Founded in 1936, the National Wildlife Federation has grown into America's largest and most trusted grassroots conservation organization with 52 state/territorial affiliates and more than six million members and supporters. The mission of the National Wildlife Federation is to unite all Americans to ensure wildlife thrive in our rapidly changing world. The National Wildlife Federation believes that in order to save wildlife and ourselves, we need to ensure that everyone living in America has access to clean air and water, safe communities, easy and equitable access to nature, and protection from the ravages of climate change. These basic needs, equally necessary and urgent for all people, are foundational to bringing the conservation movement and ethos into the 21^st century.

The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of the National Wildlife Federation must demonstrate commitment to the Federation’s mission and has primary responsibility for protection of the organization’s financial assets and its reputation as a responsible steward of those resources. As such, the CFO maintains a comprehensive understanding of the Federation’s financial position at all times and communicates operating or other results and metrics to the CEO and various internal and external audiences. The CFO works cooperatively and in partnership with all Federation departments to effectively budget, monitor, and track finances to achieve the programmatic, financial sustainability, and constituency-building goals in a manner consistent with the overall organizational strategy. The CFO maintains this strategic approach regarding financial management, marketing or business analysis, and ultimate decisions. As a member of the organization’s executive leadership team, this position consistently promotes and reinforces good financial stewardship and accountability while encouraging and exploring responsible innovation and investment opportunities. This position leads financial planning, development and maintenance of an effective and service oriented financial management infrastructure, including budgeting, restricted revenue, financial monitoring and reporting processes, and key activities. This position is responsible for leading the development and maintenance of efficient and cost-effective financial operations, for leading and managing the Finance Department in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, IRS and other regulatory requirements, best practices, and optimizes relationships with banks and other external service providers.

In addition, the CFO must provide leadership and counsel for a mission-focused, growth-minded organization challenged by fluctuating economic conditions. This includes being proactive, having an increased role in financial forecasts, being nimble, and providing senior management with options for addressing possible scenarios. This position serves as a facilitator for spreading prudent financial management and controls to managers across the organization and builds relationships with other CFOs and finance executives to expand the Federation’s networks, relationships with other senior-level executives, and to learn and share findings with Federation senior staff.

Principal Duties (major areas of responsibility):

• Lead and manage Finance Department to ensure efficient, cost-effective, accurate and service oriented operations. Mentor Finance Department staff, create a sustainable and equitable departmental structure and invest time in staff development and building competencies.
• Budget, monitor, analyze, and report on financial performance to CEO, Board of Directors, and senior leadership. CFO is the staff lead for the Finance, Audit, and Investment Board committees. Also report out to various external groups, such as Bank of America, Moody’s, and watchdog agencies.
• Participate in strategic business planning for new or special projects. Provide risk assessments.
• Lead internal communication efforts to ensure staff managers are aware and knowledgeable about budgeting process, fiscal responsibilities, and overall context behind the Federation’s financial management efforts. Ensure senior staff and Board are informed about the Federation’s overall financial situation and have the necessary information to make informed decisions.
• Analyze, recommend and implement process and system improvements for the Department and organization, as well as collaborate with CEO and human resources on staffing structure, addressing equity issues, and decisions for the Federation. Appointed to Compensation, Benefits, and Retirement staff committees.
• Build relationships with other CFOs and finance executives to expand the Federation’s networks, cultivate relationships with Federation executives and senior leadership to understand resource needs, trade-offs, and ongoing or new investment opportunities that will drive the organization forward and share funding and other financing approaches.
• Other special projects that vary from time to time.

Supervision Exercised:

This position directly supervises approximately 6 employees – a Controller, Director of Finance (Restricted Revenue), Senior Budget & Reporting Manager, Systems Application Architect/Developer, Contracts Manager, and Executive Assistant – as well as a wider team of about 13 employees.

Direct Financial Responsibility:

Budget Management Authority: $2.8 million

Indirect Financial Responsibility:

Cost-Control Impact: $105 million

The CFO has ultimate influence on all financial issues and cost-control impact on the full annual budget.

Formal Education and/or Special Training Required:

B.S. degree in Finance, Accounting, or Business Administration required. MBA or CPA preferred, or equivalent advanced degree or relevant experience. Leadership and equity training desired.

Experience and Competencies:

At least 10 years of experience in financial management at the senior or executive level. Nonprofit financial management experience strongly preferred. Proven experience leading and managing diverse finance and accounting staff/teams to successfully accomplish goals while at the same time interacting and partnering effectively with other executives, vice presidents, and leaders. Through these organizational relationships, demonstrated ability to add value by applying in-depth business and financial acumen to improve operational costs and enhance revenue generation resulting in strong long-term financial performance and sustainability.

Required Skills:

• Accounting, financial management, and strategic financial analysis and planning skills.
• Strong personnel and team management skills. Commitment to equity and inclusion.
• Good written and oral communication and presentation skills. Handles conflict and negotiations effectively.
• Financial systems and technology knowledge with a drive to optimize system solutions to improve processes and staff workloads.
• Can recognize options to solve problems and takes the initiative to make things happen. Sets long-range goals and implements short-range actions to achieve them.
• High ethical standards and ability to maintain confidentiality.
• The employee’s actions are expected to reflect the staff values of the National Wildlife Federation: collaboration, mindfulness, empowerment, inclusivity, and mission focus.

Required Competencies:

Self-Awareness and Learning:

• Deep knowledge and interest in organizational financial management – ability to understand and connect all aspects of financial operations, including innovation, as well as risk mitigation.
• Awareness of the CFO position and sphere of influence with a commitment to interact honestly and professionally with all colleagues while negotiating for positive outcomes.
• Commitment to cultivate a growth mindset of learning seeking opportunities to listen and understand different ideas and perspectives.

Authentic Relationships and Partnerships:

• Maintains a sophisticated understanding of how group dynamics impact individual staff and supervisory relationships, organizational culture, vendor management, and our work, and can demonstrate a history of successfully intervening in problematic situations to discuss and offer a prudent financial approach.
• Successfully works to understand and address grievances, mediate conflict, and advocate for the Federation’s best financial interest while minimizing potential negative solutions.
• Uses tact and diplomacy in dealing with confidential and sensitive matters, to communicate in a responsible and professional way when dealing directly with colleagues and vendors/partners.

Open and Authentic Communication:

• Clearly articulate financial and business concepts and performance results to various audiences while promoting good financial stewardship and stability.
• Effectively consult with peers and senior leaders regarding financial opportunities or concerns and identify interrelations or competing needs for resources. Lead team efforts to prioritize and address these financial issues to maximize investments and returns.
• Excellent direct communication and ability to provide clear and effective constructive feedback to ultimately motivate peers and direct reports to achieve results.

Supervision and Powersharing:

• Develop and implement plans to support the success and professional development of all Finance staff.
• Ensure Finance team leaders are empowered through shared decision-making, clear definition of roles, responsibilities, and outcomes, effective delegation, and equitable access to resources.
• Mentor team members to be accountable for interactions within and outside of the Department for any harms and to be proactive in working towards equity.

Human-centered Innovation

• Demonstrates willingness and ability to examine existing conditions or problems in order to find new solutions by researching options, keeping up with best business practices, and building a diverse innovation network of internal and external colleagues to imagine and support new solutions, implementing revised or new approaches, and continually improving efforts.
• Be open to accept reasonable risk-taking towards new or different ideas and share lessons learned from mistakes.

Equity Analysis and Action:

• Seeks to deepen understanding of equity across broad spectrum of complex components and integrates knowledge of equity into work projects and team or staff interactions by addressing structural implications and disproportionate impacts of policies, activities, and decisions on race, class, and other group identities within the context of job responsibilities and projects.
• Works with experts and leadership to ensure the Federation’s internal equity transformation effort is successful.

Travel Requirements:

The position may require travel about 2-5 times, including about 3-7 nights, a year for Board meetings, leadership team meetings or retreats, and the CFO Environmental Roundtable.

Compensation:

Salary for this position is $230,000 and commensurate with experience.

We are proud of our designation by Mogul as a Top 100 Workplace with the Best Benefits in 2021!  We value work-life balance and a family-friendly atmosphere with flexible scheduling.  We want you to be able to integrate work and personal life with attention to your self-care, so that your work schedule is not depleting.  We offer benefits so you feel restored and fueled through the day and week.

We offer these supports to help manage your mental, emotional, and physical health: 

• Paid time off: Vacation that starts off at three weeks accrual, unlimited wellbeing (this time can be used for physical, spiritual, emotional, cultural, religious or financial wellbeing for yourself, a partner, or family member – including pets), 10 holidays, and 3 floating holidays
• We close down for a paid winter break between December 25 to January 1 to recognize end of-year stress, and time for reflection, rejuvenation, and spending time with family.
• Up to 16 weeks of fully paid Family and Medical Leave
• Low-cost health, dental, and vision insurance options – all outpatient mental health is covered at in-network rates
• Therapist available at no cost
• Pet insurance and discount perk program
• Annual wellbeing allowance

In addition to your salary, we offer the following supports to your personal finances:

• Retirement plan with immediate match and vesting
• Annual year end retirement contribution
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Adoption and Surrogacy assistance
• Pet adoption stipend
• Student Loan management

Applicants are invited to learn more about National Wildlife Federation’s benefits package at https://www.nwf.org/About-Us/Careers.

COVID Consideration:

The National Wildlife Federation closely follows the 2019 Novel Coronavirus Disease and has implemented processes that promote the safety of our employees, candidates, and communities. Because the health of our employees and candidates is a top priority, we conduct our hiring process virtually via phone or video until further notice. We are currently starting our positions as remote, and are continuing to explore what our future of work will be moving forward. Proof of vaccination will be required to join the National Wildlife Federation.

Application:

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Candidates should submit a cover letter and resume.

We strive to increase diversity, equity, inclusion and justice (DEIJ) in all elements of our work and with our partners to support the interdependent needs of wildlife and people in a rapidly changing world. We recruit, employ, train compensate, and promote regardless of race, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity (including gender nonconformity and status as a transgender individual), age, physical or mental disability, citizenship, genetic information, past, current, or prospective service in the uniformed services, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. Applicants are invited to learn more about National Wildlife Federation’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion at nwf.org/equity.

We recognize that people come with a wealth of experience and talent beyond just the technical requirements of a job, therefore our job descriptions are guidelines, not hard and fast rules.  Your experience, which may include paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work, helps build the competencies and knowledge that translates to our openings.  Diversity of experience and skills combined with passion is a key to innovation and a culture of excellence.  Therefore, we encourage people from all backgrounds to apply to our positions.

Please let us know if you require accommodations during the application or interview process by reaching us at hrhelp@nwf.org  or 703-438-6244.

If selected for this position, a background check will be conducted.