Director: Global Accounting

The Rainforest Alliance is creating a more sustainable world by using social and market forces to protect nature and improve the lives of farmers and forest communities. To achieve our mission, we partner with diverse allies around the world to drive positive change across global supply chains and in many of our most critically important natural landscapes.

Ouralliancespans 70 countries andincludes farmers and forest communities, companies, governments, civil society, and millions of individuals. Together we work to protect forests   and biodiversity, take action on climate, and promote the rights and improve the livelihoods of rural people.

As an international nonprofit organization with more than 30 years of experience in sustainability transformation, we understand that the social and economic well-being of rural communities is tightly connected to ecosystem health. This knowledge has shaped our rigorous programs to advance sustainable land-use and commodity production.

At the Rainforest Alliance we combat climate change, protect forests and biodiversity, promote human rights, and improve livelihoods. The enormity of the social and environmental challenges we are facing requires working together in a broad alliance. This is why we bring farmers, forest communities, companies, and consumers together to change the way the world produces, sources, and consumes.

Why

To protect nature and improve lives it’s becoming increasingly urgent that we approach the way we use our land and produce food and other products in more sustainable ways. For this to succeed we need to fundamentally change the way that businesses operate and source, and the choices we all make as consumers.

How

Our growing global alliance aims to transform our relationship with our natural resources and each other, to create a better future for people and nature together.

The Rainforest Alliance encourages diversity and inclusion across the global organization. With this commitment to diversity, we are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate on the basis of gender, race, color, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, ages, disability and any other protected group.

Position summary:

At the Rainforest Alliance we are looking for an experienced process and results oriented Director of Global Accounting to lead the global accounting team. This role will be responsible for ensuring the company's accounting policies, procedures and operations meet all vital standards and practices, and that internal controls and segregation of duties are present to deliver perfect audits. The Director of Global Accounting will work closely with the CFO, global financial planning & analysis team, the department heads and regional leadership to support financial reporting/forecasting, deliver accurate recording of revenue/expense, timely monthly/quarterly/annual closes, and overall cash/liquidity management.

This role reports to the newly appointed Chief Finance Officer who is part of a wider Leadership Team spearheading our high-reaching 2023-2030 strategy to further strengthen our organizational impact and scale and grow globally. This individual will help drive efficiency, productivity and impact across the organization through financial data that will help prioritize and support decision making effectively.

Responsibilities: 

• Lead the daily finance function of A/P, A/R, G/L, payroll, and cash management ensuring that appropriate accounting practices and internal controls are followed and all financial data is brought together and accurately recorded;

Lead a Global Team in the:

• Consolidation of data and supporting schedules for external filings including annual consolidated financial statements, IRS Form 990, NY State Form CHAR500, 1099 and other required filings;

• Lead the periodic review and improvement of systems and tools for accounting reports from Rainforest Alliance field offices and ensure the field offices’ accounting staff are properly trained on Rainforest Alliance accounting policies, procedures and systems;

• In collaboration with Rainforest Alliance Legal and external advisors, research cross-border tax and other fiscal obligations and developing processes for ensuring compliance;

• Lead preparation of all year-end schedules, perform pre-audit review and serve as main liaison with external auditors;

  o   timely, accurate and complete monthly and year-end closings including review and analysis of GL accounts, reconciliations between general ledger and sub-ledgers, and verification of all system close procedures in the general ledger and sub-ledgers;

  o   revenue recognition process, including all billing, deferral and accrual procedures, related to distinct funding streams including: certification fees, other fee-for-service revenue, government grants and contracts;

  o   proper & timely recording of development and membership revenue, insuring that they match with corresponding records in RE;

  o   release of temporarily restricted funds based on satisfaction of program and donor restrictions;

  o   maintenance of schedules: prepaid expenses, fixed assets, depreciation, deferred grant revenue,

  o   transmission of 403b pension contributions;

  o   the field offices’ accounting reporting procedures and quality control practices;

• Provide oversight for all Rainforest Alliance bank accounts (domestic and international) ensuring appropriate authorized signatory personnel and levels;

• Provide management of all US bank accounts, corporate credit card accounts

• Serve as accounting software administrator; maintain the integrity of the G/L chart of accounts, control user access and train new users on accounting system;

• Ensure new Rainforest Alliance staff receive proper accounting orientation on relevant accounting policies and procedures; and

• Other duties as assigned. 

Qualifications: 

• Bachelors degree in Accounting or Finance; CPA a plus;

• Minimum 10 years relevant Accounting experience required;

• Minimum 5 years relevant Accounting experience in non-profit/NGO sector required;

• Strong management skills and supervisory experience in accounting or finance required; Enterprise and servant leadership with a consistent track record of leading teams in a dynamic environment;

• Ability to lead multiple programs and contracts;

• Experience using computerized accounting systems, Netsuite preferred;

• Strong math, analytical and technical skills; highly organized and customer service oriented;

• Experience handling government grants with sub-recipient grant programs preferred;

• Ability to partner with a range of stakeholders from finance and non-finance backgrounds to drive performance;

• Excellent organizational skills with emphasis on project and financial management;

• Outstanding communication skills and executive presence;

• Ability to operate with considerable independence and as a member of a team, show good judgment, and take initiative;

• Willingness and ability to travel up to 10% of the time, nationally and internationally.

Job level: 1A

Salary: Commensurate with experience.

Deadline: 12 May 2023

Notes:

Only candidates authorized to work in US will be considered.

If you have any questions about the job vacancy, please contact the HR department: [email removed - click apply for more details]