Finance and Operations Manager

• Oversee and manage all financial operations of the Better Cotton branch office
• Review, strengthen, and align country office financial and accounting systems, processes, and practices with Better Cotton’s global frameworks
• Collaborate proactively with the Country Management Team (CMT), cross-functional teams, and global colleagues
• Ensure timely and accurate disbursement of funds
• Build and maintain productive relationships with government authorities, external auditors, banking partners, and service providers
• Oversee the local country office’s accounting function
• Lead the setup and optimization of accounting systems and processes
• Review and validate payment requests and procurement committee recommendations
• Review and verify monthly cash and bank reconciliations
• Validate payroll processing for the country office
• Prepare accurate and timely quarterly trial balances and annual financial statements
• Lead the country-level annual budget development process
• Provide guidance, training, and coaching to team members on budget preparation
• Responsible for the preparation and consolidation of budgets for Finance, IT, Operations, and Country Management functions
• Monitor country budgets and reporting timelines
• Ensure all country-level financial reporting is completed and submitted within global consolidation deadlines
• Oversee the preparation of accurate and timely management accounts
• Ensure proactive and consistent compliance with all local regulatory requirements
• Ensure compliance with Reserve Bank of India (RBI) regulations, Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) requirements, and other applicable banking laws
• Manage relationships with local auditors and lead the execution of statutory audits
• Lead process improvements to enhance operational efficiency and strengthen compliance
• Lead and coordinate the end-to-end process of new entity registration
• Supervise and manage all local and international procurement of goods and services
• Act as the key liaison with the global procurement team
• Oversee the maintenance, repair, and effective utilization of office equipment, automation tools, fittings, and fixtures
• Ensure the safety and confidentiality of administrative documentation
• Implement and maintain a comprehensive asset management system
• Conduct quarterly physical verification of inventory across all office locations
• Oversee the annual disposal process for obsolete or non-functional equipment
• Provide oversight of local IT infrastructure and support needs in collaboration with the global IT team
• Provide oversight and strategic direction for the planning and coordination of official events, workshops, and travel arrangements
• Supervise and guide relevant staff in managing all aspects of travel logistics
• Liaise with senior government officials and regulatory bodies to secure necessary travel authorizations
• Ensure the development, maintenance, and regular review of a comprehensive and compliant vendor database
• Provide strategic leadership and day-to-day management to the Finance and Operations team
• Deliver expert financial advisory support to the Country Office and programme teams
• Ensure all team members are thoroughly inducted, trained, and continuously updated on relevant financial policies

• Qualified finance or management professional (CA / CMA / ACCA / CIMA / CPA / MBA in Finance or equivalent)
• Post Qualification 12 years of experience in finance and operations function, preferably in an international and reputed not-for-profit organization
• Demonstrated experience leading multi-functional operations teams (Finance, IT, Procurement, Logistics)
• Proven experience operating in complex, multi-stakeholder environments, with end-to-end ownership across interdependent workstreams
• Experience overseeing country office operations, including facilities, vendor management, and operational service delivery
• Fluency in English (both written and spoken) is essential
• Working proficiency in Hindi is highly desirable
• Data-Driven Decision-Making: Applies financial data analytics and reporting tools to support accurate budgeting, forecasting, and performance analysis
• Process Improvement: Continuously identifies opportunities to strengthen financial systems, ERP workflows, and compliance processes
• Stakeholder Management: Effectively engages with internal teams and external partners
• ERP System Proficiency: Ensures smooth financial operations, data integrity, and real-time reporting by efficiently managing ERP workflows
• Accounting & Financial Management: Applies strong knowledge of financial principles, compliance, and donor reporting
• Multi-Entity & Complex Financial Structures: Support on financial and operational requirements pertaining to the set-up and operationalisation of additional legal entities in India
• Budgeting & Forecasting: Prepares and monitors budgets with keen attention to detail
• Audit & Compliance: Supports internal and external audit processes
• Stakeholder Communication: Engages effectively with internal and external stakeholders

Additional regional language skills are an asset

• Competitive salary
• Hybrid working – Two to three days/week from office
• The opportunity to work from anywhere in the world for up to one month per year
• Flexible working, with core hours from 10 am to 4 pm local time
• Continuous learning and development
• A generous annual leave package, including paid holiday, public holidays, additional paid days off during the festive season, study and exam days, and extra discretionary leave for life events such as family weddings or moving home
• Enhanced parental benefits
• The opportunity to make your mark and make a difference