Finance Specialist

The Nature Conversancy; Arlington (VA); On-site; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health care benefits

401(k) plan with 8% employer match

Parental leave

Paid time off

Life insurance

Disability coverage

Employee assistance program

Job summary

The Finance Specialist at The Nature Conservancy provides specialized finance and accounting services for the Global Protect Oceans, Lands and Waters (POLW) unit, handling budgeting, reporting, and donor-related financial activities. The role collaborates with program teams and leadership to ensure accurate financial positions and adherence to policies.

This position drives planning, fund allocation, and financial analyses across programs, using expertise in financial systems and donor

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration or related field.
• 3 years' related experience or equivalent combination should be expected.
• Experience with accounting/financial issues and analysis.
• Experience using accounting and financial reporting systems, preparing financial reports, reconciliations, journal entries, adjustments, or related supporting documentation.
• Experience providing financial, accounting, budgeting, or reporting support to finance supervisor, program managers, or other internal clients.
• Experience facilitating financial activities and deliverables across multiple teams or stakeholders.
• Technical experience with spreadsheet programs, general ledger reports and financial management tools.

Responsibilities

• Facilitates multiyear financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, and fund allocation activities for assigned programs.
• Prepares monthly, quarterly, annual, and ad hoc financial reports and analyses for review.
• Supports donor and award financial reporting and maintains supporting documentation.
• Performs accounting activities including journal entries, reconciliations, and data maintenance.
• Coordinates with global and regional teams to support financial planning and reporting.

Skills

Accounting knowledge

Financial reporting

Budgeting

Analytical skills

Communication

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration or related field

Tools

Spreadsheet software (Excel)

General ledger systems

Job description

What We Can Achieve Together:

The Finance Specialist provides specialized finance/accounting-related services to the Global Protect Oceans, Lands and Waters (POLW) business unit. The position manages assigned finance activities and supports assigned POLW programs and projects.

The Finance Specialist provides specialized services in financial management and reporting; accounting; grants administration, management and reporting; or similar financial activities for a department or business unit. They have a high level of expertise in their area(s) of specialization. The position administers and maintains finance/accounting activities in accordance with TNC policies and procedures and best practices in financial management. The Finance Specialist provides assistance to staff in their specialty area. They respond to moderately complex employee/management questions and problems based on advanced knowledge of the subject area.

The Finance Specialist supports assigned program Finance Managers with multiyear, collaborative protection-outcome programs and projects across priority geographic regions. The position works with conservation teams, finance and business-unit leadership, centralized finance and accounting staff, philanthropy relationship managers, donor stewards, and other internal and external partners.

The Finance Specialist facilitates planning, budgeting, fund allocation, accounting, financial reporting, and donor reporting activities in support of assigned program Finance Managers and their programs and funding portfolios. The position collaborates with program teams to help them understand financial positions, applicable financial practices, processes, and systems. It also provides financial guidance to staff to strengthen financial literacy and promote the consistent application of TNC financial policies, procedures, and requirements. The Finance Specialist performs assigned financial activities, prepares analyses and reports, maintains financial information, and supports the timely completion of finance and donor requirements. The position responds to moderately complex employee and management questions based on advanced knowledge of the subject area and escalates matters requiring broader financial decisions or authority to the assigned program Finance Managers.

Responsibilities & Scope:

• Facilitates multiyear financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, and fund allocation activities for assigned programs and funding portfolios under the direction of assigned program Finance Managers.
• Supports program Finance Managers and program teams in preparing, monitoring, and updating budgets, forecasts, and financial plans, and in maintaining accurate financial information.
• Supports fund allocation, transfers, and related financial processes by compiling financial information, preparing supporting analyses, maintaining records, and following up on required actions.
• Works with global, regional, and country teams, particularly finance contacts, to support financial planning, funds management, accounting, reporting, and issue resolution.
• Prepares monthly, quarterly, annual, and ad hoc financial reports, analyses, schedules, and supporting documentation for review by assigned program Finance Managers.
• Supports donor and award financial reporting by compiling financial information, reconciling transactions, preparing schedules and draft reports, and maintaining supporting documentation.
• Performs accounting activities, including preparing journal entries and adjustments (coordinates or performs, as applies), completing reconciliations, reviewing financial transactions, and assisting with program financial data maintenance.
• Reviews financial data and reports to identify coding errors, variances, outstanding items, or misallocated costs, and communicates findings and potential issues to the assigned program Finance Manager.
• Maintains financial data, files, systems, trackers, project records, grant records, award records, and supporting documentation for assigned programs and funding portfolios.
• Supports program Finance Managers and program teams in understanding financial positions, donor restrictions, applicable financial practices, processes, systems, and reporting requirements.
• Facilitates projects and team activities related to shared funds, restricted funding, fund administration, and financial tracking to support timely and consistent financial processes.
• Coordinates with philanthropy, conservation, and operations staff to prepare the financial components of proposals, donor reports, and other funding-related deliverables.
• Serves as a point of contact for routine financial inquiries and works with Shared Services and other internal teams to resolve financial, payroll, expense, invoice, coding, and transaction-related issues.
• Supports month-end, quarter-end, year-end close processes, audits, donor deadlines, award closeout activities, and other recurring finance cycles.
• Participates in Global Protect Operations Team activities, broader operational initiatives, and assigned special projects.
• Documents recurring financial processes and assists staff in understanding financial procedures, coding practices, expense requirements, timesheet requirements, and donor restrictions.
• Follows up with relevant staff and teams regarding outstanding financial information, documentation, approvals, compliance requirements, and reporting deliverables.
• Provides day-to-day support and guidance on financial processes, coding, timesheets, expenses, donor requirements, and financial systems, and escalates matters requiring financial decisions, exceptions, or higher-level review to the assigned program Finance Manager and program team.
• Ensures assigned activities are completed in accordance with donor intent and restrictions, TNC policies and procedures, financial standards, and applicable legal and regulatory requirements.
• Reinforces the consistent application of organizational policies and procedures and provides operational support within assigned areas of responsibility.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration or related field and 3 years' related experience or equivalent combination.
• Experience with accounting/financial issues and analysis.
• Experience using accounting and financial reporting systems, preparing financial reports, reconciliations, journal entries, adjustments, or related supporting documentation.
• Experience providing financial, accounting, budgeting, or reporting support to finance supervisor, program managers, or other internal clients.
• Experience facilitating financial activities and deliverables across multiple teams or stakeholders.
• Technical experience with spreadsheet programs, general ledger reports and financial management tools.

Desired Qualifications:

• 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.
• May require technical expertise on complex accounting/financial issues.
• US government grants accounting experience may be preferred or required.

This position may be based in any country where TNC has an established entity, taking into consideration legal restrictions, such as non-national ratios and immigration processing times. For U.S. based applicants only, the starting pay range for this position is generally within the range of $60,000 – $90,000 for annual base salary and is based on location, qualifications, specific skills, and experience. This range only applies to candidates whose country of employment is the USA. For all other applicants, pay ranges will be in local currency, the pay range will be based on the local labor market, and not tied to the above pay range. Your geographic location will be confirmed during the recruitment and used to determine your actual pay range. Additionally, for all applicants, actual pay will fall within a range based on a variety of factors including, for example, the candidate’s qualifications, specific skills, and experience.

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

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.”

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-reaching 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.

TNC is 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 unposted. The timeline may vary depending on the expressed interest in the role, so we highly encourage candidates to apply as soon as possible.

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? 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 [e-mail] with Request for Accommodation in the subject line.