Michigan Director of Finance

The Nature Conservancy•GEO / Remote - Michigan, MI

7d•$100,000 - $105,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Director of Finance provides overall direction and leadership for finance within the Michigan Business Unit (BU) and assists with special projects within the Midwest Division and the Midwest Division Finance Cabinet while proactively offering perspective, advice and collaboration. The Director is particularly responsible for all Finance and Accounting activities as well as proactively providing strategic and tactical support for the staff and operational functions of the Michigan Chapter and other program(s) as agreed upon by the Director and their supervisor. They report to the Director of Operations currently. The Midwest Division will be implementing a new finance structure with a Division Finance Director (DFD) over the next 8-10 months for more financial strategic collaboration across the division. The Director of Finance will report to the DFD, assigned to the financial responsibility of the Michigan BU. The Director of Finance contributes to achieving the Michigan Chapter’s strategic priorities through effective management, maintenance and reporting of financial data. The Director is the subject matter expert on the Michigan Chapter’s and related program(s) fiscal positions, long-term sustainability, and communicates this information effectively to Chapter and program leaders as well as to the Board of Trustees to facilitate good management decisions. They monitor use of management controls and processes to ensure compliance with TNC policies and procedures, relevant legal and regulatory frameworks, GAAP, and financial/management best practice. They provide specialized services in one or more of the following functions: financial analysis and reporting; forecasting; manage multi-year funding streams; financial management; accounting; cash receipting, auditing; execute fiscal year-end processes; grants administration, spend rate analysis; private award management; contract review and approval, management controls and reporting. Grand Rapids, Lansing, Ann Arbor, or Detroit surrounding areas preferred.

Requirements

Bachelor's Degree in Finance, Accounting or Business Administration and 5 years' related experience or equivalent combination.
Experience with accounting principles, practices, and regulations.
Experience with GAAP.
Technical experience with grants award accounting issues.
Experience using accounting and financial reporting systems.
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.

Nice To Haves

Multi-lingual skills and/or multi-cultural experience appreciated.
Technical expert on complex accounting/financial issues.
Advanced expertise in Microsoft Excel.
Experience monitoring for and ensuring compliance with organizational policy, applicable law and regulation, and finance/accounting/management best practice.
Experience analyzing a regulatory framework and applying it to the situation at hand.
Expert knowledge of GAAP and/or relevant regulatory framework.
Experience evaluating the adequacy and effectiveness of management controls; interpreting guidelines and analyzing factual information to adapt or modify processes as needed.
Ability to resolve complex issues independently within program area.
Experience acting as a resource to others to solve problems.
MBA, CPA or CIA may be preferred.

Responsibilities

Works toward meeting the strategic priorities of the program by developing and coordinating tactics for approved plans, completing and/or overseeing day-to-day tasks.
Communicate information effectively to the BU and program leaders as well as to the Board of Trustees (BOT) to facilitate good management decisions and recommendations to action.
Manage private funding lifecycles with grants management specialists: collaborate with Development and Conservation to construct budgets, complete timely and accurate reports for funders, and ensure tasks related to privately funded awards are completed in the appropriate management software.
Implements and manages new initiatives and multiple projects.
Ensures the programmatic work is collaborative and well-integrated across organization.
Develops the annual collaborative $10M budget process with budget managers.
Work with the Operations Team as well as the Conservation Operations team to ensure day to day financial activities such as purchasing, processing invoices, negotiating and contracting with vendors are managed for compliance.
May supervise one or more administrative or professional staff.
Engage in considerable collaboration with Midwest finance professionals in the Midwest Division.
Serve on the Midwest Finance Cabinet where it may include special finance projects for the division.
May negotiate complex agreements and contracting with vendors and partners.
Ensures programmatic commitments, TNC policies and procedures, financial standards and legal requirements are met and managed for compliance.
Reinforces consistency in the organization's policies and procedures and provides support related to relevant field.
Reports to leadership on financial activities, forecasts, and long-term sustainability.
Travel and work long or flexible hours as needed.