Finance Director

Trees, Water & People; Fort Collins (CO); Hybrid; USD 85,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health plan and dental

Flexible PTO and holidays

Sick leave

SEP-IRA with Vanguard

403(b) retirement plan

Bereavement leave

Job summary

Trees, Water & People seeks a Finance Director to lead day-to-day accounting, financial analysis, and system management for a nonprofit with a national scope. You will partner with staff and board to ensure accurate reporting and strong financial controls during a major QuickBooks Online transition.

The role requires nonprofit accounting expertise, audit coordination, and strong communication to support program teams and donors. Hybrid schedule in Fort Collins, CO with competitive benefits.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or advanced degree in Finance or Accounting with nonprofit accounting experience.
• Experience using QuickBooks Online and other financial-management software such as Expensify, Salesforce, Google Workspace, Donorbox, and Excel.
• Strong time-management and communication skills; commitment to donor experience.
• Ability to learn and implement new financial systems and explain financial information clearly to staff and board.
• Experience coordinating audits and annual tax filings (Form 990).

Responsibilities

• Record and reconcile all financial transactions accurately and timely.
• Manage cash flow, forecasting, and investments/endowments.
• Lead month-end close and year-end close processes with reconciliations and reporting.
• Monitor program budgets, support funder reporting, and present financial information to leadership and board.
• Develop forecasts, scenario analyses, and management reports for decision making.
• Oversee annual budgeting process and coordination with ED, program directors, and finance committee.
• Oversee audit and Form 990 filings with external auditor.
• Prepare financial reports for internal and external stakeholders.
• Process payroll and payroll tax filings; manage benefits programs with vendors.
• Maintain internal controls and ensure compliance with GAAP and regulations.
• Support transition to QuickBooks Online and related tools post-implementation.

Skills

Nonprofit accounting

Financial analysis

Budgeting

Audit coordination

Communication

Time management

Team collaboration

Regulatory compliance

Education

Bachelor's or advanced degree in Finance/Accounting

Five+ years nonprofit accounting experience

Tools

QuickBooks Online

Expensify

Salesforce

Google Workspace

Donorbox

Microsoft Excel

Job description

Trees, Water & People (TWP) was founded in 1998 to help communities protect, conserve and manage their natural resources. In our 28 years we've delivered on that mission by supporting Indigenous communities and organizations across the western U.S., through Mexico, and into Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras.

We hire staff that are supportive of our mission and five organizational priorities, which are Dignified Livelihoods, Environmental Stewardship, Gender Equity and Inclusion, Indigenous Sovereignty and Youth Development. We endeavor to be thought leaders in our field, build equitable funding relationships with our donors, and develop our partners into influential organizations.

TWP is looking for our next Finance Director - a critical administrative role that interacts with every part of the organization. TWP is a $3,000,000 company with two LLC subsidiaries, two offices (Ft Collins, CO and Santa Fe, NM), a team of 18, and partnerships with Native American Tribes and independent nonprofit organizations in the U.S. and abroad.

TWP seeks a talented team player with the ability to maintain healthy working relationships with a geographically and culturally diverse team, as well as advanced knowledge of accrual accounting, cost allocation, budget development, financial reporting, and nonprofit grant accounting. Audit experience is critical, as is a deep familiarity with nonprofit financial cycles.

Summary of Position:

This is a hands-on finance leadership role that combines day-to-day accounting with financial analysis, systems management, organizational planning, and support to staff and board. This position will manage a comprehensive financial system, drive high-quality financial practices and make sure all financial needs of the organization are met.

TWP is working through a financial system re-build and transitioning to QuickBooks Online in April 2027. During the transition period, the Finance Director will learn and maintain timely and accurate financial activity in QuickBooks Desktop while preparing to shift, troubleshoot and improve the organization’s financial systems and processes onto Quickbooks online, along with a third party financial contractor.

Of utmost importance is the Finance Director's ability to build respectful relationships across roles, departments, and cultural backgrounds at TWP, communicating financial information without judgement, and supporting an organizational commitment to community-led work and TWP's organizational priorities.

• Execute accurate and timely recording of all financial transactions including cash receipts and disbursements, accounts payable and accounts receivable, journal entries and the general ledger
• Responsible for cash flow management, maintaining adequate cash balances, forecasting future cash requirements, paying and managing staff credit card expenditures and accounts, and managing investments and endowments
• Lead the monthly and year-end close process, including reconciliations, adjusting entries, review of balance-sheet accounts, revenue recognition, restricted net assets, fixed and intangible assets, receivables, liabilities, and supporting schedules
• Work with program directors and the grants management team to monitor program and grant budgets, support funder reporting, and present clear financial information and recommendations to leadership, the Board, and Finance Committee
• Develop financial forecasts, scenario analyses, and accessible management reports that help leadership evaluate organizational performance, risk, and strategic decisions
• Lead annual budgeting process, working with Executive Director, program directors and board finance committee to forecast income and expenses over the coming fiscal year
• Oversee annual audit and filing of form 990 in collaboration with an independent auditor
• Prepare all required financial reports for both internal and external stakeholders
• Process payroll, payroll tax filings, deductions and contributions to staff SEP IRA and 403(b) accounts
• Manage benefits programs and payments in consultation with selected third-party vendors and contractors
• Manage internal accounting and finance controls, ensuring compliance with generally accepted accounting principles as well as all Federal, State, and Local regulations
• Following implementation, use QuickBooks Online and related financial tools to support accurate, timely, and efficient financial operations and reporting

Work Environment and Physical Demands:

• This position is primarily office-based with hybrid schedule permissible in coordination with other Directors and staff; Quarterly board meetings mandatory and held off-site
• Employee will work on standard equipment such as desktop or laptop computer, smart phone and Owl Cameras in an ergonomically supportive environment

Qualifications and Requirements:

• Bachelor's or advanced degree in Finance or Accounting, and/or demonstrated progressive growth in non-profit accounting (five years or more preferred)
• Demonstrated ability to learn and effectively use accounting and financial-management software such as QuickBooks Online, Expensify, Salesforce, Google Workspace, Donorbox, and Microsoft Excel
• Investment in Trees, Water & People's overall mission and program goals
• Persistent, focused, and organized self-starter with excellent time-management skills
• Committed to providing an excellent donor experience to all supporters
• Solid written and verbal communication skills for interacting with staff and board
• Emotionally intelligent, empathetic, and motivated to make the world a better place
• Capable of working independently and in team settings

Compensation and Benefits

• Comprehensive medical, dental and vision health plan paid 100% by the company
• Flexible PTO benefits, 11 days of annual paid holidays, and up to six weeks of paid sick leave depending on length of employment, plus one week paid bereavement leave
• Retirement: after three years of employment, TWP contributes 5% of gross salary into an SEP-IRA with Vanguard, and offers elective pre-tax contributions to a 403(b)
• Salary Range: $85,000 - $95,000 DOE
• Reports to Executive Director; No Direct Reports

TWP is an equal opportunity employer, and encourages professionals with diverse backgrounds, skills and experience to apply.