Finance Specialist for Development

The Nature Conservancy (All) • Remote • 18h ago

Finance Specialist for Development

The Finance Specialist for Development will work towards meeting the strategic priorities of the region by supporting the development and implementation of financially sound proposals to donors. They will administer and maintain finance/accounting activities following TNC policies, procedures, and best practices. They will identify priorities based on the program's needs and manage, track, and report on key financial data related to the team's scope and priorities. They will be the bridge between Finance, Development, and Conservation to have a complete understanding of how the information is connected. The Finance Specialist for Development will independently analyze critical program information, which may include donor or gift, revenue, and expense data. They will provide recommendations and targeted training related to the functional area of the team. The Finance Specialist for Development must have advanced knowledge of the processes, systems, and resources utilized by the team to provide programmatic support and coordinate communications related to these resources. They will have substantial contact with stakeholders and may serve as the lead liaison with cross-functional areas. The Financial Specialist for Development will keep up to date on fundraising and financial best practices to improve services. They will adapt finance-related processes and implement recommended practices to improve the cost‑effectiveness of donor proposals based on their in‑depth understanding of related policies and procedures. They will assess financial risks in donor proposals, report them to Finance and Conservation leads, and suggest ways to mitigate them.

RESPONSIBILITIES & SCOPE

Lead the creation of financially sound budgets for proposals to private donors based on Development timeline and Conservation input.
Act independently within broad program goals across multiple development segments to prioritize tasks without specific instructions and exercise independent judgment to identify and solve problems.
Supervises and provides leadership to staff members. And will also actively coordinate the work of peers on departmental project teams.
Inspire and develop the team, cultivating TNC competencies and values, promoting accountability and ensuring that everyone contributes meaningfully to achieve complex goals.
Ensure compliance with TNC policies and procedures and external (donor/legal/IRS) requirements.
Financial responsibility includes working with sensitive, confidential information for developing a budget.
Manage projects with several variables, set realistic deadlines, manage a timeline, and ensure accountability.
Reinforce consistency in the processes and provide support related to the timelines and information required.
Provide oversight for critical financial functions of the team, such as proposal budgeting and calculating donor support budget.
Provide oversight for key financial information to the Development team, such as calculating funding needs.
Provide input through project teams for the development and implementation of new initiatives or the improvement of existing programs.
Excel data analysis and financial models experience.
Travel and work flexible, which may imply to work overtime sometimes.
Act as a liaison between cross‑functional departments, functions, and cultures.
Lead activities that increase cohesion between departments, including giving trainings and continuously answering process questions.
May be required to attend senior client meetings and manage client communications directly.
Work is diversified and may not always fall under established practices and guidelines.
Be a subject matter expert in the management of the financial tools developed by the Regional Office Finance team (Annual Sustainability targets, Impact of new proposals analysis).

What You’ll Bring:

Bachelor’s degree in finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or related field and three years related experience or equivalent combination.
Experience with accounting/financial issues, generating reports, and analyzing and interpreting data.
Experience using accounting and financial reporting systems.
Technical experience with spreadsheet programs, general ledger reports, and financial management tools.
Experience with GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles) and fund accounting principles, practices, and regulations.
Fluency in English and either Spanish or Portuguese.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Experience designing and implementing complex data management solutions in an unstructured environment.
Experience working in the non‑profit sector.
US government grants accounting experience may be preferred.
MBA or similar degree with significant coursework in finance or economics may be preferred.