Lead Finance Specialist

Honolulu, Hawaii, USA

HI201

Who We Are

Since 1951, The Nature Conservancy has been doing work you can believe in protecting the lands and waters that all life depends on. Through grassroots action, TNC has grown to become one of the most effective and wide-reaching environmental organizations in the world working in more than 75 countries and territories. As a science-based organization, we create innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world’s toughest challenges so that we can create a world in which people and nature thrive.

We’re rooted in our Mission and guided by our Values, which includes a Commitment to Diversity and Respect for People, Communities, and Cultures. Whether it’s career development, flexible schedules, or a rewarding mission, there’s lots of reasons to love life #insideTNC. Want a better insight to TNC? Check out our TNC Talent playlist on YouTube on Glassdoor.

Our goal is to cultivate an inclusive work environment so that all our colleagues around the globe feel a sense of belonging, and that their unique contributions to our mission are valued. We’ll only achieve our Mission by hiring and engaging a diverse workforce that reflects the communities in which we work. In addition to the requirements in our postings, we recognize that people come with talent and experiences outside of a job. Diversity of experience and skills combined with passion is a key to innovation and a culture of inclusion! Please apply – we’d love to hear from you.

YOUR POSITION WITH TNC

The Lead Finance Specialist (LFS) reports to the Hawaii Chapter’s Director of Finance and Operations (DFO) and provides and supervises specialized finance, accounting and award-related management services across the Chapter including to geographically dispersed teams. The LFS administers and maintains finance/accounting activities in accordance with TNC policies and procedures and best practices in financial management and focuses on process improvement for day-to-day conservation team transactions, reporting and analyzing budgets to actuals, direct private grant management, supportive public grant management, annual budget compilation and analysis, and other related financial needs. This position will work closely with project managers as well as legal and finance colleagues at the Conservancy and supervises the Chapter’s accountant and public grants specialist.

Essential Functions

The LFS provides and supervises specialized services in financial management and reporting; accounting; grants administration, management and reporting; or similar financial activities for the Chapter. Along with the Chapter’s accountant and public grants specialist, the LFS will lead the Finance team to provide financial support and assistance to chapter teams related to proposals, grants, reporting, forecasting and budget management. The LFS has a high level of expertise in financial management and reporting and provide assistance to staff throughout the Chapter who are responsible for supporting various finance functions. They respond to moderately complex employee/management questions and problems based on advanced knowledge of the subject area.

Responsibilities And Scope

• Leads staff in annual budget and forecasting development and uploads results to TNC’s financial system.
• Formulates monthly financial summaries and meets with conservation teams to discuss results. Recommends remedial actions as appropriate.
• Leads the management of private grants including multi-year, high value private grants. Management includes approving proposal budgets developed by the conservation teams and monitoring, cost assigning, forecasting and reporting for each private grant. Prepares donor and management financial reports and materials including budget/spend analysis, budgeting, and forecasting. Formulates private grant summaries no less than quarterly and meets with conservation teams to discuss results.
• Supervises the management of public grants.
• Assists the DFO in compiling information for Board finance reports.
• Trains staff in chapter financial literacy.
• Work in multiple financial systems and relational databases.
• Creates or refines Chapter-level processes to ensure accurate and timely processing of income, expenses, and transfers.
• Creates or refines Chapter-level processes to ensure accurate and timely reporting of assets and liabilities.
• Designs user friendly templates to enhance data consistency and facilitate analysis for decision making.
• Coordinate financial data gathering, submission and review for audit.
• Prepares ad hoc financial reporting as requested.
• Coordinates projects as assigned.
• Acts independently on assigned tasks and exercises sound judgement based on analysis and experience.
• Possesses strong organizational skills, an attention to detail, while focused on accuracy of information.
• Learns and applies TNC corporate policies and procedures, reinforcing consistency while providing support to relevant field.
• Interprets guidelines, evaluates information, and modifies processes to adapt to changing circumstances.
• Networks with other divisional and regional finance staff
• Strong interpersonal skills to develop productive working relationships with a wide range of people in a decentralized team structure.
• Ensures programmatic commitments, TNC policies and procedures, financial standards and legal requirements are met and managed for compliance.
• Discretion and sensitivity handling confidential information.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration or related field and 3 years’ related experience or equivalent combination.
• Experience addressing accounting/financial issues and analysis to ensure resolution and or compliance.
• Experience using accounting and financial reporting systems to report out to organization/companywide level.
• Experience with technical financial data, and report/explain it in straightforward terms to Managers and Executives.
• Technical experience with spreadsheet programs, general ledger reports and financial management tools.

Desired Qualifications

• Excellent client-service skills and focus, including good oral and written communication skills.
• Multi-lingual skills and/or multi-cultural experience appreciated.
• Ability to manipulate, analyze and interpret data. Advanced expertise in Microsoft Excel.
• Strong organizational skills.
• Accuracy, attention to detail and the ability to multi-task.
• Non-profit accounting experience.
• Public grant management experience.
• May require technical expertise on complex accounting/financial issues.
• US government grants accounting experience preferred.
• Experience with GAAP and fund accounting principles, practices and regulations.
• Experience, coursework or other training with U.S. Federal Uniform Guidance, state and local regulations, multilateral and international regulations, and standard contract clauses, as applicable.

APPLY NOW

To apply for job ID 51169, submit your materials online by using the Apply Now button at https://careers.nature.org/ by 5:59 PM HST on April 7, 2022. Need help applying? Visit our recruitment page or contact [email protected].

The Nature Conservancy is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our commitment to diversity includes the recognition that our conservation mission is best advanced by the leadership and contributions of people of diverse backgrounds, beliefs and culture. Recruiting and mentoring staff to create an inclusive organization that reflects our global character is a priority and we encourage applicants from all cultures, races, colors, religions, sexes, national or regional origins, ages, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity, military, protected veteran status or other status protected by law.

Do you have military experience? Visit our U.S. Military Skills Translator to match your military experience with our current job openings!

TNC is committed to offering accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in our job application process. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please send a note to [email protected] with Request for Accommodation in the subject line.

Where legally permissible, TNC requires all new employees to be fully vaccinated and willing to keep up to date with vaccines that protect against COVID-19. By accepting an offer of employment, you agree to comply with this requirement, unless you are entitled to a legally mandated exemption.