Director, Finance

Are you a change maker who wants to play a pivotal role in restoring vision for millions of people in low-income settings across India? Would you like to work for an organisation that is a pioneer in social impact practices?

We are seeking a highly motivated, dynamic, and self-driven candidate who would like to have a challenging and meaningful career path in finance, accounts, and the social sector. Finance and accounts are key focus areas at our organisation and require a proactive and dynamic approach. S/he will provide expert guidance and timely and accurate support while working with stakeholders. S/he will independently perform complex tasks to support the grant process (pre and post award) and contracts activities. S/he will supervise and participate in the preparation of various budgets, financial statements, and reports. She/he will direct the maintenance of general and subsidiary ledgers, accounts receivables, fund allocation, and operating expenses, establishing system controls for new financial systems and developing procedures to improve existing systems. She/he will closely collaborate with other departments/functions such as programs, resource mobilisation, supply chain, human resources, and information technology.

The responsibilities would include team management and building the function as needed, day-to-day local bookkeeping, and maintaining accurate and timely financial records by entering, processing, and reconciling transactions as per established procedures and formats for the functions. S/he will prepare reports and schedules to facilitate budget preparation, tax filing, monthly and annual financial reporting, and successful internal and statutory audits. The incumbent will serve as the primary finance liaison to the institutional partnerships team, resource mobilisation team, and operations teams, managing accounts receivable, accounts payable, ensuring financial compliances for various types of grants. S/he will be directly reporting to the Managing Director and will be based out of Delhi NCR (Noida), India.

About You

• You build organisations. You play a central role in creating the underpinnings for end-user/partner satisfaction and healthy expansion and help drive the financial strategy of the entire organisation.
• You see the big picture. You use technological solutions to generate real-time insights.
• You are analytical. You understand budgets and financial statements and quickly notice when line items don’t add up.
• You may have the title of Director, but you work alongside your team. You roll up your sleeves and get your hands dirty when necessary. You work hard and approach each day with humility and a desire to keep learning.

About Us

• We are creating access to eyeglasses for low-income people. Clear vision creates opportunities for increased learning, work, safety, civic participation, and quality of life.
• As a social organisation, social change motivates us first. Our focus is on advancing our mission objectives - to increase functioning, productivity, and income earning potential for our low-income people by correcting impaired vision with eyeglasses.
• We are working to transform the systemic dysfunction which has failed to deliver eyeglasses - a 700-year-old technology - to approximately 55 Crore people in India in need of vision correction.
• We serve low-income people who are more than beneficiaries to us. The people (and the partners) we serve expect high-quality eye-screenings and eyeglasses.
• To efficiently scale, we must deliver each new unit at less cost.
• We run our operations on financial metrics and social impact measures. We leverage a range of processes and practices to get the work done.
• We believe in scaling our impact, not our organisation. We are a lean team of doers.

What You’ll Do

Financial Reporting and Analysis

• Prepare and review financial reports, including budget variance analysis and program expenditure reports.
• Oversee the implementation of financial software, analytical tools, and process improvements to enhance analytics, with speed, accuracy and completeness.
• Act as a key financial advisor to the leadership team and provide insights that drive data-based decision-making.
• Analyse financial data to identify trends, risks, and opportunities and timely monitoring of progress, performance, financial outlook, and forecasting.
• Drive program/department/SKU wise analysis and monitoring. Monitor cash flows and fund requirements.
• Prepare monthly, quarterly, and year-end financial reports for review – internal, external, and Board as per schedule.

Grant Management

• Drive the project budgeting, reporting and review process for every project in collaboration with all stakeholders for the process.
• Oversee timely filing of FCRA returns, quarterly intimation of foreign contributions, and maintenance of separate bank accounts, database, and records as per the FCRA guidelines.
• Ensure timely issuance of utilisation certificates and other donor/statutory reports.
• Coordinate with internal and external teams to manage program finance, ensuring compliance with statutory and donor-specific restrictions and reporting requirements.

Audit, Compliance, and Risk Management

• Take responsibility for the timely completion of required audits, tax return/GST filings, and required organisational compliance.
• Ensure compliance with organisational financial policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements.
• Identify and mitigate financial risks, ensuring adequate internal controls.
• Coordinate with stakeholders to support any regulatory inspections.
• Monitor changes in financial and accounting protocol/laws to maintain compliance.
• Ensure full compliance with applicable laws and regulations, including Income Tax Act, FCRA, GST, and relevant state-level statutes.
• Review financial clauses in contracts, grant agreements, MoUs, and vendor contracts to safeguard the organisation’s interests and minimise legal exposure.
• Liaise with legal counsels on financial disputes, notices, or litigation involving the organisation. Maintain documentation and ensure timely responses.
• Coordinate with the Company Secretary to prepare financial reports, resolutions, and presentations for Board and Finance Committee meetings.
• Ensure timely filing of financial disclosures, annual returns, and other statutory documents with regulatory bodies. 
• Maintain accurate records of board resolutions, minutes, and approvals related to financial matters, including budget approvals and investment decisions.
• Ensure proper documentation and reporting of foreign contributions, utilisation certificates, and donor disclosures.
• Oversee maintenance of statutory registers, financial records, and compliance calendars.
• Engage with external partners, regulatory bodies, and stakeholders as required.
• Lead the annual audit process, involving statutory and internal auditors and the Finance and Audit Sub-Committee of the Board. 

Bookkeeping

• Oversee all finance and accounting activities ensuring compliance with local accounting requirements, local regulatory frameworks, and internal policies.
• Drive standard and consistent financial accounting, reporting and review processes, and practices.
• Take overall responsibility and accountability for the day-to-day financial operations and ensure effective internal controls and robust financial practices. Ensure daily, monthly and quarterly accounts reconciliation process for Balance Sheet accounts.
• Lead initiatives to optimise financial systems and processes, including automation and technology integration, to improve bookkeeping and reporting efficiency and data accuracy.
• Constantly update and improve financial policies and accounting practices; Maintain an up-to-date finance manual; Foster adherence to Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).  

Overall Finance Leadership

• Define and communicate a clear financial strategy aligned with organisational goals.
• Support initiatives both within Finance function and at an organisational level to support the mission.
• Collaborate with leadership to shape organisational direction, mission priorities, and fund management to live within the means.
• Recruit, retain, and develop high-performing finance professionals across financial planning and analysis, accounting, and statutory compliance.

• Chartered Accountant (CA) or equivalent qualification with minimum 15 to 18 years related experience, including extensive experience as a finance leader. Bachelor’s degree required in accounting, finance, and/or another relevant field.
• Strong understanding of Indian accounting standards, GST, TDS, and other statutory frameworks.
• Must have high proficiency in accounting experience using computerised accounting systems, such as SAP, or others. Working knowledge of SAP will be an added advantage. Prior experience with Microsoft Power BI is preferred.
• Track record of managing internal and statutory audits, taxation/GST, statutory compliances, financial reporting, accounting, and negotiation of contracts.
• Deep knowledge of Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Act.
• Preferred experience: Working with mission-centric not-for-profit organisations; Working with an organisation having both product and service solutions; Experience supporting a periodic internal audit process and an annual external audit process; Experience of program/project-based accounting with not-for-profits (percentage of completion (POC) accounting method); Experience in preparing financial updates and insights for leadership, including contributing to PowerPoint presentations.

• To apply, please submit a thoughtful cover letter and your CV/resume to hr.india@visionspring.org, with your last name and "Director, Finance" in the subject line, sharing not just your experience, but also your passions and talents that make you a strong fit for this role.
• Please note, only candidates to be interviewed will be contacted. VisionSpring Foundation is an Equal Opportunity Employer.