Director of Finance and Administration, USAID/India, Health Systems Strengthening and Building Resilience to Future Pandemics and Climate Change Activity in India

About Palladium:

Palladium is a global company working to design, develop and deliver positive impact on the lives and livelihoods of people around the globe; broaden access to health, water, power, and infrastructure; build enduring, sustainable, and transformative institutions and market systems to address global challenges; and conserve the natural world. We operate in over 90 countries and have a workforce of 4,000 talented, motivated, and diverse staff of all religions, races, languages, and gender identities.  

This Proposal Opportunity:

The Health Systems Strengthening and Building Resilience to Future Pandemics and Climate Change Activity in India is a proposed 5-year project, funded by USAID that will aim to enhance India’s healthcare system by strengthening its ability to handle challenges. These challenges may likely include climate change, emerging diseases, and changes in disease patterns. The strategy will likely involve implementing an integrated primary healthcare approach, improving care coordination across levels of the health system, expanding disease surveillance efforts, effectively allocating public health resources, and encouraging private sector involvement to improve overall health outcomes.

The DFA will oversee the financial management for all project activities in India. This includes oversight of procurement, logistics, human resources, accounting and finance, and records. The DFA will manage the contract budget and prepare financial reports for submission to USAID. The DFA will ensure that funds expended are compliant with USG regulations and policies, implement fraud mitigation practices, and ensure systems and processes are implemented effectively to support the implementation of the award. The DFA reports to the COP, participates in the project leadership team, collaborates with the Technical Directors, and provides direct supervision to Finance and Administration (F&A) staff.   

The DFA will oversee all finance, administrative, human resource, and operational activities of the project and a team of support personnel. This includes developing and overseeing finance and accounting systems that comply with USAID requirements and Palladium practices. In coordination with the COP, s/he will develop annual budgets that are aligned with the project work plan. S/he will also ensure compliance with contractual, USAID/USG, and local requirements for reporting, finance, and administration. S/he will also ensure payroll processes and adherence to local human resources policies.

This is a proposal position and is contingent upon award from USAID.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities:

Oversee program operations including, but not limited to, accounting/finance, human resources, logistics, procurement, and sub-contracts
Perform routine financial analysis on program expenditures, documenting and monitoring overall performance, analyzing trends, identifying gaps to ensure efficient and sound project management
Forecast project expenditures through field office, timely submit funds transfer requests (FTR) and manage cash flows in field office
Communicate and follow up with relevant suppliers, consultants, vendors, contractors, and staff with regards to invoices, payments, advances, or finances
Reconcile and review invoices for payments. Ensure necessary review, deliverables, and approvals before issuing payments. Coordinate with local finance team to remit payments to vendors
Maintain up to date bank and petty cash account transaction records and supporting documentations
Record all financial transactions in the financial templates provided by HQ, accurately and in a timely fashion. Prepare, review, and submit regular field vouchers and financial reports to HQ, as required
Oversee HR systems, processes, and documentation according to USAID and Palladium requirements.
Oversee local procurement and operations duties, including grants management, while adhering to all client rules and regulations and Palladium policies
Oversee implementation of all operational systems as per USAID and Palladium requirements as well as local laws
Ensure that project objectives, outcomes, and deliverables are met and that financial, operational, and USAID reporting requirements are followed
Develops internal control measures, conducts internal financial audits, and coordinates external financial audits
Work closely with HQ finance and operations leaders to ensure most current tools, resources, and guidelines are utilized for project implementation with a focus on efficiency gains and sharing best practices
Ensure timely financial reporting for annual budget planning, project budget modification, pipeline monitoring, subaward budget review, audit reviews and assessment processes
Take responsibility for risk management and good governance
Supervise other finance and operations staff and ensure performance aligns with Palladium’s performance excellence framework
Other ad hoc budget, accounting and financial duties as assigned

Key Competencies Required:

Bachelor’s degree in business administration, finance or a related field in international business management, finance, accounting and/or auditing experience.
At least 10 years of progressively responsible experience in accounting, auditing, finance, or business management with a recognized organization, preferably for USAID or other donor-funded programs.
Demonstrated ability to develop and manage large budgets, and in-depth knowledge of accounting principles.
Experience in managing grants under contract for USAID-funded programs of a similar size.
Progressively responsible experience supervising project operations, including human resources, procurement, and sub-contracts or sub-awards.
Prior experience in a management role on a USAID funded program in India highly desired.
Demonstrated experience in supervision finance and/or operations staff members.
Demonstrated experience coordinating and collaborating with various stakeholders.
Knowledge of Indian labor and tax laws and reporting procedures.
Knowledge of USAID policies, procedures, and reporting requirements.
Proficiency in MS Excel and other relevant computing applications.
Written and spoken fluency in English and Hindi.

Professional Expertise/Competencies Preferred:

Demonstrated strong management, coordination, teamwork, and planning skills.
Proven leadership and capacity in negotiation and conflict management.
Demonstrated capacity to effectively communicate and document, including the writing of quality reports and detailed analysis of strategic information.

Equity, Diversity & Inclusion - Palladium is committed to embedding equity, diversity, and inclusion into everything we do. We welcome applications from all sections of society and actively encourage diversity to drive innovation, creativity, success, and good practice. We positively welcome and seek to ensure we achieve diversity in our workforce; and that all job applicants and employees receive equal and fair treatment regardless of their background or personal characteristics. These include: (but are not limited to) socio-economic background, age, race, gender identity and expression, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, nationality, veteran, marital or Indigenous status.  

Should you require any adjustments or accommodation to be made due to a disability or you are a neurodivergent individual or for any other circumstance, please email our team at accessibility@thepalladiumgroup.com and we will be in touch to discuss. 

Safeguarding - We define Safeguarding as “the preventative action taken by Palladium to protect our people, clients and the communities we work with from harm”. We are committed to ensuring that all children and adults who come into contact with Palladium are treated with respect and are free from abuse.  All successful candidates will be subject to an enhanced selection process including safeguarding-focused interviews and a rigorous due diligence process.