Michigan Director of Finance

What We Can Achieve Together

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 programs 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. The Director provides 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.

Responsibilities & Scope

• 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.
• Communicates 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.
• Serves as a member of the Management Team and advisor to the State Director, BOT, and Development team in collaborating on budgeting, gift allocation, tracking fundraising versus budget, ensuring financial controls to reflect donor intent, and overall financial health of the BU.
• Manages private funding lifecycles with grants management specialists: collaborates with Development and Conservation to construct budgets, complete timely and accurate reports for funders, and ensures tasks related to privately funded awards are completed in the appropriate management software.
• Implements and manages new initiatives and multiple projects.
• Ensures programmatic work is collaborative and well‑integrated across the organization.
• Develops the annual collaborative $10M budget process with budget managers.
• Works with the Operations Team and the Conservation Operations team to ensure day‑to‑day financial activities such as purchasing, processing invoices, negotiating and contracting with vendors meet compliance.
• May supervise one or more administrative or professional staff.
• Engages in considerable collaboration with Midwest finance professionals in the Midwest Division.
• Serves on the Midwest Finance Cabinet, often working on special finance projects for the division.
• May negotiate complex agreements and contracts with vendors and partners.
• Ensures programmatic commitments, TNC policies, 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 fields.
• Reports to leadership on financial activities, forecasts, and long‑term sustainability.
• Travels and works long or flexible hours as needed.

We’re Looking for You

The ideal candidate should have strong experience in leading a varied, multi‑disciplinary team, exceptional communication and collaboration skills, and experience managing data and personnel.

What You’ll Bring

• Bachelor’s Degree in Finance, Accounting or Business Administration and 5 years’ related experience or an 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.

Desired Qualifications

• Multi‑lingual skills and/or multi‑cultural experience appreciated.
• Technical expert on complex accounting/financial issues; advanced expertise in Microsoft Excel.
• Experience monitoring 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.

Salary Information

The starting pay range for a candidate selected for this position is generally within the range of $100,000-$105,000 (only applicable to candidates whose country of employment is the USA). The actual pay will be based on factors such as location, qualifications, specific skills, and experience.

The Nature Conservancy is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our commitment to equal employment opportunity includes the recognition that our conservation mission is best advanced by the leadership and contributions of people of all backgrounds, beliefs, and cultures. Recruiting and mentoring staff to create an inclusive organization is a priority, and we encourage applicants from all cultures, races, colors, religions, sexes, national or regional origins, ages, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity, military, protected veteran status or other status protected by law.

The successful applicant must meet the requirements of The Nature Conservancy’s background screening process.