Job Description:
About Air Pollution Action Group (A-PAG)
APAG was set up in 2019 by Ashish Dhawan (Founder and Chairperson, Ashoka University and Central Square Foundation), Vijay Chadda (previously CEO of Bharti Foundation) and Mohit Beotra (previously Chief Brand Officer of Airtel).
A-PAG is focused on strategic implementation of solutions to combat air pollution. A-PAG works with Government on a pro-bono basis; we have made significant progress with programs at the National as well as State level. Some of our projects are as follows:
- In Delhi, we are engaged with the Municipal Corporation on a massive program aimed at dispersed sources. This covers all ~250 wards across the city.
- In Uttar Pradesh (UP) we have programs running in 7 cities across the state. This relationship is expected to be extended to all 17 non-attainment cities in the state. We have recently started a pilot program on EV adoption in NOIDA.
- As part of our program with Bihar State Pollution Control Board (BPSCB), we are active in Patna, Muzaffarpur & Gaya. Various initiatives are underway to address air pollution across the state of Bihar.
- We work in Gurgaon & Faridabad in partnership with the Municipal Corporation.
- We have a PMU based at the Central Pollution Control Board, which is helping CPCB drive effectiveness of the National Clean Air Program (NCAP).
A-PAG works by placing multiple Project Management Units (PMUs) that work closely with Government departments to ensure success against air pollution.
Position Summary
We are seeking a seasoned finance leader to own end-to-end finance and accounting for APAG and select portfolio entities. This role combines operational excellence with strategic finance, ensuring robust controllership, sharp decision support to leadership, and full compliance for Section 8 companies. The leader will build and scale seamless processes, manage internal teams and external partners, and drive timely, insight-rich financial reporting that informs board- and CEO-level decisions. The role reports to the CEO, APAG.
Key Responsibilities
1) End-to-End Finance Ownership
- Lead and institutionalize full-cycle finance and accounting: GL, AP, AR, treasury, cash flow, banking, payroll, fixed assets, reconciliations, monthly/quarterly/annual close, and audit readiness.
- Design and deliver accurate, timely MIS, board decks, and donor/grant reporting; analyze trends, variances, and unit economics to inform strategic decisions.
- Build and enforce finance policies, internal controls, and risk management frameworks aligned to growth and multi-entity complexity.
2) Strategy, Planning and Decision Support
- Own budgeting, forecasting, scenario planning, and multi-year financial modeling; partner with leadership on resource allocation, cost optimization, and investment decisions.
- Evaluate contracts, leases, and vendor agreements; drive commercial negotiations that balance mission, cost, and risk.
3) Compliance and Governance (Section 8 Focus)
- Ensure compliance under Companies Act for Section 8 companies and applicable rules: board/committee governance, statutory registers/records, and ROC filings (AOC-4, MGT-7, etc.) in partnership with company secretarial.
- Oversee tax and regulatory compliance: Income Tax (including 12AB/80G maintenance and reporting), TDS, GST (if applicable), professional tax, labor-related compliances.
- Manage FCRA (if applicable): registration/renewal, bank accounts, utilization tracking, returns (FC-3 series), and donor compliance.
- Ensure grant/contract fiscal compliance, CSR alignment/CSR-1 (as relevant), and adherence to donor covenants; steward clean statutory and grant audits.
4) Stakeholder Management and Communication
- Act as a trusted partner to the CEO, leadership team, board/committees, donors, auditors, legal/CS, and portfolio organisation heads.
- Lead clear, persuasive communication of financial insights and recommendations to diverse stakeholders; represent APAG externally when required.
5) Team, Systems, and Operations
- Build and mentor a high-performing finance team; institute SLAs and quality benchmarks.
- Select and oversee finance systems/ERPs, accounting and reporting tools; drive automation and process excellence.
- Oversee IT/office procurement policies and vendor management as needed for operational effectiveness.
Required Qualifications, Skills and Abilities
- Chartered Accountant (CA) with 10-15 years of post-qualification experience in controllership and business finance; demonstrated end-to-end ownership of finance and accounting in multi-entity or nonprofit/Section 8 environments.
- Strong command of compliance for Section 8 companies under the Companies Act, Income Tax (including 12AB/80G), TDS, GST (if applicable), audit, and grant/grantee fiscal compliance; FCRA exposure preferred.
- Proven stakeholder management with senior leadership, boards, donors, auditors, regulators, vendors, and portfolio organisations; high executive presence.
- Exceptional written and verbal communication; ability to craft and deliver crisp MIS, board narratives, and strategic recommendations.
- Strong strategic thinking and decision-making; adept at budgeting, FP&A, scenario modeling, and translating data into action.
- Demonstrated ability to build processes and teams from scratch; high ownership, planning, and prioritization.
- Technology savvy: experience with ERPs/accounting and reporting systems; comfort with automation and data tools.
Personal Characteristics
- Professionalism, integrity, and strong time management
- Collaborative, flexible, and hands-on; thrives in a missiondriven, fast-paced environment
- Multitasker who can set priorities and meet deadlines consistently
- Strong leadership and cross-functional influence