Manager – Finance & Operations (CA Preferred)
Fahed + Architects | Kochi
Fahed + Architects is an award-winning, design-led architectural practice with studios in Kochi and Dubai, working across hospitality, residential, and cultural projects.
We are seeking a Finance Leader to bring structure, clarity, and accountability to a growing, multi-location practice. This is a high-impact role focused on building systems, improving financial visibility, and enabling better business decisions.
Role Overview
You will work directly with the Principal Architect and leadership team to design and implement the financial and operational backbone of the practice.
Your primary responsibility will be to translate design, time, and resources into measurable financial performance, and build systems that allow the studio to operate with clarity and control.
Core Mandate (First 3–6 Months)
The success of this role will be defined by your ability to establish:
1. MIS & Financial Reporting Framework
- Build a monthly MIS system that provides:
- Revenue vs expenses
- Project-wise profitability
- Cash flow position
- Deliver clear, structured monthly reports to leadership
2. Time Sheet & Cost Allocation System
- Develop and implement a time tracking system across all staff
- Allocate salary costs to individual projects
- Build supporting tools:
- Time sheet system
- Work allocation tracker
- Accounts integration sheet
- Leadership dashboard
3. Project Financial Monitoring System
- Define a methodology to track, on a monthly basis:
- Project progress vs billing
- Cost incurred vs budget
- Revenue realised vs expected
- Establish standard reports for:
- Project health
- Profitability status
- Billing vs completion gap
Key ResponsibilitiesFinancial Leadership & Strategy
- Establish financial systems across all offices
- Drive project-wise profitability tracking and cost allocation
- Provide leadership with clear insights on:
- Margins
- Resource utilisation
- Overheads vs revenue
Systems & Process Building
- Build structured workflows for:
- Project accounting
- Budgeting and forecasting
- Financial reporting
- Bring discipline and clarity to an evolving system
Compliance & Governance
- Oversee GST, TDS, and statutory compliance
- Coordinate with auditors and consultants
- Maintain strong financial controls and documentation
Who We’re Looking For
- Chartered Accountant (CA) preferred
- 6–12 years of experience, ideally in:
- Architecture, consulting, design, or construction
- Strong understanding of project-based financial systems
- Proven ability to:
- Build systems from scratch
- Work in fast-moving, unstructured environments
- High ownership mindset with strong execution ability
- Strong Excel / financial modelling skills
- Ability to translate financial data into actionable insights
What This Role Offers
- Direct collaboration with the founder and leadership team
- Opportunity to build and shape financial systems from the ground up
- Exposure to multi-location (India + UAE) operations
- A high-responsibility role with clear impact on business performance
Pay: ₹25,000.00 - ₹150,000.00 per month
Application Question(s):
- Have you built or implemented a project-wise profitability tracking system in your previous role?
- Describe a financial or MIS system you have built or improved. What was the outcome?
- Have you worked in a project-based business (architecture, consulting, construction, etc.)? If yes, explain your role briefly.
- How would you track profitability of a design project where time spent by team members is the primary cost?
- Describe a situation where you took ownership beyond your defined role to improve a process or system.
- What methods have you used to improve client collections or reduce receivables ageing?
- What tools or systems have you used for MIS reporting and financial tracking (Excel, ERP, custom dashboards, etc.)?
- How do you present financial data to non-finance leadership (e.g., founders, designers, project teams)?
- What is your current monthly CTC and expected CTC?
- Why are you interested in moving into a role within an architectural/design practice?
Location:
Work Location: In person
