Saurav Behera

• As Finance and Administration Manager I have cultivated and managed strong client and partner relationships and provide overall HQ and project finance and admin management support services to several projects within the I4DI global portfolio. As the Finance and Administration Manager I have provided day-to-day finance and admin leadership and support across the full life cycle of I4DI’s program and project implementation processes. I oversee the finance direction of specific programs in the portfolio, investing time cultivating and deepening admin and finance field staff relationships. My responsibilities include all bid’s cost proposal management, experience encompasses revenue growth, cost reduction, strategic planning, resource utilization and analyzing needs and creating solutions designed to yield a profitable outcome. As the Finance and Admin Manager, I collaborated and worked closely with the respective country program Chief of Party, Program Head, Director of Programs, Finance Managers/Officers to ensure budgeting, accounting and other financial and accounting functions are in accordance with GAAP, I4DI & Client finance policies and procedures. I led the preparation of the project's annual budgets and pipeline projections, ensuring alignment with USAID cost principles (2 CFR 200). I monitored expenditures against budgeted activities, identifying variances and implementing corrective measures. I ensured that all financial operations adhered to USAID rules and regulations, including cost allowability, allocability, and reasonableness. I provided training and oversight to program staff on USAID financial requirements and reporting standards. I have ensured the proper closure of 3 million, three-year prime contract- Cost Plus Fixed Fee from USAID in Cambodia – Tech for Green Cities project including the office closure and submission of the final reports. Working along with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and Mars Inc., is implementing a four-year $7.2 million- (Cooperative Agreement with USAID) Global Development Alliance to improve farmer livelihoods and enhance evidence-based agroforestry practices in the Indonesian cocoa sector, to ensure country program databases are closed on time and the financial data from the field are complete and accurate and uploaded to HQ Accounting system and reported to the client. As the Finance Manager for USAID projects implemented as a Subrecipient under a prime partner, like CKM_II Global water projects (Prime Encompass), MODEL project of Srilanka (Prime-ECODIT), PLUS Project (Prime Deloitte), CALA Project( Prime-Save The Children), Program Management Consultant for Program Administration Support for all activities in MCA-Indonesia II(Prime-CDM Smith) I made significant contributions to both financial and overall project management. Acted as the main financial liaison with the prime recipient, ensuring timely submission of financial reports, supporting documentation, and responses to financial inquiries. Ensured adherence to USAID regulations (2 CFR 200), the prime agreement terms, and organizational financial policies. Worked on Procas(DCAA compliant) and QuickBooks accounting system.
• Key Deliverables:
• Lead organization-wide budgeting, forecasting, long-term planning, implementation and business strategic analysis. This includes conducting financial analysis, modeling, and forecasting reports to ensure efficient financial operations.
• Ensure the appropriate levels of cross-organization coordination of the annual planning and budgeting process through effective communication, integration of business processes in operations, technical design, and administrative support functions. Present updates to the Chief Operating Officer to ensure timely and efficient decision-making support. Be the trusted advisor to the COO for confidential cross functional resource allocation strategies and analytics.
• Management of NICRA through the extensive calculation and submission of the PBR and ICE reports for FY-2022, FY-2023, FY-2024 and FY-2025. NICRA implementation rates are monitored and tracked on a monthly basis and correction action taken
• Work closely with Grants and Contract team to issuance of subcontractor agreements, review and editing of donor reports, tracking subcontractor deliverables, comparing results against stated project objectives and tracking subcontractor budgets in compliance of USAID guidelines.
• Managed the EVAL ME II IDIQ Prime contract and implementation is covered through task orders (TOs) issued on rolling bases. TOs under this mechanism fund a range of analytical services, including evaluations, performance monitoring, collaborative, learning, and adapting (CLA) and knowledge management; and monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) capacity building.
• Act as finance business partner with department heads, advising leadership about resource utilization, modeling performance scenarios, and guiding them through the annual planning and budgeting process.
• Provide strategic subject matter expert-level input to the upcoming review of operation and financial planning tools, ensuring that the organization’s future global requirements are incorporated into the recommendation.
• Manage the accounting software system, Procas, to ensure alliance with budget process. Liaise with our budget software vendor to ensure appropriate cost-effective levels of support to implement enhancements to the budget system as needed. Design and implement dynamic and flexible projection/forecasting processes that enhance the timely allocation of resources, including achievement of annual budget goals, performance trends in expense and revenue, and drivers of performance variance vs budgets and prior years. Identify and train staff in effective budgeting and forecasting procedures.
• Develop system-based analytic models that explore new and ongoing issues about organization-wide performance, including risk and opportunity-based scenarios, budget accuracy, staff program and organization efficiencies, and long-term trend performance for visibility to the Chief Financial Officer to make strategic business decisions that inform the Board of Trustees
• Interpret financial data to identify trends and potential problems that may affect the organization’s financial health. Prepare and distribution of financial statements, coordinate with external auditors, and identify areas for improvement in the reporting process.
• Ensure that reports, filings, and documentation comply with the organization policies, professional standards, and GAAP reporting guidelines.
• Supervised two of the external consultancy support in billing the invoices to various client and financial reporting activities, ensuring accuracy and compliance with regulatory requirements.
• Managed the Employee Record Services agencies in Sri Lanka and Indonesia.

• As the overseas accounting analyst, I collaborated and worked closely with the respective country program Finance Managers and Regional Finance Officer to ensure budgeting, accounting and other financial and accounting functions are in accordance with GAAP, CRS finance policies and procedures. I also ensured that CRS' country program databases are closed on time and the financial data from the field are complete and accurate and uploaded to HQ Accounting system. Worked on SUN and JD Edwards and Oracle based accounting system (Insight).
• Key Deliverables:
• Ensured timely and accurate month-end closure of the accounting month by the country programs. Identify issues that need to be resolved and determined an action plan.
• Provided Country Finance Managers with analysis and technical support, assistance with adherence to CRS' policies and procedures and answered any direct inquiries.
• Performed detailed account analysis and system reconciliations, coordinated resolutions and recommend improvements as needed.
• Conducted cost allocation monitoring and analysis. Ensure compliance with foreign exchange rate accounting.
• Assisted Country Programs with staff capacity building, resolving major accounting issues as well as gain an understanding of Country Program's day-to-day accounting activities including transaction processing and month end close.
• Provided assistance to Country Programs for clearing of audit findings as they relate to accounting issues.
• Analyzed monthly and quarterly expense fluctuations to ensure proper accounting treatment.
• Monitored discretionary and temporary restricted projects. Ensure proper set up, spending remains within the project budgets and timely closure.
• Contributed to the development and maintenance of systems and tools to improve financial analysis and management processes.
• Provided feedback to Regional Finance Officers and Country Representatives and identify staff training needs to increase financial capacity.
• Supported CPs in preparation for external audits and in preparation of CPs' fund accounting statements.
• Supported and participated in design, development of training materials and conduct trainings to Finance Managers.
• Provided mentorship to CPs Staff on financial management.

Key Deliverables:

• Manage financial management processes, policies, and service delivery, and provide proactive advice and support to managers, staff, and sub recipients in the management of the whole project cycle (Design, Start-up, Implementation, Close-out), ensuring relevance, efficiency, and compliance with CRS’ policies and procedures, Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), donors’ rules and regulations, and legal requirements.
• Provide direction and coordination of effective budget development and management (Annual Program Plans and project budgets), ensuring accuracy and consistency of financial data and safeguarding of resources.
• Ensure integrity of accounting information by researching account issues for compliance and establishing quality control over accounting transactions and financial reporting. Oversee maintenance of supporting documentation for a reliable and easy to follow audit trail.
• Prepare financial data, analysis and projections and support the Senior Management Team and Program/Project Managers in interpreting data for decision-making and effectively managing financial risks.
• Oversee the accurate performance of reporting procedures and timely submission of reports to relevant stakeholders (Country program managers, Regional Office, HQ/Finance, donors, local government entities).
• Assess staff and sub recipients’ financial management capacity, ensure capacity strengthening on finance policies and regulations, as needed, and monitor and measure impact.
• Lead efforts to close audit financial management findings in a timely and sustainable way.
• Lead implementation of changes in finance office operations in response to changes in the local legal environment, or to new operating context and financial management needs.
• Manage the agreement policy, types, categories and suggested cataloging with regard to Partners, vendors and consultants.
• Manage all finance aspects related to procurement with partners and CRS vendors.
• Ensure risk management for CRS and compliance to Income tax act, Companies act, FCRA and other related Acts and regulations.

• Supervised maintenance of accounts of 3-4 million USD annually, monitoring and liquidation of Direct Cash Assistance given to more than 24 Diocesan and NGO partners including giving training to partners, risk mapping and conducting financial monitoring. Accountable for managing the grants, timely flow of information in meeting reporting deadlines, support to the PQ/MQ team on the project proposals. Ensure quality and timely reporting of the external funded projects and to further develop CRS/India capacity for Review of grants and develop suitable system in monitoring, providing guidelines and help in closure of the same.
• Key Deliverables:
• Develop, update and ensure compliance with Grants management schedules for timely submission of all reports to the external donors including budget management.
• Review the grant agreements and ensure compliance with various provisions of grant agreement and follow for any modifications to grant agreement.
• Guide State Offices and Finance in the Grant closure process well in advance. Provide all alert messages on the grants management and its closure.
• Support and coordinate on the RFA budget preparation and budget notes.
• Guide the sub-recipient on the grants management in line with the start & end dates and institute system in managing the spending/accounting within the stipulated dates of the Grants.
• Coordinate with SOs and Donors on the Budget management. Make sure the activities covered in the project proposal match with the activities carried out and the amount of money spent. Work towards optimizing the resources as planned.
• Monitor and have updated information to track the donor-by-donor revenue and expenditure, outstanding invoice balances its timeline and its closure date.
• Provide timely reporting to donor capturing the finance and program progress as stipulated by the donor and or in the Grants agreement.
• Prepare/review various reports on grants management; budget/liquidation status; MIS reports, reporting related to management flash.
• Orient National office Program and Finance staff on Project Based Funding mechanisms
• Donor Reporting- Intra Health, CGPP, BMGF-HIV AIDS, BMGF – Orissa Floods, BMGF-Rice research, Bihar, USAID-Orissa Floods, SKAGGS Foundation, Vista Hermosa, BPRM, DOS TIP, etc
• Monitoring of ICR and NICRA expenses and reconciling the same as required under various grants. Interaction with HQ on donor reporting and ICR.
• Support to partners and staff for emergency disaster projects; Tsunami Response 2005, Kosi floods-Bihar-2008, South India Floods- Kurnool-2009, Orissa Emergency Floods Response-2012-2012, Uttarakhand Emergency Floods response-2013 ,etc
• Monitoring S2B (Straight to Bank Cash Transfer) of approximately 4 million USD (annually) disbursed to more than 30 implementing partners and its timely liquidation.
• Preparing APP for CP India, budget implementation, monitoring.
• Implementing Sub recipient financial Management policy at partner level, ensuring assessment CAP of partners.
• Supervising all staff and consultants attached to finance and administration department.
• Maintain a Grants Tracking Sheet – Multi Year and updated Quarterly.
• Generating monthly and quarterly report on all external grants noting spending as per approved budget on donor funding and CRS cost share.
• Maintain national files on all External Grants including (Approved Proposal, Agreement, Sub Agreements, Modifications, NCE, and Financial/Program Progress Reports).
• Reconcile the balances in the financial reports / invoices submitted to the donors to the balances as per CRS accounting records.
• Contributed significantly to the drafting of India Finance Manual in the year 2011.

• Managed finance, administration and logistics in four states and one union territory of the South India which included, Tamilnadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Pondicherry and Andaman and Nicobar Islands and ensured CRS’s South India Office has effective approaches to financial management and control, ensured consistent & robust financial systems and generation of timely & accurate information to support the business of the organization.
• Key Deliverables:
• Provided financial planning and management advice to the State Representative.
• Managed Finance team to ensure accurate and timely processing and maintenance of financial data..
• Introduced and ensured implementation of financial management best practices at all levels of the organization.
• Ensured that CRS South India Office is able to comply with all reporting requirements according to desired professional standards internally within the organization as well as to the donors in timely manner.
• Prepared quality finance reports as per management requirements such as monthly budget variance reports including analysis and commentary describing variance from year-to-date budget and programme wise grants budget monitoring report.
• Took overall responsibility for compliance with legal and statutory requirements in South India office.
• Ensured efficient management of restricted incomes and ensured donor compliance.
• Facilitated two CRS HQ audit of South India office and partners’ accounts periodically and gave written feedback.
• Ensured recommendations from various audits are followed through with timely compliance.
• Designed and conducted capacity building initiatives for CRS and Partner staff.
• Established and monitored a risk management framework for South India Office.
• Leading in negotiation for office premises, maintenance contract of office premises, vehicles, equipments and service contracts for travel, security, and other ancillary services.
• Initiating actions for procurement of equipments, furniture and consumables supplies.
• Evaluating and monitoring administrative services and recommend changes to ensure services aligned with changing needs and objectives.
• Took overall responsibility of procurement, asset management (rent and lease agreement, fixed assets, inventory, insurance).
• Ensured compliance with reporting requirements to legal/government entities.
• Line managed Finance Officers, Accountants and contributed to the objective setting and performance.
• As acting state representative, supervised all staff attached to program, finance and administration department.
• Ensured good relationship with the partners through skill full management and application.
• Strengthening the capacity of Forums to involve forum more in CRS projects. Ex- Kerala Social Service Forum (KSSF) and Tamilnadu Social Service Society (TASSOS) .
• Meetings with Bishops and Cardinal to share information on the funding status of CRS, phasing out plan demonstrated transparency, confidence building exercise which has strengthen CRS relation with Church.

• Managed devised finance and administration systems, supervised the applicable procurement transactions of cyclone relief operations at the earliest possible time frame.
• Key Deliverables:
• Prepared/reviewed budget for the Bhubaneswar state office in consultation with the State Representative and the Programme Coordinator.
• Conducted appraisal of new partners prior to selection of the same.
• Prepared monthly management reports of various grants and communicated the same to the Zonal office in Delhi.
• Ensured CRS Bhubaneswar office’s compliance with all statutory requirements, the Income Tax Act 1961 and the Foreign Contribution & Regulation Act 1976.
• Handled donor reporting of projects funded by OFDA.

• Engaged in maintaining the manufacturing sector accounts related to power plant. Reconciliation of branch office accounts, various bank accounts. Preparation of funds flow and cash flow statements. Assisted in setting up the new accounts system, drafted the group’s bidding procedure, refined the budget making process and took effective steps in cost control of the group as a whole.