Finance and Admin Manager

Acumen is hiring for a leading global university client, recognised as one of the world’s top research and teaching-intensive institutions, known for innovative research and high-quality education with global impact. Ranked consistently in the World Top 20 QS rankings, their mission is to improve and transform lives through excellence in research, outstanding education, and advancing a just society.

As a founding member of Australia’s Group of Eight research-intensive universities, the institution drives solutions to global challenges, from climate change and renewable energies to lifesaving medical treatments and breakthrough technologies, ensuring communities thrive socially, economically, culturally, and environmentally. Their 2025 strategy, Progress for All, reaffirms their commitment to inclusive and impactful global advancement.

Position Summary

The Finance & Admin Manager is responsible for all aspects of administrative and financial accounting for the client university’s India entity, including banking relationships, payments, compliance with Indian Financial Reporting Standards and tax regulations, liaising with auditors, and regular finance and budgetary reporting to the wider central finance team. The position works closely with key internal stakeholders and external partners to ensure all financial transactions recorded in the accounting system are authentic, accurate, verifiable and follows authorisation protocol. The role reports to the Managing Director (South Asia) and has no direct reports.

Key Accountabilities

Finance

• Act as a business partner and advisor by establishing the financial management framework and financial control mechanisms to ensure accurate and reliable financial management and timely reporting.
• Prepare the operational budget, forecast and related monthly management reports for the entity as required to ensure data reported is accurate and reporting deadlines are met.
• Manage monthly reconciliations, liaising with management and stakeholders as needed and reporting any discrepancies, to meet audit and other financial and management reporting deadlines
• Draft financial reports for board/senior management and statutory compliance
• Develop and implement entity specific process documentation including updates of entity policy documentation.
• Ensure accurate ledger transactions in compliance with policies and statutory obligations
• Review balance sheet, revenue, and expense accounts for accuracy and compliance
• Lead the annual budgeting process. Work with functional managers/project managers to ensure the annual budget and annual reforecast is complete, timely and accurate
• Maintain the financial integrity of the primary and subsidiary ledgers and database of related finance systems of university in line with its policies and guidelines.
• Provide accurate and timely analysis of data to facilitate decision support and ad hoc projects including supporting the Board of Directors by preparing finance related documents and papers as required.
• Liaise with internal and external auditors where required, providing clear guidance and support for their requirements, to assist with auditing processes in the lead up to the annual audit process.
• Ensure accuracy, completeness, consistency and timeliness of all GST matters including applicability, reverse charge, deposit and returns. Ensure compliance at transaction level.
• Ensure accuracy, completeness, consistency and timeliness of all TDS matters including applicability, deduction, monthly deposit and quarterly returns. Ensure compliance at transaction level.
• Manage the entire process (applicability, deduction, deposit and returns) of employee related statutory payments of PF, ESI, NPS and professional tax.
• Secretarial compliance- liaise with the Company Secretary and ensure that all compliances related to company law are handled (e.g. annual returns, board meeting minutes, AGM minutes etc.)
• Ensure compliance with all RBI rules e.g. FLA return
• Work with company advisors to ensure all corporate tax matters are appropriately handled including but not limited to filing of returns, tax audit reports, transfer pricing reports and documentation etc
• Liaise with bankers and manage the banking relationships, access to online banking, account opening/closure, FIRCs, statements, confirmations etc
• Treasury management – managing funds by forecasting cashflows, setting limits for maximum balances and placing surplus/idle funds in FDs
• Manage all payments to vendors and employees in a timely manner and set up related internal controls e.g. ensuring that all payments are processed after satisfactory verification of authorizations and submitted supporting documents (invoices etc.),
• Play a super-user role for Tally and ensure full utilisation of its capabilities. Improve and manage controls in Tally
• Contract management with existing and new vendors
• Payroll processing – timely processing of salaries to staff and issuing salary slips. Compute Full & Final settlement of colleagues leaving the organisation.

Administrative

• Maintain Annual Leave Register and Leave record of employees
• Identify new vendors for transport, travel, office supplies, printers, others, that ensure value for money.
• Dispatch marketing flyers and collaterals to the distributed FSR team.
• Support university events like Application Days, Pre-Departure events, discharging the responsibilities allocated by Event Lead.
• Coordinate travel arrangements and visa invitation letter for incoming high-level delegations including hotel reservations, transportation and logistics.
• Manage office and pantry supplies, office maintenance and security.

Skills & Experience

• Tertiary level education in accounting, finance or business along with CA Inter/Final is preferred.
• Demonstrated experience working in a similar role supporting an international operation in India and liaising with key internal and external stakeholders such as headquarters, bankers and auditors both in India and overseas
• 6-10 years of professional experience gained in a corporate finance environment.
• Strong technical accounting skills and finance knowledge.
• Excellent fluency with Tally and knowledge of all features and functionalities
• Advanced level knowledge of Microsoft Excel, at ease with complex spreadsheets using macros and complicated formulae
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with ability to build effective relationships with key stakeholders, and ability to negotiate and influence effectively at executive levels, as well as ability to concisely explain complex issues effectively to non-finance professionals.
• Demonstrated experience to translate complex data into high quality and succinct reports to inform management decision making.
• Thorough knowledge of business operations, understanding of financial processes, and demonstrated experience with implementing/enhancing internal controls over financial reporting.
• Highly organised with a demonstrated ability to manage a number of projects and conflicting priorities at one time.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Team player with ability to adapt to fast changing environment.
• Self-starter with very high level of commitment and integrity

Other Information

• Employment is directly with the client university’s wholly owned subsidiary in New Delhi
• Competitive salary based on experience
• Salary is competitive and based on experience level.
• Pre-employment checks are required and there will be verification of qualifications.
• The role provides flexible working but requires working from the office for at least 3 days a week.