Job Opportunity for Global Associate Director – Finance and Operations at STIR Education in Delhi

About Stir Education

STIR Education is an international NGO that supports education systems to reignite intrinsic motivation so that every child, teacher and official is motivated to learn and improve. At a practical level, that means we support governments to reignite intrinsic motivation in teachers and local officials, through teacher networks. Our vision is a world where teachers love teaching and children love learning. Since 2012 we have reached 200,000 teachers and 6 million children across 70 districts in India and Uganda and have recently launched our programme in two districts in East Java, Indonesia.

OUR MODEL

We achieve this through a five-year learning partnership with an education system, where we align all levels of the education system (officials, teachers and children) around the goal of increasing intrinsic motivation.

Practically, this means that teachers undergo monthly network meetings with about 20 to 30 local peers. Through these meetings they’re supported to develop their practice in areas ranging from effective questioning to creating warm but orderly classroom routines – all designed to create a more effective relationship between the teacher and child. In doing so they develop a sense of autonomy (the sense they can change things), mastery (sense of getting better as a professionals) and purpose (reconnecting emotionally with their peers and students) – the key drivers of intrinsic motivation.

District officials undergo a training and coaching programme that motivates and supports them to prioritise, run and monitor the teacher networks and a close partnership with the state or national government enables the government to align this intrinsic motivation approach within their priorities, structures and systems.

The approach is run by the government from day one and after about five years of partnering with an education system we hope to have embedded a culture of improvement at all levels for the system to continue to strengthen itself. We typically allocate one member of our own staff per district to train, energise and coach the district officials running the approach, and a small team at the national or state level.

OUR VALUES

How we approach our work is as important as what we do and our core values guide the way:

Humility – We don’t have all the answers upfront.

Ownership – We empower each other with high expectations & support.

Openness – We will listen, learn and improve, and lead through obstacles.

Purpose – We’re united by a shared vision we’ll build & achieve together.

THE OPPORTUNITY

STiR Education is looking for Global Associate Director – Finance and Operations. This role will be reporting to the Global Director – Financial Planning, Corporate Governance and Operations. This role is primarily responsible for managing STiR’s Finance and Operations globally. This role will play a critical role in being a business partner for all the functional leads.

Direct reports – This role will manage the two Associate Head Finance and Operations in India and Uganda and Senior Manager Finance and Operations, Indonesia.

Roles And Responsibilities

LEAD ON FINANCE & OPERATIONS

Finance and budgeting

• Support the Global Director in implementing and communicating strategy for operational management to meet agreed organizational performance plans within budgets and timelines in all geographies.
• Lead on finance and operations on day-to-day basis and manage the country leads
• Manage and maintain appropriate accounting systems, operating rhythm and processes and ensure adherence to timelines with closely working with country finance leads
• To setup and manage accountable finance and administrative function including minimising fraudulent practices at all country and global level.
• To facilitate and ensure the development, implementation and management of Annual Budgets
• Support in planning including but not limited to preparation and monitoring of the organizational budget, payments and processes.
• Ensure fund allocation and maximize use of restricted funding and ensure monthly expenses are tracked against organizational budget
• Manage Country Cash Flow to ensure adequate liquidity to meet all liabilities and payments
• Support in building unrestricted reserves
• Ensure and lead in setting up operations in the new and existing geographies including opening bank accounts, setting up vendors etc.
• Be the focal point for incubating partners and manage relationship with regards to day-to-day operations and trouble shoot any issues
• Ensure Admin support is seamless across globally

Accounting

• Ensure STIR is fully compliant will all global and local national laws relating to finance and accounting standards and audit processes
• Ensure ERP system is functioning seamlessly.

Bank management and controls

• Ensure and Manage all banking relationships and mandates are in accordance to policies and support on setting up of accounts and mandates
• Support in authorizing and approving payments on internet banking portals based on the delegation of authority

AUDIT AND GOVERNANCE

Audits and internal review

• Lead, Manage and support in country and global audits processes, requirements and needs with the Country Finance Head. Ensure audits are led and carried out across all geographies seamlessly with no audit qualifications
• Prepare global financial consolidation with support from Associate Head – Financial Planning and Reporting for Global Director to review
• Lead Internal Review Team as part of the internal review function globally
• Ensure all audit recommendations are actioned within reasonable timelines
• Ensure compliance with all regulatory and legal requirements are in line with in all the countries of STiR operations
• Act as the point of contact for Global Auditors and Tax consultants

Governance

• Manage and ensure FCRA (Foreign contribution Regulations Act) application and registrations have been up to date and work closely with advisors to ensure compliance with FCRA, Taxation and other charity related laws and regulations across all geographies.
• Ensure all admin/staff contract templates are in line with the law of the land
• Support Global Director to ensure the In country regulations, governance documents are in line with the law of the land and regularly update the structure.

DONOR PARTNERSHIP SUPPORT

Support India Donor team and compliance guidance as and when needed

LEAD ON STIR’s INTERNAL IT STRATEGY AND OPERATIONS

• Institutionalise internal control mechanisms for competitive, unbiased and transparent procurement processes and policy adherence
• Ensure value and usefulness of various platforms and making sure they are fit for purpose (including supporting M&E teams where needed on compliance, value for money (mainly supporting the procurement process) etc.)
• Learning and making changes on current platforms as and when needed to ensure STiR is set up with purposeful tech systems.
• Work closely with the technical consultants to ensure all team members are set with right resources to carry out work for STiR.
• Ensure Global Operations are set to support on all tech platforms including but not limited to Google Workspace, Zoom, Google Drive, Fresh teams, ERP, One Note, Calendars, Intranet and setting up of ERP etc
• Ensure all Tech platforms are fully functional including STiR domains, websites and work closely with Associate head of Communications for any support as may be needed.

TEAM MANAGEMENT AND SUPPORT

• Lead Finance and Operations Function and team
• Establish competencies and systems to ensure the team is fully equipped to accelerate growth, contribute to STiR’s vision and continually provide accurate and timely reporting both internally to management and support the Global Director in reporting to Finance committee and Board and externally to any stakeholders as and when asked.
• Manage support function and act as business partner to the leadership team across all functions.
• Provide trainings to the team and ensure they are well equipped with the resources

SENIOR LEADERSHIP TEAM (SLT)

• Be the part of SLT and provide inputs in strategic discussions
• Act as business partner to the SLT and support in carrying out the SLT priorities and objectives
• Support the Global Director to provide information for management and Finance Committee as and when needed

ACTIVELY CONTRIBUTE TO ORGANISATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND CULTURE

• Role model professionalism, ensure integrity and accuracy in your work and take ownership of your own development
• Develop strong, purposeful and collaborative relationships with all team leads.
• Make sure that all the work you do and relationships you build are in the STiR spirit and in line with our values
• Model ‘Growth Mindset’ at all times – show that improvement is always possible

Key Competencies Required

• Outstanding communication skills in English (both oral and written)
• Strategic, analytical and critical thinking skills
• Personal commitment to accuracy, excellence and quality
• Values driven and role model for the team
• Dynamic self-starter that demonstrates creativity and initiative
• Intrinsically motivated to learn and grow
• Honesty and integrity

Required Skills And Experience

The key skills (must be there) –

• Strong in financial understanding of working in a multi-cultural and international not for profit organization
• Strong technical skills (accounting systems, excel, word and PowerPoint) – is a must,
• Experience of working on ERP. SAP will be an added advantage
• Having understanding and experience of working in multi country and multi-currency environment
• Understanding of Accounting laws, rules, taxation and compliance
• At least 7-10 years of experience of working in similar capacity or 5-7 years post qualification (CA/CMA/CFA) will be desirable
• A qualified accountant, MBA in Finance or any other similar qualification and skills
• Ability to work in tight timelines, different time zones and fast changing and challenging environment
• Problem solving ability and to be able to work with minimum supervision
• Ability to take critical decisions
• Open to travel as and when required
• Advanced level of competence in Excel, presentations and analytical skills
• High level of accuracy and attention to detail
• Ability to prioritise work, meet deadlines and combine responding to urgent requests along with longer terms tasks and activities
• Ability to influence teams without reporting lines.
• Be the backup for Global Director as and when needed.

Remuneration And Benefits

This position is at the Global Associate Director level. The successful candidate, depending on where they are based, will earn a salary of INR 26,54,505/- per annum if in India; UGX 13,65,44,433 per annum if in Uganda; IDR 45,62,57,813 per annum if in Indonesia. In addition, STiR will pay for Medical Insurance for yourself, spouse and up to two children under Group Insurance scheme.