PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY

A finance, compliance, and technology professional with over 34 years of experience across the full range of non-profit operations — including statutory compliance, multi-donor accounting, web development, database management, publication production, and IT support. Currently serving as Finance Director Trustee and Administrator at Zoo Outreach Organisation Trust (ZOO) and Treasurer of Wildlife Information Liaison Development Society (WILD), two sister organisations in the field of wildlife conservation, research, training, and education. Experienced in Indian regulatory frameworks (Income Tax, FCRA, CSR, organisational policies, and related compliances) alongside practical technical skills in advanced Excel, SQL databases, WordPress/PHP web development, and accounting software. Comfortable working across disciplines — whether preparing board resolutions, designing spreadsheets, building web pages, or troubleshooting IT infrastructure.

 

TECHNICAL SKILLS & PROFICIENCY

Microsoft Excel

Advanced: pivot tables, VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, INDEX-MATCH, nested IF/IFS, array formulas, conditional formatting, data validation, named ranges, multi-sheet consolidation, macro-enabled workbooks, financial modelling, budget vs. actuals tracking, grant allocation models, salary computation sheets, cost-centre analysis, chart design, and dashboard creation

MS Office Suite

Expert across Word (long-document formatting, styles, mail merge, tracked changes, templates), PowerPoint (presentation design, master slides), Outlook (mail management, calendar coordination), and Access (basic database queries)

Web Development

WordPress site building and theme customisation using Elementor page builder; HTML5, CSS3, PHP, and Java for custom functionality; responsive design; site migration and maintenance; SEO basics; SSL and domain management

Database & SQL

SQL querying for data extraction and reporting; relational database design; data cleaning, deduplication, and migration; managing organisational contact and donor databases

Custom Software Dev

Designed and built a bespoke accounting application using Visual Basic with FoxPro database backend — served as the organisation’s primary accounting system for several years before statutory requirements necessitated migration to Tally

Accounting Software

Tally ERP (current) — multi-project accounting across 12 expense categories, voucher entry, bank reconciliation, TDS computation, balance sheet and P&L generation, group-wise reporting, and audit trail management. Migrated from custom-built Visual Basic/FoxPro system to Tally to meet statutory audit requirements

Google Workspace

Drive (team document management, shared folder architecture), Sheets (collaborative tracking, project budgets), Docs, Forms, Calendar, and admin console management

Digital Publishing

Desktop publishing and layout for conservation magazines, newsletters, and educational materials; PDF production; print coordination; managing editorial workflows for Zoo’s Print and specialist newsletters

IT Administration

Computer hardware maintenance and troubleshooting; network and printer setup; software installation and updates; coordinating with vendors for IT procurement and support; managing organisational email and domain infrastructure

 

REGULATORY & COMPLIANCE EXPERTISE

Income Tax

12AA/80G registration maintenance, Form 10BD/10BE (donation statements), ITR-7 filing coordination, Form 10B audit report, TDS compliance (Sections 192, 194C, 194J), quarterly TDS returns (26Q), annual information statements

FCRA

Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act — designated bank account management, FC-4 annual returns, utilisation tracking, donor-wise reporting, renewal applications (Form FC-3C), and compliance with FCRA 2010 amendments

CSR Regulations

Companies Act 2013 Section 135 compliance, CSR-1 registration (CSR00003972), Schedule VII activity mapping, MoU drafting, utilisation certificates, 5% administrative overhead cap management, and donor company coordination

NGO Policy Development & Management

Drafted and maintain a comprehensive 28-section Policy Manual for ZOO, adopted by the Board of Trustees, covering all essential NGO policies.

Trust & Society Law

Indian Trusts Act 1882 and Tamil Nadu Societies Registration Act 1975 — registration, governance, board resolutions, annual filings, and legal documentation

 

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Finance Director Trustee & Administrator

Zoo Outreach Organisation Trust (ZOO), Coimbatore

1991 – Present  |  34+ years

▪  Financial Systems: Originally designed and built a custom accounting application using Visual Basic with FoxPro; subsequently migrated to Tally ERP to meet statutory requirements. Currently manage the end-to-end accounting framework in Tally across 12 expense categories with parallel donor reporting in Salesforce; designed standardised narration protocols to synchronise both systems for audit and donor compliance.

▪  Spreadsheet & Data Modelling: Create and maintain complex Excel models for budget tracking, grant allocation, cost-centre analysis, salary computation, reimbursement tracking, vehicle mileage calculation, and multi-donor utilisation reporting. Design templates used across the organisation for project budgeting and expense management.

▪  Web Development & Digital Platforms: Designed, built, and maintain organisational websites (zooreach.org and its various subdomains) using WordPress, Elementor, PHP, and custom HTML/CSS. Manage domain, hosting, SSL, and content updates. Developed the online presence for Journal of Threatened Taxa (threatenedtaxa.org).

▪  Database Administration: Manage organisational databases using SQL — contact management, donor records, species data, workshop participant tracking, and publication metadata. Handle data cleaning, migration, and reporting.

▪  Regulatory Compliance & Policy: Manage statutory compliance across Income Tax, FCRA, CSR, and all applicable regulations. Draft and maintain the comprehensive 28-section Policy Manual, adopted by the Board of Trustees, covering all NGO governance. Coordinate with statutory auditor S. Krishnamoorthy & Co.

▪  Grant & Donor Management: Administer multi-donor portfolios including CSR grants (Bosch, HCL Foundation, Elins Switch Boards), international FCRA funding (Shoal/Synchronicity Earth), and foundation grants (Upadhyaya Foundation). Draft MoUs, generate utilisation certificates, and TDS compliance.

▪  Publication Production: Managing Editor of Zoo’s Print magazine. Coordinate layout, design, print production, and digital distribution for 36+ themed educational material sets and specialist newsletters.

▪  IT Infrastructure: Manage all computer hardware, software, networking, and IT troubleshooting for the organisation. Handle procurement, setup, maintenance, and vendor coordination for technology needs.

▪  Event Administration: Coordinated logistics and finances for 500+ workshops, 30+ CAMP workshops, 12 PHVA workshops, 10 SAZARC conferences, and 200+ educator training workshops across South Asia.

 

Treasurer

Wildlife Information Liaison Development Society (WILD), Coimbatore

Concurrent appointment  |  Executive Committee member (2024–2027 term)

▪  Financial oversight, FCRA compliance (Reg. 075850159), 12AB/80G maintenance, and coordination with statutory auditor for WILD’s independent books.

▪  Manage inter-organisational transactions ensuring Section 194J TDS compliance, arm’s length documentation, and transparent donor disclosure.

▪  Manage accounts & finance and Publications.

 

CONSERVATION PROJECT INVOLVEMENT

Administered the finance, logistics, compliance, and documentation for all major programmes of Zoo Outreach Organisation and Wildlife Information Liaison Development Society since 1991, including:

 

Species Assessment Workshops

▪  30+ CBSG CAMP Workshops (Conservation Assessment and Management Plan) — covering selected mammals, reptiles, amphibians, freshwater fish, mangroves, medicinal plants, orchids, and invertebrates across South Asia

▪  12 PHVA Workshops (Population and Habitat Viability Assessment) — Manipur Brow-Antlered Deer, Lion-tailed Macaque, Asiatic Lion, Ganges Gharial, Hoolock Gibbon, Barasingha Deer, Red Panda

▪  6 Joint CBSG-RSG Meetings (Conservation Breeding Specialist Group & Reintroduction Specialist Group) in South Asia

 

Training & Capacity Building

▪  200+ Educator Training Workshops across South Asia themed on tiger, bear, hoolock gibbon, primates, amphibians, and human-animal conflict

▪  Ram Hattikudur Advanced Training in Conservation (RHATC) — flagship intensive programme for early-career conservationists (since 2021; 40+ graduates trained)

▪  Creating Conservation Capacity (3C) Programme — trained over 5,000 young professionals across India and southern Asia

▪  Field Techniques Training Workshops on lesser-known species for field biologists in South Asia featuring small mammals, amphibians, reptiles, and freshwater biodiversity

 

Regional Cooperation & Conferences

▪  10 Annual Conferences of SAZARC (South Asian Zoo Association for Regional Cooperation)

▪  Zoo Educator Network (ZEN): Supporting a network of 200+ members across South Asia

 

Current Active Projects

▪  Himalayan Restoration Project (HRP) — Chamba Valley, Himachal Pradesh

▪  Bosch CSR Wetland Conservation — Phase III

▪  1Ocean Project — Marine conservation programmes

▪  LivelyWaters! — Freshwater ecosystem conservation projects

▪  Snake Conservation Coalition – Western Ghats

 

Publications Managed

▪  Zoo’s Print Magazine: Managing Editor — monthly conservation magazine

▪  Journal of Threatened Taxa (JoTT): Website development and production support for this international peer-reviewed open-access journal

▪  36+ Themed Educational Material Sets: Tiger, Vulture, Gharial, Amphibian, Hoolock Gibbon, Bear, Primate, Bat, Freshwater Biodiversity, Spider, Pollinator, Invertebrate, Himalayan Langur, Lion-tailed Macaque, Manipur Brow-antlered Deer, Wildlife Trade, Zoo Patrol, and more

▪  Specialist Newsletters: FrogLeg, ReptileRap, Small Mammal Mail, BugsRAll, Marine Mammals 

 

EDUCATION

Master of Business Administration (MBA)

Bharathiar University, Coimbatore

 

AWARD

CPSG’s Citation of Excellence in recognition of her energetic, efficient & enthusiastic management of CPSG South Asia office since 1991.