Mission-Driven Finance Specialist: Grants & Budgets

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

Job summary

The Nature Conservancy in Arlington, VA is seeking a Finance Specialist to provide specialized finance and accounting services to the Global Protect Oceans, Lands and Waters (POLW) unit. The role supports programs and projects with financial planning, reporting, and donor compliance.

The role involves planning, budgeting, fund allocation, accounting, financial reporting, and donor reporting; collaborating with conservation teams, finance staff, donors, and partners to ensure compliance and

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.

Responsibilities

• 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.

Skills

Financial analysis

Accounting

Budgeting

Regulatory compliance

Education

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

Tools

Spreadsheets

General ledger

Financial reporting systems

Grant accounting tools

Job description

The Nature Conservancy in Arlington, VA is seeking a Finance Specialist to provide specialized finance and accounting services to the Global Protect Oceans, Lands and Waters (POLW) unit. The role supports programs and projects with financial planning, reporting, and donor compliance.

The role involves planning, budgeting, fund allocation, accounting, financial reporting, and donor reporting; collaborating with conservation teams, finance staff, donors, and partners to ensure compliance and