Finance Manager

About Quest Alliance:

Quest Alliance is a not-for-profit organization working across India, dedicated to equipping young people with the skills they need to thrive in a rapidly evolving world of work. Since 2008, weve been reimagining how young learners, especially those from underserved communities experience education, career readiness, and lifelong learning. We have been enabling equitable school-to-work transitions by building future-ready learning ecosystems that prioritize access, inclusion, and innovation.

Through strong collaboration with government systems, educators, communities, and civil society, we co-create tech-enabled learning experiences that empower young learnersespecially those from disadvantaged and underrepresented backgrounds to build dignified, thriving and future-ready careers.

We envision a world where education goes beyond access, becoming a powerful tool for self-empowerment, social mobility, and lasting impact.

Role Overview

The Finance Manager will play a critical role in ensuring the financial health, stability, and compliance of Quest Alliance. This role will oversee day-to-day financial operations, provide strategic insights through planning and analysis, ensure effective fund management, and build capacity within the organization to strengthen financial acumen. TheFinance Manager will also support the Senior Finance Manager in driving financial strategy, governance, and alignment with Quests mission and values.

Key Responsibilities

1. Financial Planning, Analysis & Reporting

• Lead the annual budgeting process, ensuring alignment with organizational priorities and donor requirements.
• Manage all donor MOUs, Budgets, correspondence and responsible for complete donor compliances.
• Manage financial forecasting, variance analysis, and provide strategic insights for decision-making.
• Oversee salary allocations and expense allocations across projects to ensure accuracy, compliance, and transparency.
• Prepare timely and accurate financial statements, donor utilization reports, and management dashboards.
• Monitor monthly cash flows and liquidity to ensure financial sustainability of programs and operations.
• Conduct monthly financial review meetings, highlighting risks, opportunities, and corrective actions.
• Ensure the expenses are inline with Donor guidelines, Organization policies and in compliance with laws of the land including and not limited to IT, FCRA etc.

2. Operational Finance & Compliance

• Oversee day-to-day accounting, reconciliations, and financial transactions with 100% accuracy aligned with donor MOUs, compliances and organization policies..
• Ensure timely processing of payments and proper documentation to avoid underspending and audit risks.
• Monitor sub-grants, disbursements, and reporting compliance with partner organizations.
• Ensure compliance with statutory, regulatory, and donor-specific financial requirements.
• Support internal and external audits, including funder audits, by preparing documentation and responding to queries.
• Strengthen systems and processes for donor reporting, MOU management, and financial tracking.

3. Stakeholder Engagement & Capacity Building

• Act as the primary finance liaison for program teams, providing guidance on budget utilization, cost allocations, and donor compliance.
• Conduct training/orientations for non-finance managers to build financial literacy and ownership across the organization.
• Collaborate with internal teams and external stakeholders to ensure smooth financial coordination and timely reporting.
• Support team members in maintaining up-to-date financial records and systems.

4. Leadership & Team Collaboration

• Partner with the Director Finance to shape the finance strategy and strengthen governance practices.
• Model adherence to organizational systems, policies, and Quests values in day-to-day work.
• Contribute actively to cross-team forums, reviews, and planning processes to enhance collaboration and alignment.
• Mentor and support finance team members, fostering a culture of accountability, learning, and growth.
• Any other tasks assigned by Director Finance.

5. Continuous Learning & Growth

• Invest in personal and professional development by engaging with internal learning spaces, courses, and reflective practices.
• Stay informed on emerging trends in financial management for NGOs, compliance, and donor reporting.
• Demonstrate openness to feedback and share learnings with the team to foster a culture of continuous improvement.

Key Skills & Competencies

• Strong knowledge of accounting principles, donor & legal compliance, and financial management systems.
• Proven experience in budgeting, forecasting, and financial analysis.
• Excellent understanding of grant management, donor reporting, and sub-grant monitoring.
• Strong stakeholder management skills, with the ability to communicate financial information clearly to non-finance teams.
• Proficiency in accounting software (e.g., Tally, QuickBooks, or similar) and MS Excel/Google Sheets.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and maintain accuracy under pressure.
• Demonstrated leadership qualities with experience in mentoring and developing teams.
• Alignment with Quest Alliances mission, values, and culture of collaboration and continuous learning.

Qualifications & Experience

• Postgraduate degree in Finance/Accounting/Commerce (CA/CPA/CMA or MBA Finance preferred).
• 1012 years of progressive experience in financial management, with at least 35 years in a leadership role.
• Prior experience in the development/nonprofit sector and with donor-funded projects is highly desirable.