• Provide the holistic vision, strategy, and success metrics for teams across operations and marshal their talents to deliver impact and results by providing consistent leadership, coaching, and accountability.
• Collaborate with senior leadership to drive organizational effectiveness and operational excellence and serve as key contributor to the ELT and valued partner of the senior leaders across NRDC.
• Lead, attract, manage, motivate, develop, and retain high-performing and highly collaborative finance and administration teams to optimize performance and support organizational strategy.
• Cultivate a One NRDC orientation and a continuous improvement and solution mindset.

• Serve as the strategic finance leader, thought partner and advisor to the President and CEO, and Executive Director. This role provides strategic financial oversight and drives long-term financial planning and risk management to safeguard NRDC’s financial sustainability.
• Lead the multi-year and annual budgeting processes in coordination with the organizational planning processes to ensure alignment with organizational priorities and resource allocation. Provide timely, accurate, and stakeholder-friendly reporting and actionable financial insights to promote informed decision-making and rigorous financial management across the organization.
• Prepare and present financial strategy, forecasting and reporting to the Finance Committee, Board of Directors, ELT, and key stakeholders. Promote financial literacy and transparency across all levels of the organization.
• Provide high quality financial analyses to support specific decisions as required from time to time.

• Ensure effective financial and operational controls and processes are in place to support current and future organizational needs; provide timely and accurate reporting to trustees, regulators, and other important external stakeholders, such as donors and partners.
• Oversee all financial operations, including accounting, annual budgeting, financial reporting, payroll, payments, and tax and regulatory compliance. Ensure the accuracy and integrity of financial records and reports, adhering to regulatory requirements and best practices.
• Oversee the Controller to ensure proper maintenance of relevant systems and processes. Develop and maintain appropriate internal controls and financial procedures.
• Oversee NRDC’s Treasury function including investment of surplus cash, issuance of debt, and lease / purchase analyses related to office space. Manage cash flow, investments, and financial risk to optimize allocation of resources and maintain the financial health of the organization.
• Support the Investment Committee in its oversight of NRDC’s endowment portfolio by working closely with NRDC’s financial advisor / outsourced chief investment officer (“OCIO”) on day-to-day performance monitoring, administration, and portfolio risk management. Manage NRDC’s 403(b) plan in partnership with the People Team.
• Lead the annual audit process and maintain the highest level of integrity. Stay abreast of developments in non-profit best practice and state and federal requirements for non-profit financial operations.

• Manage the Chief Information Officer and oversee NRDC’s IT roadmap and vision, management, and guidance on all aspects of the technology infrastructure and security supporting business operations to improve cost effectiveness and service quality through technology innovation.
• Oversee the organization’s global technology infrastructure and operations including security, disaster recovery, cloud services, servers, networks, communication systems, operating systems, storage, backups, data center, virtualization and end-point support.
• Ensure the requisite data management systems are in place to manage the demands of NRDC’s complex operations including its diverse donor base with the need for multiple currency management.
• Oversee global systems integration, ensuring the systems meet institutional needs with appropriate controls and user training.
• Ensure NRDC technology operations are safe with the highest regard for data privacy and security. Ensure IT, risk and financial systems are in place to support and drive NRDC’s strategic priorities.

• In collaboration with the Office of General Counsel and the People and ODEI Department, oversee NRDCs’ office leases and utilities contracts around the world, ensuring that offices are fit for purpose for hybrid work and collaboration, and meet NRDC’s legal and duty of care obligations to staff.
• Oversee all construction and maintenance projects for NRDC offices.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE / QUALIFICATIONS

• Led an enterprise-wide finance function or served as a senior finance business leader / partner for a significant business unit or complex and global non-profit organizations.
• Experience working closely with the CEO, Executive Leadership Team, and Board in developing strategy, best practices, and policies of a comparable / larger organization by anticipating market trends and leveraging expertise to advance the organization.
• Knowledge and understanding of Information Technology, Real Estate Planning, Facilities, Security and Procurement to effectively oversee these functions for a global organization.
• Demonstrated success in leading / delivering core finance and accounting operations, including budgeting, forecasting, accounting, reporting, control systems, cost allocation, FP&A, treasury services, accounts payable / receivable, and revenue processing.
• Demonstrated sound business and risk judgment, ability to assess the big picture and connect the dots, and the skills and experience to make a notable long-term positive difference in a complex organization. Good balance between being strategic and operational. Experience thinking strategically, creatively, and tactically.
• Track record of driving and executing successful cross-cutting strategic change management initiatives in a collaborative and intentional manner. Skilled at cultivating strategic partnerships and engaging stakeholders.
• Thrives operating in a fast-paced, globally oriented and demanding environment; ability to pivot in response to growth and organizational priorities. Considered an effective change agent and sponsor of best practices and organizational growth.
• Demonstrated a strong balance of hands-on operational / technical finance management and strategic financial and operational leadership. Able to stay close to the details while also able to contribute at a broader level.
• Proven ability to perform complex analysis of financial data; assess financially related business capabilities, identify gaps and recommend solutions; ability to understand and assess financial aspects of business projects.
• Ideally, strong treasury, capital markets and investment oversight experience in either non-profit and/or for-profit global enterprise.

• If CFAO comes from exclusively for-profit businesses, ideally, the person has served on non-profit board and/or has other direct exposure to non-profit financial management and governance.
• Consistent track record of attracting, motivating, mentoring, developing, and retaining high performing talent at all levels, both on an individual and team basis.
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills that resonate well with both financially oriented and less financially oriented audiences and individuals. Confident and effective at communicating across all levels of the organization, presenting to Boards and other diverse internal and external constituencies.
• A collaborative team player: someone with whom people enjoy working and respect. The person must bring a healthy balance of confidence with low ego and humility. Unquestioned personal and professional integrity.
• Excellent analytical, strategic, abstract-reasoning, problem-solving, and decision-making skills. Strong listening skills, empathy, patience, and the ability to lead through influence and by example.
• Demonstrated engagement and initiative with organizational diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts both internally and externally.
• Advanced organizational and project management skills, and experience with proven business management practices.
• CPA and/or other relevant advanced degree or certification, along with formative financial management training.
• A commitment to the mission of NRDC. Passion and respect for the environment and issues that affect the organization’s work. Ability to quickly become conversant in the organization’s work and able to communicate with / influence relevant constituencies.