Chief Financial Officer Job Details

Earthwatch Institute is an international, non-profit organization whose mission is to engage people worldwide in scientific field research and education to promote the understanding and action necessary for a sustainable environment.

Earthwatch was founded in 1971 in Boston, Massachusetts. A need to invent a new funding model for scientific research became apparent, as dwindling government funding was combined with an increased urgency in the need for objective scientific information and action regarding the environment. Since then, the organization has mobilized over 100,000 international volunteers and grown to become one of the world’s largest funders of scientific field research operating in 55 countries from nine offices worldwide. The organization raises in excess of $20 million annually and operates through an international management team based mainly in Boston, USA and Oxford, UK reporting to an international Board and affiliated national Boards.

Over the last 40 years, Earthwatch Institute has grown to become one of the most innovative, respected, and effective environmental organizations working in the world today. Not only is Earthwatch one of the largest private supporters of critical field research, it is one of the few organizations that directly engages the global public in the process and, by doing so, presents an exciting approach to conservation that can play a key role in global efforts to secure a sustainable future for all.

Goals

Earthwatch works and measures its success against six high level goals:

1. Increasing scientific knowledge
2. Developing environmental leaders
3. Enabling organizations and business to become more sustainable
4. Informing environmental policies agendas and management plans
5. Enhancing natural and socioeconomic capital
6. Creating a financially sustainable organization

Values

• Inclusive - Earthwatch believe it is essential that people participate in solving the environmental challenges we face.
• Objective - Independent research is at the core of our work, and its outcomes determine goals and priorities. 
• Passionate - Earthwatch have to make a meaningful impact on people and the planet.
• Empowering – Earthwatch seek to inspire people, organizations and communities with experiences, knowledge and tools that enable them to take action. 
• Responsible - Earthwatch acts in a manner that respects and protects the well being of people and the environment, including staff, researchers, volunteers and the places they work.

For the purposes of charitable law and tax exemption Earthwatch continues to operate as independent legal entities at a national level. In the US, Earthwatch Institute is a public charity under section 501(c) 3 of the Internal Revenue Code for its educational, charitable, and scientific activities (federal nonprofit ID #23-7168440). In the UK the working name is Earthwatch Institute Europe (EWE) and was registered as a charity in 1985, and effectively began operating in 1990. In 2004 EWE changed to a company limited by guarantee under the name of Conservation Education and Research Trust (charity registered number 1094467).

The President and CEO is separately appointed by all boards and reports at both national and international level.

Position Overview

A. Position Summary:

Reporting directly to the President and CEO, the Chief Financial Officer (‘CFO’) will provide a pivotal leadership role within the organization. The CFO will focus on day-to-day execution of the international business plan and will measure the organization’s progress to that plan. The CFO will work closely with the Chief Operating Officer and together they will be responsible for developing and enhancing the internal organization, processes, and infrastructure to deliver world class programs. The CFO will also develop annual and long range international plans for the organization and help implement changes and improvements to the current structure.

The CFO, who provides the strategic financial leadership, including continuous financial system improvement and development, is required to operate the organization effectively and efficiently in the future, under changing business conditions with complete financial transparency. This includes the management of both internal finances and accounting functions, overseeing external funding and grant-making, and supervising Finance and IT support. The CFO will ensure legal and financial compliance in order to maintain and enhance the organizations standing in terms of sector and business best practice.

Due to the fact that each Earthwatch office operates independently as a self governing and self financing entity, a key challenge and responsibility for the CFO will be to ensure that each national entity operates within its existing national legal and financial guidelines set by the respective national boards. This requires demonstrating a positive and healthy financial growth and controls in line with the national accounting practices while, at the same time, ensuring that the business is operating effectively and efficiently at an International level in order to ensure cost effective and financially sustainable business operations and mission delivery.

The CFO will work directly with the Earthwatch International Board of Directors, the Boards of both US and UK and particularly the Finance, Audit and Investment Committees as well as our external auditors and bankers in both the USA and the UK. The CFO will act as ombudsman and provide strategic leadership for these areas at the Executive level.

The CFO will be a person who brings a proven track record of disciplined financial management, creative and energetic problem-solving and successful systems experience to the position. While no one candidate is likely to possess all the qualifications sought, the successful candidate will bring many of the following experiences and attributes:

B. Key Responsibilities:

Business Management. Design and facilitate effective business model for the global Earthwatch organization including revenue and cost allocation model, international business planning, integrated staffing and IT solutions, inventory, grants management and cost effective program design and delivery.

Financial Management. Maintain highest quality financial management and budget delivery at both national and international level. Ensure appropriate financial controls and reporting at all levels of the organization. Use financial modeling to continue to improve overall financial health and resilience of the organization with a positive annual contribution to reserves.

IT and General Management. Maintain administration and general management oversight of IT working with the International Head of IT. Work as part of the International Executive Team to ensure that all areas of the organization are adequately supported and staff worldwide are operating in a safe, effective work environment.

C. Principal accountabilities:

Business Management

• Serve as key member of the International Executive Team
• Deliver strong operating results, and bottom-line, cost reduction, productivity improvement, operating efficiency, technological advancement and capacity utilization and expansion by:
• Developing the current international financial and operating models
• Analyzing, directing, administering, and coordinating the activities of the organization in support of policies, goals, and objectives established by the President & CEO existing business operations and implementing the strategies, processes and technologies to improve organizational performance;
• Driving organizational change and improvement, expansion and development, process redesign, and complexity reduction
• Overseeing effective grants management and finance departments to ensure regular and timely reporting and revenue tracking
• Developing effective IT systems
• Optimizing use of existing international resources

• Work actively with the President & CEO and staff of the other international Earthwatch offices to implement the strategy of financial integration
• Develop comprehensive management tools that provide the feedback and data necessary for strategic decisions to be made. Define metrics and measurements that will quantify performance against goals and institutionalize a system for obtaining and reporting those metrics and measurements.
• Be responsible for the measurement and effectiveness of all financial processes internal and external. Provide timely, accurate and complete reports on the operating condition of the organization against quantitative and qualitative goals as outlined by the CEO and International Executive Team
• Oversee financial and physical planning activities, such as development of budget and project plans, related to expansion programs, and recommend their adoption.
• Oversee the annual budget and planning process from an international perspective
• Direct the preparation of short-term and long-range expansion plans and pro-forma budgets based on broad organization goals and institutional growth objectives.
• Report to all Boards as CFO including Board, Finance, Investment and Audit Committee(s).

Financial Management

• Assume responsibility for finance working closely with the Finance Managers, Board Finance Committee, Affiliate Offices and Executives to ensure accurate forecasting, reporting, financial planning and strong financial management for organization
• Expertise in design, preparation, analysis and presentation of accurate, timely and meaningful financial reports for the Board of Directors, management and program staff, funders and other interested parties including but not limited to:
  • Income and expenditure estimates, actual and variances
  • Balance Sheets
  • Cash flows
  • Annual staffing estimates and a capital budget
  • Use reports to track performance against plan, provide early warning regarding variances and help develop and implement necessary adjustments
  • Collaborate internationally to develop new international financial reporting system and business models as well as coordination and delivery of international business plan
  • All income and expenditure targets of the current and forthcoming year’s business plans are approved by the Directors/Trustees and that successful operational decisions are taken to secure those objects.
  • Ensure any grant is administered strictly in terms of the agreement governing that grant and that any earmarked revenues received are reserved and spent solely for the charitable purposes for which they were made
  • Ensure that the ratios of income as between members’ fees, volunteers’ contributions, corporate donations, bilateral and multilateral grants and trust donations are consistent with the target for revenues from different constituencies
  • With the external auditors arrange for and then present to the Board of Directors the audited accounts, for approval, as soon after the financial year end (30 September) as possible and that the correct processes are followed with regard to the Charity Commission and Companies House in the UK and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the US.
  • Oversee and delivery of financial and legal compliance per industry best practice including Sarbanes Oxley etc
  • Through the accounting staff, actively manage, track and forecast the organization’s cash and investments

IT and General Management

• Oversee day-to-day international IT operations.
• Establish and maintain appropriate levels of IT support and infrastructure worldwide
• Delegate responsibilities while holding staff accountable within a culture of teamwork.
• Oversee and development of appropriate international insurance policies
• Oversee of all contracts and legal documentation as well as relationships with attorneys
• Encourage a positive and open style of leadership.
• Develop and maintain open communications between international offices.
• Foster a success-oriented, accountable environment within the organization
• Travel to UK/US and overseas for approx 8/12 weeks per annum.
• Perform other duties as assigned

D. Direct Reports

• UK Finance Manager
• US Finance Manager
• Inventory and Financial Analyst
• International Head of IT

E. Skills, Qualifications, Experience and Competences

Skills and Qualifications

• Educated to degree level or equivalent
• Recognized professional accountancy qualification
• High levels of commercial awareness
• Evidence of strong verbal and written influencing and communication skills
• If would be preferable to have experience in the not for profit sector but is not a prerequisite for the right candidate

Experience

• In leading financial teams and ownership of the associated control environment
• Of operating across international boundaries
• Of growing market share through supporting commercial strategies
• Of financially managing complex and Internationally delivered grants
• Of UK/US GAAP etc.
• Of managing budgets and grant delivery
• Of risk management

Behavioral Competences

• Self starter motivated by high standards
• Strong interpersonal skills
• Strong organizational skills
• Strong technical ability
• Must be a team player who welcomes collaborative decision making

Salary: Commensurate with Experience

Please send cover letter and resume to Marsha O’Doherty, International Director of HR, hr@earthwatch.org; fax 978-897-0935; mail HR Earthwatch Institute, 114 Western Ave, Boston, MA 02134.

Due to limited time and financial resources we are only able to accept applicants who are already eligible to work in the United States or the United Kingdom. No phone calls please.