Finance Manager

Overview

This role is a hands-on finance leadership position serving as the primary finance partner for the Southern Division Office and programs housed within the division. The current portfolio includes financial management for the Southern Division Office, North American Fire, and the Mississippi River Basin Program. Additional programs may be added as appropriate.

The Finance Manager independently manages core finance activities—such as journal entries, reconciliations, reporting, budgeting, forecasting, and year-end close—while providing strategic financial planning, analysis, scenario modeling, and decision support. In addition to supporting the Southern Division Office portfolio, the role serves as a finance resource and thought partner to leaders and teams across the broader Southern Division.

This position reports directly to the Southern Division Finance Director and works closely with the North American Fire Program Director through a dotted-line relationship to support North American Fire’s financial management needs. The matrix structure requires close coordination, clear communication, and shared partnership with program and division leadership.

The position is expected to evolve as the Southern Division Office and its programs grow in size, funding, complexity, and financial management needs.

Responsibilities

• Manage day-to-day financial activities for the assigned portfolio, including journal entries, account reconciliations, financial transactions, reporting, budget maintenance, year-end close activities, and other core financial management processes.
• Serve as the primary finance partner for the Southern Division Office and programs housed within the division (currently including North American Fire and the Mississippi River Basin Program), providing financial leadership across budgeting, forecasting, reporting, analysis, resource planning, and financial stewardship. Additional programs may be added as appropriate.
• Lead annual budgeting, forecasting, long-range financial planning, financial reporting, fiscal year-end activities, and other financial management initiatives for the assigned portfolio.
• Provide high-quality financial reporting, complex financial analysis, scenario modeling, and recommendations to help program and division leaders understand financial performance, assess risks and opportunities, and make informed decisions regarding resources and priorities.
• Independently analyze financial information and develop recommendations related to budgets, forecasts, funding, resource allocation, spending strategies, and financial risks and opportunities.
• Translate organizational and programmatic priorities into financial strategies and actionable plans, helping leaders evaluate tradeoffs and determine how available resources can have the greatest organizational and conservation impact.
• Proactively identify financial issues, opportunities, and emerging needs; bring forward well-developed options and recommendations to the Southern Division Finance Director and program leadership; follow through on agreed strategies and decisions through implementation and ongoing monitoring.
• Serve as a finance thought partner to program and division leaders.
• Participate as an active member of leadership teams for the Southern Division Office, North American Fire, and the Mississippi River Basin Program, including leadership meetings, planning discussions, retreats, and other forums to provide financial perspective and contribute to programmatic and strategic decision-making.
• Develop sufficient understanding of the goals, funding models, operations, and financial needs of multiple programs to balance competing priorities and provide relevant financial guidance across the portfolio.
• Serve as a finance resource and thought partner to leaders and teams across the broader Southern Division, providing consultation, problem-solving, and financial analysis as division needs arise, and promoting consistent financial practices across the division.
• Support division-level resource allocation and funding strategies by analyzing available funding, evaluating alternative uses of resources, partnering with state business units and programs to identify opportunities and constraints, and developing recommendations that balance financial sustainability, organizational priorities, and conservation impact.
• Identify financial risks and opportunities, evaluate alternatives, and develop recommendations to strengthen financial performance, optimize resource allocation, and achieve organizational objectives.
• Ensure effective stewardship of financial resources through strong internal controls, compliance with organizational policies, donor and funding requirements, regulatory standards, and generally accepted accounting principles, as applicable.
• Ensure the accuracy, integrity, and effective management of financial data, processes, and controls, including appropriate use of Workday and other financial systems.
• Partner with philanthropy, conservation, operations, grants, government relations, leadership, and other functional teams to provide financial guidance for fundraising initiatives, grants, contracts, campaigns, and strategic projects.
• Support financial management of federal awards and other restricted funding in partnership with grants and program teams, including appropriate budgeting, financial monitoring, reporting, and compliance.
• Oversee financial aspects of contracts, agreements, and other business transactions, ensuring compliance with organizational policies and sound financial practices.
• Serve as the Certified Contract Specialist for the Southern Division Office, as assigned, supporting contract development, review, execution, monitoring, and compliance in accordance with organizational requirements.
• Support governance and leadership activities by providing financial perspective as appropriate to division leadership, program leadership, Boards of Trustees, Finance Committees, and other stakeholder groups.
• Partner with the Southern Division Finance Director to implement financial strategies, strengthen financial management practices, promote consistency across the division, and support continuous improvement.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of scalable financial processes, tools, and practices as the Southern Division Office and its programs grow in size, funding, and complexity.
• Build and maintain trusted partnerships across the division and programs to foster collaboration, financial accountability, and shared ownership of financial outcomes.

Note: While work-life balance is supported, periods of increased workload may require additional hours and flexibility to meet critical deadlines and organizational priorities.

Location

Remote, with preference to the Eastern or Central time zones.

Travel

Travel as required to attend in-person trainings, retreats, or other events. Travel is not expected to exceed 10% annually.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or related field and 4 years’ related experience or equivalent combination.
• Experience working with computer and information management systems, Excel spreadsheets, and databases for financial analysis, fiscal management, and/or financial reporting.
• Experience developing budgets, performing high-level financial analysis, recommending actions, and providing financial partnership to leadership.
• Experience serving as a financial consultant, advisor, or thought partner to organizational leaders and decision-makers.
• Experience with accounting principles, practices, and regulations.
• Experience using accounting and financial reporting systems.
• Experience with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).
• Experience developing, managing, and implementing multiple projects or financial initiatives.
• Experience, coursework, or other training with U.S. Federal Uniform Guidance, state and local regulations, multilateral and international regulations, and standard contract clauses, as applicable.

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience serving as a strategic finance partner and thought partner to business, program, or organizational leaders.
• Advanced experience in financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, reporting, financial analysis, and translating financial data into actionable recommendations.
• Demonstrated ability to independently assess financial and operational issues, develop thoughtful recommendations, and move from analysis to action with appropriate consultation and oversight.
• Demonstrated strategic thinking and ability to connect financial information to organizational priorities, programmatic goals, funding opportunities, and resource allocation decisions.
• Demonstrated success analyzing complex financial information, identifying risks and opportunities, evaluating alternatives, and developing solutions to improve financial performance and outcomes.
• Experience supporting financial management across complex programs, portfolios, projects, grants, contracts, or restricted funding sources.
• Experience developing financial strategies and recommendations in situations where there is not a predetermined solution or established process, requiring sound judgment, initiative, and collaboration.
• Demonstrated ability to build strong partnerships, influence decision-making, and collaborate effectively across multiple business units, programs, and functional areas.
• Experience providing financial consultation and problem-solving support outside of one’s immediate portfolio or area of responsibility.
• Demonstrated ability to build credibility and effectively partner with multiple teams or programs, quickly learn different operational and financial environments, and balance competing priorities.
• Ability to operate effectively in a matrixed organization, serving multiple leaders and programs while maintaining clear priorities, accountability, and communication.
• Experience evaluating financial processes, internal controls, and management practices to ensure effective stewardship of resources and compliance with organizational policies and applicable regulations.
• Strong knowledge of GAAP, financial management principles, and relevant regulatory frameworks, with the ability to interpret and apply requirements.
• Experience working with federal grants, government regulations, contracts, or other restricted funding sources preferred.
• Experience using enterprise financial systems, including prior experience with Workday or similar ERP systems.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to communicate financial concepts clearly to non-finance audiences and influence decisions through effective financial storytelling.
• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to manage multiple priorities in a dynamic and evolving environment.
• Experience working in a collaborative, multi-disciplinary, or mission-driven organization.
• Multilingual skills and/or multicultural experience appreciated.
• MBA, CPA, CIA, or other relevant professional certification.

Compensation & Benefits

• Starting pay range (USA): generally within the range of $80,000 - $115,000 annually.
• Final pay will be based on factors including location, qualifications, skills, and experience.

The role offers a competitive, comprehensive benefits package, including:

• Health care benefits
• Flexible spending accounts
• 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

Additional Requirements / Conditions

• This position requires a valid driver’s license and compliance with the organization’s Auto Safety Program.
• Employees may not drive organization-owned/leased vehicles, rental cars, or personal vehicles on behalf of the organization if considered “high risk drivers.”
• Employment is contingent upon completion of a Vehicle Use Agreement, which may include review of the prospective employee’s motor vehicle record.

Equal Opportunity

The employer is an equal opportunity employer and seeks applicants from diverse backgrounds. The successful applicant must meet the requirements of the organization’s background screening process.

Interview Process

Recruiting may include a rolling interview process, meaning applications may be reviewed in the order received; the role may be unposted once a strong candidate pool is identified.