Financial Planning & Analysis Manager

Summary The Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A) Manager will be responsible for driving financial strategy, budgeting, and operational efficiency. This role involves developing financial forecasts, leading budgeting processes, and ensuring alignment with business objectives. The FP&A Manager will monitor expenditures, conduct variance analyses, and provide strategic insights to support decision-making. Additionally, they will lead process improvements by automating financial operations, enhancing compliance, and streamlining workflows. This role requires strong collaboration with leadership, auditors, and external funders to ensure financial transparency.  Location: Delhi / Bengaluru / Remote Length of Commitment: Minimum 12 months Responsibilities: Financial Forecasting, Planning, and Monitoring: Develop short-term and long-term financial plans Collaborate with vertical leaders to align financial goals with business objectives and support the creation of project budgets for proposals Lead the annual budgeting process, gathering inputs from various departments to create consolidated budgets Monitor budget variances and implement corrective actions as needed, preparing monthly and quarterly management reports on expenditure against budget and forecasts for internal and external stakeholders Provide support to all verticals in maintaining accurate expenditure records and tracking financial performance Ensure accurate financial information is available for contract stage requirements and post-award activities, including regulatory and compliance monitoring, and invoice preparation Financial Analysis and Reporting Analyze financial performance, variances, and drivers of financial results to provide insights and recommendations for decision-making Conduct scenario analysis to assess potential business impacts and strategic options Develop, streamline, and automate management reports to provide timely and relevant financial information that supports leadership decision-making Create tailored reports for leadership, highlighting key metrics, trends, and actionable insights to facilitate strategic discussions Anticipate and identify financial risks, escalating issues as appropriate to ensure proactive management Enhance the reporting process by implementing tools and technologies that improve data accuracy and reduce manual effort Process Improvement Present innovative commercial insights and solutions to improve operational efficiency Create efficient processes and lead the implementation of new finance Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) Review current systems, identify gaps for improvement, and work collaboratively with relevant stakeholders to implement solutions Provide technological solutions to automate processes and minimize errors, enhancing the overall accuracy and reliability of financial operations Streamline financial planning and reporting processes to improve accuracy and efficiency Liaise with auditors, funders, and external stakeholders Implement best practices for financial controls and compliance Team Management Lead, mentor, and develop the FP&A team, fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement Set clear performance goals and provide constructive feedback to team members, ensuring alignment with overall finance objectives and organizational goals Organize training and development opportunities to enhance team skills and knowledge in financial analysis and reporting practices Facilitate regular team meetings to discuss project updates, share insights, and address challenges collaboratively Skills and Experience Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or a related field. Master's degree or CPA preferred Proven experience (8+ years) in financial planning and analysis, with a strong background in team leadership Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to interpret complex financial data Strong hands-on experience working extensively on spreadsheets/Excel for financial analysis, tracking, and reporting, familiarity with Zoho Books and/or QuickBooks would be a plus Comfortable working in a small, growing organisation with a willingness to work at the ground level on core finance basics when required, while also supporting and guiding the team by leading by example