Much like several other key sectors, the finance industry has traditionally been a male dominated industry. But that hasn’t stopped enterprising and talented women professionals from making a mark in the industry. Rashna Verma is one such name. An astute leader with over 12 years of diverse experience in the field of finance, Rashna is currently the Director - Head, Finance & Accounts for Better's India office. Rashna hails from a family of accountants & finance professionals and believes that numbers run in her blood. She views the gender gap in the finance industry more so as an opportunity rather than a challenge. It isn’t thus surprising that Rashna has so far worked for various large corporations and fast paced startups alike. Over the years she has gained mastery in handling financial strategy and analysis, financial statement preparation and review, business finance - capex and working capital, financial planning including IPO modeling, acquisition & ESOP accounting, SOX, ICFOR, independent decision making, managerial oversight

of accounting staff, and interpretation and compliance with IND GAAP & US GAAP. Rashna attributes her success to her self-starter attitude, ability to take ownership and openness to embracing change. In an in-depth conversation with the Women Entrepreneur India magazine, Rashna sheds light on her current role, the challenges she faces, the evolution of the finance industry and much more.

Tell us about the various responsibilities you shoulder as the Director - Head, Finance & Accounts, India Office for Better? What are your current focus areas in your present role?

Founded in 2016, Better dismantled the home-financing ecosystem, replacing it with a digitized process that eliminates commissions, fees, and unnecessary steps. In my role as Director - Head, Finance & Accounts, India Office for Better, I spearhead the finance and accounting function which includes but is not limited to financial planning and analysis, develop effective financial strategies and business plans, management reporting, revenue and expense management, payroll, audit, taxation, compliances, internal controls, ESOP accounting, manage banking relationships and cash management. Currently the focus is on;

• Building integration and synergies between finance and other key departments systems. As the work environment becomes more complex it is imperative that one system speaks to another.

• Process automations in order to liberate people from mundane tasks and focus on solving more creative, higher order business challenges.

• Improving financial processes, and ensuring compliances with accounting regulations in this ever changing environment.

In your opinion which characteristics of yours set you up for success as a leader in the finance industry? I am extremely detail oriented, have honed my numerical proficiency over the years, am a strategic thinker and display strong leadership skills - especially useful in the field of accounting and finance when it comes to maintaining accurate accounting information for an organization. I believe in the power of data, and believe in utilizing data in real-time to produce innovative solutions for complex problems. When I take on a role I do a deep dive into the financial health of the organization, and make decisions grounded in financial realities. With the ever-changing landscape of management reporting, financial accounting and regulatory framework, I make sure to assess impact and manage the navigation of process change, new standards, regulations and the resulting impact. I deeply believe in the power of communicating effectively with all stakeholders involved to convert finance jargons into business consumable language and present concepts and ideas effectively catered to the management/ audience.

What are some of the most pressing challenges that you encounter in your role as the Head - Finance? I think one of the toughest challenges is people management. At a time when a distributed workforce has become the norm, it boils down to not only how you manage a team but also managers/ stakeholders. Handling a large team is always a challenge as people are diverse, and their needs and requirements are varied. When it comes to managing people and scaling teams it comes down to a few important things. Firstly, communication is a dynamic two-way process; being transparent with your team, and encouraging them to talk about their thoughts, opinions and suggestions is key. Secondly, it is equally important to set a clear growth path and manage expectations of what is required, objectives of a particular task/ project and also empowering the team to work on the same. Another challenge that I have encountered is when a business is scaling at a fast pace it is imperative to make sure that you are building out financial systems and processes that are sustainable, not just in the short-term but also in the long-term while ensuring proper controls and systems.

“There are a few solid women breaking the barriers in finance, and they are my inspiration and have set an example to push further”

In your opinion which emerging industry trends are going to create a significant impact on the Indian finance landscape?

As work environments become more complex with evolving technologies, accessibility of data analytics and changing business models, the added value of the finance industry will truly become unlocked. There are broadly two emerging trends which are creating a significant impact on the Indian financial landscape; Finance Digitization and Digitalization & Environmental Social and Governance (ESG). Finance Digitization and Digitalization: Digitization has truly taken over the finance industry. The industry has made a significant transition resulting in the transformation of business processes and opportunities by leveraging digital technologies resulting in greater efficiency and enhanced controls. Automation in the field of accounts payable, receivables, expense management and budgeting is also creating a huge impact overall. Environmental Social and Governance (ESG) Impact: Increasing role of ESG in corporate financial performance including profitability and financial risk is another emerging trend. Among the different ESG components, corporate governance has already emerged as the most significant impact on corporate profitability

Rashna Verma Director - Head, Finance & Accounts, Better

When I was starting out, my father gave me some valuable advice; the best way to grow is to focus on learning and taking ownership. Identify the opportunities at your doorstep, strive hard to achieve them and own what comes your way. I’ve also learnt another important life lesson from him which has been to maintain a work-life balance