Finance Advisor

Nature of employment: Full-time

Reporting to: Finance - Lead

Location: Delhi

About Peepul

6.5 million students. 291,000 teachers. 90,000+ schools. That’s the scale of what Peepul is changing — and this role sits at the centre of it. Peepul is an education non-profit working with state governments in Delhi and Madhya Pradesh to drive systemic reform at scale. We’ve received international recognition — including the Commonwealth Education Award for Innovation — and are backed by India’s leading CSR funders and global partners. Our model is simple: embed, deliver, measure anchored in system-level change, in partnership with governments. We are a growing organisation with an ambitious strategy and a strong evidence base. Join us in our mission to create a world where every child has equal access to high-quality education. Learn more about our transformative work at http://peepulindia.org

About the Role

The Finance Advisor will provide financial oversight, analysis and advisory support to the organisation and programme teams. The role will strengthen financial planning, budgeting, project financial management, internal controls, compliance, donor reporting and financial decision-making.

The Finance Advisor will work closely with the Finance Team and programme team to ensure that financial resources are planned, utilised and reported effectively, efficiently and in accordance with organisational policies, donor requirements and applicable laws.

Responsibilities would include (but not limited to):

A. Financial Planning & Budgeting

• Coordinate the annual budgeting process with programme and support functions.

• Review programme budgets, donor budgets and organisational budgets for completeness, reasonableness and alignment with strategic priorities.

• Develop budget assumptions and costing methodologies.

• Monitor actual expenditure against approved budgets and provide variance analysis.

B. Programme & Grant Financial Management

• Provide financial advisory support to programme teams throughout the grant/project lifecycle.

• Review donor budgets, financial terms, cost eligibility and reporting requirements.

• Monitor project-wise and donor-wise expenditure.

• Support preparation and review of donor financial reports and utilisation certificates.

• Ensure financial reporting is consistent with donor agreements and organisational accounting policies.

C. Financial Analysis & Management Reporting

• Prepare and review monthly/quarterly financial MIS for management.

• Analyse expenditure trends, budget utilisation, programme cost structures and variances.

• Provide meaningful financial insights.

• Develop financial dashboards and management reports.

D. Internal Controls & Governance

• Ensure financial policies, SOPs and control mechanisms.

• Evaluate adequacy of controls relating to procurement, payments, payroll, assets, advances, travel and programme expenditure.

• Identify control weaknesses and recommend corrective actions.

• Support implementation of risk-based financial controls.

• Ensure compliance with delegation of authority and approval mechanisms.

• Support governance reporting to the leadership team, Finance Committee and Board, as applicable.

E. Statutory, Regulatory & FCRA Compliance

• Oversee financial aspects of statutory and regulatory compliance.

• Review compliance relating to TDS, GST, PF/ESI, Income Tax and other applicable regulations.

• Provide oversight on FCRA accounting, utilisation, reporting and documentation.

• Ensure proper segregation and tracking of restricted, unrestricted and foreign contribution funds.

F. Audit & Assurance

• Coordinate with statutory, internal and donor auditors.

• Review audit schedules, financial statements and supporting documentation.

• Analyse audit observations and recommend corrective measures.

• Monitor closure of audit findings.

• Strengthen audit readiness across the organisation.

G. ERP & Finance Systems

• Provide functional inputs for ERP implementation and optimisation.

• Review finance workflows, chart of accounts, project/cost-centre structures and reporting dimensions.

• Identify opportunities for automation and process improvement.

• Ensure appropriate financial controls are embedded within ERP workflows.

• Support development of finance MIS and dashboards.

H. Team Capacity Building and Advisory Support to Management

• Build finance capability among programme and support teams.

• Conduct training on budgeting, financial procedures, documentation and compliance.

• Promote a culture of financial accountability across the organisation.

• Provide financial inputs for operational decisions.

• Support management in assessing financial risks associated with new initiatives.

Key Deliverables

• Timely and reliable management financial reports.

• Effective annual budgeting and periodic forecasting.

• Strong budget and grant monitoring systems.

• Improved financial controls and compliance.

• Timely and accurate donor financial reporting.

• Audit readiness and timely closure of audit observations.

• Effective ERP-enabled financial processes.

• Strong financial capability within programme teams.

Qualifications and Role Requirements:

At Peepul, we seek talented professionals passionate about driving educational transformation and making a positive impact. We are looking for individuals who possess the following qualifications and meet the role requirements:

• Educational Background: Post Graduate Degree in Finance.

• Work Experience: We value both professional and personal experience. Candidates with 7–12 years of relevant experience, preferably including experience in the development/NGO sector.

• Other Skills: Strong experience in budgeting, financial analysis, project accounting and management reporting. Good understanding of FCRA, Income Tax and other statutory compliance applicable to NGOs. Experience in donor-funded projects is highly desirable. Strong ERP experience, preferably with implementation/process improvement exposure. Advanced Excel and financial modelling skills.

• Preferred Experience: Prior exposure to NGO/development-sector finance, FCRA and donor compliance, multi-donor or project financial management, ERP implementation, internal audit and risk-based controls, budgeting and financial modelling, Board/Finance Committee reporting, or managing/mentoring finance teams will be an added advantage.

How to apply

You will be required to upload:

• Your CV: Please ensure that your CV provides relevant information about your professional and personal experience and details of your academic qualifications. CVs can be one to two pages in length.

• A cover letter: We highly encourage you to use your cover letter to showcase your specific interest in working for Peepul and demonstrate how your qualifications align with the role you are applying for. A tailored cover letter holds significant importance in Peepul's recruitment process as it enables us to comprehend your motivations for the position, your relevant skills, and the clarity of your writing.

For any further queries related to our hiring process and timelines, please contact us at [email protected].