Finance Specialist

Overview

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

The Finance Specialist supports financial management and reporting; accounting; grants administration, management, and reporting; and other related financial activities for a department or business unit. Work is performed in accordance with organizational policies, procedures, and best practices in financial management. The role assists staff within the specialization area and addresses moderately complex employee/management questions and issues using advanced knowledge. Matters requiring broader financial decisions or authority are escalated to the assigned program Finance Manager.

Responsibilities

• Facilitate multiyear financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, and fund allocation activities for assigned programs and funding portfolios under the direction of assigned program Finance Managers.
• Support program Finance Managers and program teams in preparing, monitoring, and updating budgets, forecasts, and financial plans, and in maintaining accurate financial information.
• Support fund allocation, transfers, and related financial processes by compiling financial information, preparing supporting analyses, maintaining records, and following up on required actions.
• Partner with global, regional, and country teams—particularly finance contacts—to support financial planning, funds management, accounting, reporting, and issue resolution.
• Prepare monthly, quarterly, annual, and ad hoc financial reports, analyses, schedules, and supporting documentation for review by assigned program Finance Managers.
• Support donor and award financial reporting by compiling financial information, reconciling transactions, preparing schedules and draft reports, and maintaining supporting documentation.
• Perform 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.
• Review financial data and reports to identify coding errors, variances, outstanding items, or misallocated costs, and communicate findings and potential issues to the assigned program Finance Manager.
• Maintain financial data, files, systems, trackers, project records, grant records, award records, and supporting documentation for assigned programs and funding portfolios.
• Support program Finance Managers and program teams in understanding financial positions, donor restrictions, applicable financial practices, processes, systems, and reporting requirements.
• Facilitate projects and team activities related to shared funds, restricted funding, fund administration, and financial tracking to support timely and consistent financial processes.
• Coordinate with philanthropy, conservation, and operations staff to prepare the financial components of proposals, donor reports, and other funding-related deliverables.
• Serve as a point of contact for routine financial inquiries and work with Shared Services and other internal teams to resolve financial, payroll, expense, invoice, coding, and transaction-related issues.
• Support month-end, quarter-end, year-end close processes, audits, donor deadlines, award closeout activities, and other recurring finance cycles.
• Participate in Global Protect Operations Team activities, broader operational initiatives, and assigned special projects.
• Document recurring financial processes and assist staff in understanding financial procedures, coding practices, expense requirements, timesheet requirements, and donor restrictions.
• Follow up with relevant staff and teams regarding outstanding financial information, documentation, approvals, compliance requirements, and reporting deliverables.
• Provide day-to-day support and guidance on financial processes, coding, timesheets, expenses, donor requirements, and financial systems; escalate matters requiring financial decisions, exceptions, or higher-level review to the assigned program Finance Manager and program team.
• Ensure assigned activities are completed in accordance with donor intent and restrictions, organizational policies and procedures, financial standards, and applicable legal and regulatory requirements.
• Reinforce consistent application of organizational policies and procedures and provide 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.

Preferred 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 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.

Compensation & Benefits

• For U.S. based applicants only, the starting pay range is generally within the range of $60,000 – $90,000 for annual base salary. This range is based on location, qualifications, specific skills, and experience, and applies to candidates whose country of employment is the USA.
• For all other applicants, pay ranges will be in local currency and based on the local labor market; pay ranges are not tied to the U.S. range.
• Actual pay will fall within a range based on factors including qualifications, specific skills, and experience.

Benefits may include a 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, an employee assistance program, and other life and work well-being benefits.

Location

This position may be based in any country where the organization has an established entity, taking into consideration legal restrictions, such as non-national ratios and immigration processing times. Your geographic location will be confirmed during recruitment and used to determine your actual pay range.