts are closed as per the GAAP/in adherence to AKESI policy/etc. and financial statements are prepared on time along with required schedules, confirmations, reconciliations, verifications, etc. to the satisfaction of the auditors.
• In coordination with the Internal Auditor, lead, collate and respond to the audit requirements of the unit under review and ensure that the financial actions arising from the observations are acted upon.
• Responsible for timely filing of annual/quarterly returns under Companies Act/Societies Act, Income Tax Act (includes both salary and non-salary TDS deductions), FCRA Act, etc., including NIL/Lower TDS deduction certificate and responding to the corresponding queries, scrutiny, assessment, etc. to ensure successful closure for each of the legal entities and no outstanding demands/returns are kept unresolved.

Payment Review:

• Scrutinizing and validating all regular payments as well as major projects related payments (last mile check)

Banking related activities:

• Responsible for all banking related matters such as obtaining the best rate of interest for investible surplus, ensure smooth remittance process and compliance documentation (KYC of accounts and signatories), give effect to any banking resolutions within reasonable time, etc.
• Manage all banking transactions including donations and payment authorizations.

Fixed Assets:

• Ensure updating of the Fixed Asset module for all sale and acquisition of assets in the respective units and ensure that the unit undertakes fixed asset verification as per the AKESI policy
• Post such verification, initiate steps to rectify/amend/actions needed to be taken to address any unreconciled items. After the necessary approvals, incorporate such actions in the Fixed Asset register and the books of accounts.

Programme accounting & reporting:

• Support the Senior Manager Finance & Accounts in providing information that maybe required in preparation of any project proposal including CSR/donor proposals/new school projects in the respective region.
• Accounting and managing the financial aspects of projects/programmes of AKES, India in the respective region such as RFC, FLP, SDP, outreach, etc. done in the past. And providing support to the Regional Head/Lead of such programs in preparation of programme budget/financial reporting as required.

Training:

• For any new school in the respective region, implement, train and develop the school team in operating the FIS
• For any new appointments in the team/approver in the FIS workflow, train/induct such new appointees

Custodial:

• Ensure safe custody of all financial records, files, registers, registrations, approvals, etc. in either physical/soft copy.

Preferred candidate profile:

Qualification:

At least M.Com/MBA Finance degree and working knowledge of Microsoft D365 F&O platform/ any other equivalent ERP environment, preference will be given to Inter CA/ CWA.

Experience:

• Minimum 10 years of Senior Accountant/ 7 years of Assistant Manager Accounts experience preferably in education industry
• Effective communication and confident personality, excellent interpersonal skills: outstanding in teamwork, ability to work successfully with teams across the organization.

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