Finance Director, MN/ND/SD

The Nature Conservancy; Minnesota; Remote; USD 87,000 - 137,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

401(k) with 8% employer match

Paid time off & parental leave

Job summary

The Nature Conservancy seeks a Finance Director for the MN/ND/SD region, guiding financial strategy and stewardship across MNDK. You will supervise finance staff and partner with conservation, philanthropy, and leadership to ensure sustainable financial performance and informed decisions.

Remote role within the Great Plains Division with up to 20% travel and collaboration across multiple states. Strong GAAP/not-for-profit accounting experience and stakeholder-facing leadership are essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and 7+ years of related work experience.
• Experience leading financial services across multiple units or groups.
• Strong budgeting, high-level analysis and leadership partnership skills.
• Proficiency with Excel and databases for financial reporting.
• Experience recruiting, supervising and developing staff.

Responsibilities

• Lead financial planning, forecasting, reporting, analysis, and internal controls.
• Provide strategic financial guidance to leadership and staff.
• Collaborate with philanthropy, operations and leadership to optimize resources.
• Support governance activities with financial insights for boards and committees.
• Oversee contracts, grants, and large transactions with sound practices.
• Drive division-wide finance strategies and continuous process improvements.
• Build trusted partnerships across MNDK and the Great Plains Division.

Skills

Financial leadership

Budgeting

Financial analysis

Strategic planning

Forecasting

Communications

GAAP & nonprofit accounting

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Finance/Accounting/Business

Tools

Excel

Job description

What We Can Achieve Together:

As the Finance Director, MN/ND/SD, you will serve as a senior finance leader for the Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota (MNDK) Chapter and direct the financial management and strategic priorities of MNDK. You will also serve as a trusted advisor to conservation, philanthropy, operations, and leadership within MNDK. This includes leading financial planning, forecasting, reporting, analysis, internal controls, and stewardship activities that support informed decision-making and long-term financial sustainability.

You will supervise finance staff and partner closely with conservation, philanthropy, operations, and leadership to deliver strategic financial guidance, high-level analysis, and informed decision support. Working in collaboration with the Great Plains Division Finance Director, you will advance division-wide financial priorities by implementing consistent processes, ensuring effective stewardship of financial resources compliant to organizational policies and regulatory requirements, strengthening financial management practices, and fostering collaboration and operational excellence across MNDK and the Great Plains Division.

Other responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Serve as thought leader and finance partner to BU Leaders in developing MNDK's financial strategy, conservation ROI modeling, financial health metric monitoring, and capital structure & liquidity planning.
• Deliver high-quality financial reporting, complex analysis, campaign development and support, scenario modeling, and recommendations that enable informed decision-making and support long-term financial sustainability.
• Identify financial risks and opportunities, evaluate alternatives, and develop recommendations to strengthen financial performance, optimize resource allocation, and achieve organizational objectives.
• Coordinate the delivery of finance services across MNDK while maintaining strong partnership and responsiveness to the needs of the business units within this scope.
• Supervise, coach, and develop finance staff supporting MNDK establishing priorities, promoting collaboration, and fostering professional growth and accountability.
• Serve as an active member of the leadership team, participating in leadership team meetings, staff meetings, retreats, and other forums to provide financial insight, support decision-making, and foster collaboration across the business unit.
• Ensure effective stewardship of financial resources through strong internal controls, compliance with organizational policies and processes, donor requirements, regulatory standards, and generally accepted accounting principles, as applicable.
• Ensure accuracy, integrity, and effective management of financial data, processes, and controls to support decision-making.
• Partner with philanthropy, conservation, operations, leadership and other functional teams to provide financial guidance for fundraising initiatives, grants, contracts, campaigns, and strategic projects to enable maximum impact and minimal resource restriction.
• Provide guidance on relevant financial topics, such as expense reporting, to MNDK staff.
• Support governance activities by serving as a financial resource to state leadership, Boards of Trustees, Finance Committees, and other stakeholder groups, as appropriate.
• Oversee financial aspects of contracts, agreements, and other business transactions, ensuring compliance with organizational policies and sound financial practices. Partner with conservation, philanthropy, and leadership on innovative financing solutions for land protection and other large transactions.
• Provide strategic financial leadership on budgets for fundraising proposals for public and private donors, in collaboration with conservation, philanthropy, and the finance enablement team. Review and approve finance reports on grants from private funders.
• Partner with the Division Finance Director to implement division-wide financial strategies, strengthen processes and controls, promote consistency across the Great Plains Division, and drive continuous improvement.
• Build and maintain trusted partnerships across MNDK, fostering collaboration, financial accountability, and shared ownership of financial outcomes.

This is a remote position located within the Great Plains Division (Arkansas, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Oklahoma, and Texas) with a strong preference for residents of Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota.

Regular travel (up to 20%) and in-person attendance at key staff meetings, leadership retreats, board meetings, Finance team meeting, and other key events are required.

We’re Looking for You:

Are you an experienced finance leader who thrives at the intersection of strategy, stewardship, and mission-driven impact? Do you prioritize building relationships and strong partnerships? This is an opportunity to serve as a trusted advisor to senior leaders, support conservation outcomes through strong financial insight, and help build consistent, effective, and sustainable finance practices across a geographically dispersed team.

What You’ll Bring:

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration or related field and 7 years related work experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Experience leading financial services and initiatives across multiple organizational units, business units, or stakeholder groups.
• Experience developing budgets, performing high-level financial analysis, recommending actions, and providing partnership to leadership.
• Experience working with computer and information management systems, Excel spreadsheets and databases for financial analysis, fiscal management, and/or financial reports.
• Experience recruiting, supervising, and developing staff.
• Experience in developing, directing, and implementing multiple projects.
• Excellent verbal and written communications skills, with the ability to communicate with executives and distill complex topics into simple takeaways for non-financial audiences.
• Experience acting as a consultant/advisor to senior executives.
• Experience with GAAP and not-for-profit accounting principles, practices and regulations, including government grant accounting and reporting.

This position requires a valid driver's license and compliance with TNC’s Auto Safety Program. Employees may not drive Conservancy-owned/leased vehicles, rental cars, or personal vehicles on behalf of the Conservancy if considered "high risk drivers." To learn more about the Auto Safety Program, visit the Auto Safety information page. Employment in this position will be contingent upon completion of a Vehicle Use Agreement, which may include a review of the prospective employee's motor vehicle record.

Salary Information:

The starting pay range for a candidate selected for this position is generally within the range of $87,000 - 137,000. This range only applies to candidates whose country of employment is the USA. Where a successful candidate’s actual pay will fall within this range will be based on a variety of factors, including, for example, the candidate's location, qualifications, specific skills, and experience. Please note countries outside the USA would have a different pay range in the local currency based on the local labor market, and not tied to USA pay or ranges. Your geographic location will be confirmed during the recruitment.

Who We Are:

The Nature Conservancy’s mission is to protect the lands and waters upon which all life depends. 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 include respect for all people, communities, and cultures. Whether it’s career development, flexible schedules, or a rewarding mission, there’s many reasons to love life inside TNC.

One 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. In addition to the requirements in our job postings, we recognize that people come with talent and experiences outside of a job and consider each applicant’s unique experience. To quote a popular saying at TNC, “you’ll join for the mission, and stay for the people.”

Want a better insight to TNC? Check out our TNC Talent playlist on YouTube to hear stories from staff or visit Glassdoor.

What We Bring:

Since 1951, TNC has been doing work you can believe in. Through grassroots action, we have grown from a small non-profit into one of the most effective and wide-ranging environmental organizations in the world. Thanks to more than 1 million members, over 400 scientists, and the dedicated efforts of our diverse staff and partners, we impact conservation around the world!
TNC offers a competitive, comprehensive benefits package including health care benefits, flexible spending accounts, a 401(k) plan with an 8% employer match, parental leave, accrued paid time off, life insurance, disability coverage, employee assistance program, other life and work well-being benefits. Learn more about our Benefits and Perks here.
We’re proud to offer a flexible work environment that supports of the health and well-being of the people we employ.

Our recruiting process includes a rolling interview process to ensure we engage applicants in a timely manner. This means we may review applications in the order in which they are received. Once a strong candidate pool is identified, the role will be unposted. The timeline may vary depending on the expressed interest in the role.

The Nature Conservancy is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our commitment to equal employment opportunity includes the recognition that our conservation mission is best advanced by the leadership and contributions of people of all backgrounds, beliefs, and culture. Recruiting and mentoring staff to create an inclusive organization 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.

The successful applicant must meet the requirements of The Nature Conservancy's background screening process. Do you have military experience?