Manager – Program Finance (Kolkata and Guwahati)

Azim Premji Foundation; Kolkata District; On-site; INR 1,200,000 - 2,200,000; Full time

Job summary

Azim Premji Foundation invites applications for the role of Manager – Program Finance to strengthen financial management, grant governance and compliance across themes and partner organizations. The role demands strong NGO finance and budgeting expertise to work with program teams and external partners.

You will conduct partner due diligence, support grant operations, ensure compliance with FCRA, income tax and CSR rules, and collaborate with grant leads, legal teams and auditors to drive

Qualifications

• MBA (Finance), M.Com or ICWA or equivalent qualification required.
• 7–15 years of relevant NGO finance, grant management or program finance experience.
• Strong understanding of NGO accounting, grant budgeting and financial analysis.
• Experience with FCRA, Income Tax, CSR compliance and donor reporting.

Responsibilities

• Conduct financial due diligence of prospective and existing partner NGOs prior to grant onboarding and renewal.
• Evaluate adequacy of accounting systems, internal controls, governance structures and financial management practices.
• Assess compliance status related to Income Tax, FCRA and other registrations.
• Prepare and present structured due diligence reports for committees and management.
• Review annual financial reports and ensure timely grant disbursement as per agreements.
• Ensure compliant utilization of grant funds and update grant portal status.
• Provide financial handholding and advisory support to partner organizations.
• Coordinate with grant leads, legal and internal stakeholders for grant operations.
• Respond to finance and compliance queries from stakeholders.

Skills

Financial analysis

Stakeholder management

Communication

Attention to detail

Analytical thinking

Capacity building

Education

MBA (Finance)

M.Com

ICWA or equivalent

Tools

MS Excel

Financial reporting tools

Job description

Manager – Program Finance will play an operational role in strengthening financial management, grant governance, compliances across themes and partner organizations. The role requires a strong understanding of NGO finance, grant operations, compliance, budgeting and institutional processes, combined with the ability to work closely with program teams and external partners.

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct financial due diligence of prospective and existing partner NGOs prior to grant onboarding and renewal process.
• Evaluate adequacy of accounting systems, internal controls, governance structures, and financial management practices of prospective partners.
• Assess compliance status related to Income Tax, FCRA and other applicable statutory registrations.
• Review organizational policies and processes to identify financial, operational, compliance, and governance risks, if any.
• Prepare and present structured due diligence reports for internal review committees and management decision-making.

Grant Management & Financial Review

• Review annual financial reports, supporting documents and ensure timely fund disbursement to NGO partners as per the agreement timelines.
• Ensure optimal and compliant utilization of grant funds aligned with grant terms as well as organizational requirements.
• Periodically update status and workflow at the grant management portal to reflect accurate information related to active grants.
• Ensure lifecycle management with respect to the financial aspects of assigned grants till closure.

Capacity Building & Collaboration

• Support partner organizations in strengthening accounting systems and financial processes by providing ongoing financial handholding and advisory support.
• Work closely with grant leads, core accounts, legal and other relevant internal stakeholders for effective grant operations.
• Facilitate timely responses to finance and compliance-related queries from internal and external stakeholders.

Qualifications & Experience

• MBA (Finance) / M.Com / ICWA or equivalent qualification.
• 7–15 years of relevant experience in NGO finance, grant management, or program finance.
• Strong understanding of:
  • NGO accounting and bookkeeping
  • Grant budgeting and financial analysis
  • Statutory compliances (FCRA, Income Tax, CSR-related compliance, etc.)
  • Audit coordination and donor reporting
• Experience working with non-profit organizations, foundations, or development sector institutions.
• Experience engaging with program teams, auditors, finance committees, and partner organizations preferred.
• Strong analytical and financial review capabilities.
• Excellent understanding of budgeting, compliance, and grant operations.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to simplify financial concepts for non-finance stakeholders.
• High attention to detail and process orientation.
• Ability to manage multiple grants and stakeholders simultaneously.
• Proficiency in MS Excel and financial reporting tools.
• Willingness to extensive travel to field locations and partner organizations as required.

Key Attributes

• Collaborative and solution-oriented approach
• Strong integrity and accountability
• Ability to work independently in dynamic environments
• Commitment to strengthening institutional systems and governance in the social sector