Director Finance and Operations

About BFA Global

BFA Global is an impact innovation firm that combines research, advisory, venture building, and investment expertise to build a more inclusive, equitable, and resilient future for underserved people and the planet. We partner with leading public, private and philanthropic organizations, global and local, to catalyze innovation ecosystems for impact across emerging markets.

About the Role

The Director – Finance and Operations will serve as a key strategic partner to the Managing Director, ensuring that BFA Global’s operations run efficiently, sustainably, and in alignment with the organization’s mission and long-term goals. This role will oversee core business functions, strengthen organizational systems, and drive execution of strategic priorities across teams and geographies.

The Director will bridge strategy and implementation, translate vision into operational plans, monitor business performance, and enable teams to deliver impact at scale.

Key Responsibilities

Financial & Resource Management

• Supervise the Senior Accountant and ensure accurate and timely financial records are kept.
• Manage the audit and the auditors, reporting to the board
• Supervise the Project Management Unit to ensure that budgeting, forecasting, and operational planning are undertaken.
• Ensure cost-effective operations while maintaining quality standards.
• Support resource allocation across programs and projects.

Additional Responsibilities

Strategic Operations Leadership

• Partner with the Managing Director and senior leadership to translate organizational strategy into operational plans.
• Drive operational excellence by aligning processes, systems, and resources with growth and impact objectives.
• Lead quarterly and annual planning, goal setting, and performance tracking across the organization.

Business Operations & Process Improvement

• Oversee day-to-day business operations, including project operations, finance interfaces, IT, and compliance.
• Identify gaps and implement systems, tools, and processes that improve efficiency and scalability.
• Develop and monitor organizational policies, workflows, and standard operating procedures.
• Ensure that projects are delivered on time and on budget, in collaboration with the project teams.

Governance, Risk & Compliance

• Ensure compliance with U.S. financial regulations, tax laws, labor laws, and other relevant statutory requirements (e.g., GAAP, IRS, Department of Labor, state-specific regulations).
• Maintain appropriate registration, annual returns and corporate entity strategy for US-based entities
• Ensure compliance with global regulations, contracts, and donor/funder requirements.
• Manage organizational risk, including legal, operational, and reputational risks.
• Support governance processes, including Board and leadership reporting.
• Manage relations with lawyers and other advisors.

Business Growth Enablement

• Collaborate with business development teams to design efficient project delivery models.
• Support contract negotiations, vendor management, and partnership operations.
• Strengthen operational capacity to support scaling initiatives and new market entry.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Business Administration, Management, Finance, or related field (or equivalent experience).
• 10+ years of experience in business operations, strategy, or organizational leadership, preferably in consulting, professional services, or global development contexts.
• Strong knowledge of U.S. compliance, including federal and state financial, tax, and labor regulations.
• Strong track record in managing complex, multi-stakeholder operations across geographies.
• Demonstrated experience in financial planning, budget management, and operational oversight.
• Familiarity with donor-funded programs, impact-driven organizations, or innovation ecosystems is highly desirable.
• Proven ability to design and implement systems and processes that improve organizational efficiency.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and people management skills.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial, and mission-driven environment.

Skills and Competencies:

Technical & Functional

• Proven expertise in business operations management, including systems, processes, and organizational effectiveness.
• Strong financial management skills, including budgeting, forecasting, and resource allocation.
• Solid project management capability with hands-on experience using project management tools.
• Demonstrated ability to manage compliance with contracts, funder/donor requirements, and legal frameworks.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to make data-driven decisions.
• Experience with US corporate registration, filings and company entities compliance and strategy

Leadership & Management

• Ability to translate strategy into actionable operational plans and deliver results.
• Track record of leading diverse teams across geographies with strong people management and mentoring skills.
• Strong change management capability, guiding teams through growth and transformation.
• Excellent stakeholder management skills, with experience engaging senior leadership, donors, and external partners.

Behavioral & Cultural

• High emotional intelligence and collaborative leadership style.
• Exceptional communication skills (written and verbal), with the ability to influence and align teams.
• Strong execution orientation with accountability for outcomes.
• Adaptability and resilience in complex, fast-paced environments.
• Deep alignment with BFA Global’s mission and values of inclusion, sustainability, and innovation.

Anticipated Start Date: Immediate

Preferred location: India, Kenya and the US East Coast

Candidates must have work permits for their location. Compensation will be commensurate with experience.

Only shortlisted candidates who provide the required information will be contacted for follow-up.

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At BFA, we are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants and teammates without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy (including childbirth, lactation, and related medical conditions), national origin, age, physical and mental disability, marital status, sexual orientation, military, and veteran status, and any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

BFA believes that diversity and inclusion among our teammates are critical to our success as a global company. We seek to recruit, develop and retain the most talented people from a diverse candidate pool and to carry out the best inclusion work we undertake. 

*BFA will not sponsor work permits.

**BFA will not pay for relocation expenses.