Finance Director

Climate & Land Use Alliance

4d•$100,000 - $232,500•Remote

About The Position

The Climate and Land Use Alliance, LLC (CLUA) is a collaborative of foundations seeking to amplify the power of people and the potential of forests for a just and climate-resilient world. CLUA supports policies, practices, and partnerships that halt and reverse forest loss, advance sustainable land use and development, and secure the rights and livelihoods of Indigenous and forest communities. CLUA is a sole-member limited liability corporation within ClimateWorks Foundation and is also the host of Forest, People, Climate (FPC), a collaborative of philanthropic donors, civil society, and community-based organizations seeking to halt and reverse tropical deforestation while supporting just, sustainable development. The Finance Director will lead all aspects of financial management for CLUA and FPC, requiring comfort operating in ambiguity and a strong orientation toward problem-solving. This leader will play a critical role in shaping and evolving the finance and accounting infrastructure, with a focus on leveraging technology to improve accuracy, streamline processes, and strengthen decision-making. The Director will bring deep expertise in financial planning and analysis, paired with experience in public charity grantmaking, to guide budgeting, forecasting, cash flow management, and audit coordination. They will also oversee accounts payable and receivable and manage a small team. Reporting to the Senior Director, Operations, this role serves as a strategic thought partner to the Executive Director (ED), Senior Director, Operations, Director of Development, Director of Human Resources, and the Board Finance Committee. The Finance Director will work closely with the Senior Management Team (SMT) and Program Leads, translating financial insights into actionable strategies and supporting strong fiscal stewardship across the organization. CLUA is in an exciting period of evolution, creating a unique opportunity for the Finance Director to help design and implement systems and processes that align with the organization’s expanding impact. As CLUA evolves, including potential changes to its current financial and operational structure, this role will be instrumental in scoping and leading the implementation of new financial systems and frameworks. The Finance Director will help build a forward-looking finance function that not only supports compliance and rigor but also enables innovation and sustained growth in service of the organization’s mission.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, business administration, or a related field and 7+ years of relevant combined education and experience in the nonprofit sector, i.e., finance and accounting, preferably in a grant-funded environment.
Experience working as part of an international team preferred
Experience with reorgs, new entity registration, and related activities.
Demonstrated experience in Financial Planning and Analysis (FP&A) and forecasting
Excellent mathematical, analysis, auditing, and accounting skills.
Ability to lead departments and individuals.
Strong written and oral communication skills, including the ability to create user-friendly reports and present them to others.
Knowledge of financial accounting and general ledger software, with Sage Intacct experience a plus.
Strong creative skills to develop new and innovative solutions.
Experience creating usable budgets at different levels of detail and maintaining shared cost allocations.
Strong organizational and project management skills and ability to work both independently and in a team format.
Flexibility, adaptability, curiosity, and integrity.
Commitment to CLUA’s mission and focus on climate, nature, and justice.
Ability to travel domestically and internationally (up to 20%).

Nice To Haves

MBA or CPA a plus.

Responsibilities

Provide strategic financial leadership during periods of organizational evolution, ensuring financial structures, systems, and policies evolve in step with CLUA’s operating model, scale, and global footprint.
Identify and implement changes needed to support resilience, compliance, and long-term sustainability across jurisdictions.
Serve as a strategic partner to the ED, Senior Director of Operations, SMT, and Board Finance Committee, translating financial insights into actionable guidance.
Act as staff liaison to the Finance Committee under the direction of the ED and Senior Director of Operations.
Lead the development and maintenance of an organization-wide financial strategy and long-term financial plans.
Develop financial forecasts and lead multi-year scenario and contingency planning processes (FP&A).
Establish and monitor key indicators of financial health and resilience, ensuring effective management of financial risks.
Lead the annual operating budget process in partnership with the Senior Director, Operations and SMT, including presentation to the Finance Committee and Board.
Oversee monthly financial close and prepare timely, accurate internal financial reports for the SMT, Board, and Program Leads to support strong decision-making and program management.
Partner with Development and Operations to develop grant proposal budgets, allocations, and modifications.
Oversee tracking, stewardship, and reporting on the use of grant and other funding resources, ensuring alignment with funder requirements and organizational priorities.
Assess, recommend, and implement finance systems and tools that enhance accuracy, transparency, and efficiency; lead system transitions with a focus on risk mitigation, staff training, and data integrity.
Design, document, and continuously improve financial policies and procedures to support a growing and evolving organization.
Coordinate with ClimateWorks Foundation (or lead independently following reorganization) on the annual audit process, including financial statements, audit, and tax filings, ensuring compliance and timeliness.
Lead and develop the finance and accounting function, with a strong focus on coaching, mentoring, and supporting individual growth and skill development across the team.
Assess and align team structure, roles, and responsibilities to ensure clarity, accountability, and effective coverage of all core functions.
Evaluate and manage workload distribution to promote sustainability, efficiency, and the highest and best use of team members’ skills and capacity.
Identify opportunities to strengthen team capabilities, implement professional development plans, and build a high-performing, adaptable finance function.
Foster a culture of collaboration, continuous improvement, and shared ownership of outcomes while maintaining a hands-on approach to key processes.