Finance Manager

About Gajab

Gajab is reimagining online shopping for India's next 100 million value-seeking users. We're building India's first AI-powered bargaining marketplace — where technology negotiates on behalf of customers and sellers, recreating the interactive, joyful bazaar experience at your fingertips.

Our Mission: To bring the real "desiness" of shopping online — the thrill of negotiation, the joy of getting a great deal, and the human touch of India's vibrant bazaars — all powered by smart technology.

We're bootstrapped with 1000+ days of runway, backed by founders with strong business track records. We are currently in the Pre-beta launch Phase.

THE ROLE

We are looking for a Finance & Compliance Manager to build and own our finance backbone from scratch. This is a high-ownership, zero-to-one role where you will establish systems, ensure statutory compliance, maintain clean books, and build strong financial discipline as we scale.

You will start as an individual contributor and play a foundational role in shaping GAJAB’s financial processes, internal controls, reporting systems, and compliance framework.

This role reports directly to the Chief of Staff.

WHAT YOU WILL DO

Statutory Compliance & Taxation (35%)

• Own end-to-end compliance for TDS — deduction, timely payment, and filing
• Prepare and file GST returns (GSTR-1, GSTR-3B, GSTR-9) accurately and on time
• Handle ROC filings and statutory requirements on the MCA portal
• Prepare schedules and working papers for annual ITR filing
• Manage Professional Tax compliance across applicable states
• Ensure zero penalties, notices, or compliance lapses

Financial Accounting & Audit (25%)

• Maintain accurate daily books of accounts as per approved accounting standards
• Lead quarterly book finalization and prepare necessary schedules
• Coordinate with statutory auditors and ensure smooth annual audit closure
• Ensure proper documentation, ledger hygiene, and strong internal controls
• Identify and plug process gaps proactively

Accounts Payable & Treasury (20%)

• Maintain and govern Vendor Master with periodic reconciliations
• Validate expenses with proper approvals and documentation
• Manage vendor payments, ageing analysis, and cash flow planning
• Prepare Bank Reconciliation Statements (BRS) regularly
• Maintain proper documentation for all payment transactions

Fixed Assets & Controls (10%)

• Maintain and reconcile Fixed Asset Register (FAR) with General Ledger
• Manage capitalization and depreciation schedules
• Ensure asset procurement follows defined SOPs
• Build asset tracking systems as the company scales

Management Reporting & FP&A (10%)

• Prepare quarterly MIS reports for leadership
• Conduct expense deep-dives and cost optimisation analysis
• Support annual business planning and budgeting
• Monitor liquidity and prepare cash flow statements
• Provide insights — not just reports

SYSTEMS & PROCESS BUILDING

• Set up accounting software and reporting frameworks (if not already in place)
• Build SOPs for compliance, vendor payments, approvals, and documentation
• Establish strong financial controls suitable for a fast-scaling startup
• Create dashboards for founders covering burn, runway, expenses, and unit economics
• Bring structure without slowing down execution

SUCCESS METRICS

You will be measured on:

• Zero compliance penalties or missed filings
• Accuracy and timeliness of GST, TDS, ROC, and ITR processes
• Clean audit closure without major qualifications
• Timely monthly book closure
• Vendor payment discipline and cash flow visibility
• Strong financial reporting that enables smart decision-making
• Process automation and efficiency improvements over time

MUST-HAVE REQUIREMENTS (Non-Negotiable)

• 3-6 years of experience in finance, accounting, or compliance roles
• Strong hands-on experience with GST, TDS, ROC filings, and statutory compliance
• Experience maintaining books independently in a startup or SME environment
• Immediate availability or ability to join within 15-30 days maximum
• Currently based in Mumbai or willing to relocate immediately
• Strong working knowledge of Indian accounting standards and tax regulations

STRONGLY PREFERRED (Major Plus Points)

• Startup experience (company size under 50 people)
• Experience handling finance in early-stage / zero-to-one setup
• Exposure to ecommerce or marketplace businesses
• Experience working directly with founders
• Strong Excel and financial modeling skills
• CA Inter / Semi-qualified CA / CA preferred

IMMEDIATE REJECTION CRITERIA (Red Flags)

• Purely theoretical knowledge without hands-on compliance experience
• Dependence on external consultants for routine statutory filings
• Inability to work independently without structured finance team
• Notice period longer than 60 days
• Expectation of rigid 9-5 structured corporate environment
• Lack of attention to detail or poor documentation practices

WHAT WE OFFER

• Compensation: Open and flexible based on experience and track record
• High ownership: Build GAJAB’s finance foundation from scratch
• Direct founder access and visibility

• Real impact on company sustainability and growth
• Exposure to full finance stack — compliance, accounting, FP&A, treasury
• Fast learning environment with decision-making authority

WORK CULTURE & EXPECTATIONS

• 6-day work week: 5 days in office (Marol, Andheri East, Mumbai), Saturday work from home
• Flexible working hours based on workload and filing cycles
• Results-driven culture — accuracy and accountability matter more than hours
• High ownership with minimal supervision
• Builder mindset — set up systems from scratch
• Comfortable with ambiguity and evolving processes
• Strong integrity and confidentiality standards
• Scrappy execution — structure with speed

COMPENSATION & WORK SETUP

Compensation: Open and flexible

Work Mode: 5 days in office, Saturday WFH

Additional Benefits: 2 work-from-home days per month (mental health / menstrual health)

Reporting To: Founders / Operations Manager

Start Date: Immediate joining preferred within 15-30 days

Apply: https://gajab.notion.site/

PROCESS

Acknowledgement: Within 24-48 hours

Initial Response: Within 5 working days

Interview Rounds: 2 rounds

• Round 1: HR Screening (30-40 minutes)
• Round 2: Founder Round (60-75 minutes) — deep dive into compliance handling, real-case scenarios, and financial problem solving

What to Expect:

Be prepared to walk us through actual filings handled, audit situations managed, compliance challenges faced, and how you’ve built financial systems in previous roles.