Sharad Patil

Senior Finance Manager (NGO/Development Sector) , NGO/Development Sector

Mumbai , India

Senior Finance Leader with 15+ years' experience, including 12 years of executive leadership in the high-growth NGO sector. Expert in FCRA/Grant Compliance, Audit Leadership, and Financial Control for multi-site, multi-funder operations. Proven track record of driving 100% grant utilization and providing strategic financial counsel to executive leadership.

Contact Sharad Patil
Area of Expertise:
  • Capacity Building, Training, Advocacy
  • Government/Governance, Reforms, Corruption
  • Monitoring, Evaluation, Policy, Research
  • Private Sector, Corporate Social Responsibility
  • Social, Gender, Education, Youth, Child
Professional Experience:

Senior Finance Leader with 15+ years of progressive experience, culminating in 12 years of executive financial leadership within the high-growth NGO sector. My expertise is centered on financial governance, FCRA/Grant Compliance, and driving efficiency across multi-city operations for a premier organization. 
Strategic Leadership & Compliance:
In my most recent role as Senior Manager, I spearheaded the annual budget preparation cycle (Budget ?100 Crores). A key achievement was maintaining a 100% compliance record by successfully leading end-to-end statutory, donor, and internal audits. I collaborated closely with the fundraising and program teams to ensure 100% utilization of donor funds as per commitments, while driving FP&A activities to maintain at least a 95% utilization rate across all cost centers. 
Operational Transformation & Efficiency:
I led significant operational and digital transformation initiatives. This included implementing digital processes for the remote submission of scanned supporting documents by field staff, integrating them directly into NetSuite vouchers. This innovation reduced field team workload and streamlined external audit reviews. Furthermore, I led the automation of project-wise and donor-wise reporting from NetSuite, providing budget owners with real-time budget vs. spend insights. 
Career Progression:
My senior role was built on a strong foundation as a Manager (2021-2024), where I supported the CFO with core FP&A functions, implemented finance SOPs, and contributed to the Finance Manual. Earlier in my career (2013-2020), I progressed from Associate to Assistant Manager, mastering core accounting, payroll management, and ensuring 100% statutory compliance (TDS, PF, PT, etc.), thus establishing the essential financial controls for the organization's growth.

Education:

My foundational and continuing education focuses on robust financial governance and strategic accountability, essential for effective leadership in the non-profit sector.
I hold a Diploma in Finance Management and Accountability, which provides a strong framework for best practices in financial stewardship, donor reporting, and regulatory compliance. This formal qualification directly supports my proven track record of maintaining a 100% compliance record in the NGO environment. My academic foundation includes a B.Com from Shivaji University (2005). 
Complementing this formal education is a high level of technical mastery over critical financial systems, enabling digital transformation and real-time decision support. I possess NetSuite/ERP Mastery, having successfully spearheaded the automation of reporting and integrated digital processes to streamline audits. I am proficient in Tally (ERP 9) and leverage Advanced Excel for complex financial modeling, forecasting, and the creation of strategic dashboards used for board and donor reporting.

Affiliations and Achievements:

Affiliations

My primary professional affiliation is a deep commitment to the high-growth NGO/Development sector, where I have spent 12 years in executive leadership roles. This long-term focus ensures specialized expertise in the unique financial and compliance challenges of multi-funder, multi-city operations. 
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Achievements
• Audit & Compliance Excellence: Maintained a perfect 100% compliance record across statutory, donor, and internal audits by consistently ensuring timely closure of all audit observations. 
• Digital Transformation: Led a process transformation to integrate scanned supporting documents from field staff directly into NetSuite vouchers. This crucial change significantly reduced field team workload and streamlined audit review time. 
• Grant Governance: Successfully collaborated with fundraising and program teams to ensure 100% utilization of donor funds (Budget ?100 Crores), providing transparent reporting that fortified donor trust. 
• Financial Control Development: Instrumental in implementing finance SOPs and contributing to the Finance Manual updates, standardizing payroll, AR/AP, and reporting practices across multiple locations.

Available for:

  • Consulting assignments
  • Job opportunities

Years of Experience:

15-20 years

Highest Qualification:

Bachelors

Languages:

English, Hindi, Marathi

Nationality:

Indian

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