Senior Associate, Finance

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.

Our alliance spans 70 countries and includes 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:

The Rainforest Alliance is recruiting a Senior Associate, Finance for an anticipated USAID Activity to be implemented in Guatemala.

Under the leadership of the Finance Manager, Latin America, the Senior Associate Finance will lead all aspects of the financial management of the Activity, ensuring appropriate use of financial resources and that financial reporting at all levels is completed in accordance with the program terms.

They will lead all aspects of budget development and administration, lead implementation of key financial activities, ensure efficient financial support to the program team, and ensure compliance with USAID and other donor rules and regulations, as well as Rainforest Alliance policies and procedures. This position will work closely with Project Managers, Country Director, and finance, administrative, compliance, contracts and/or accounting staff based in different locations.

Responsibilities: 

• Ensure compliance with budget and contract requirements in accordance with Rainforest Alliance policies and procedures

• Develop and maintain tools (i.e. forecasts and dashboards) to maintain visibility and transparency on budget allocation and execution

• Ensure cost recoverability and track cost share requirements

• Responsible for accurate and timely reporting and analysis of program performance, based on approved budgets

• Lead the annual budgeting and financial planning process (including mid-year forecasts) for the program, for both Rainforest Alliance and USAID fiscal years

• Monitor all financial activities, and keep Management advised of situations which could have potential negative impact on financial performance

• Ensure all program and subgrantee expenses are made in line with USAID rules and regulations, as well as Rainforest Alliance’s policies and procedures

• Facilitate the development, improvement and adoption of improved policies, practices and procedures

• Ensure effective back-up systems are in place to facilitate coordination across the department, i.e. maintaining all key documents in an easily accessible location; creating backups and ensuring they have clear instructions;

• Prepare monthly budget to actual reports, including projections for the Activity

• Prepare quarterly accrual reports, expenditure reporting, and burn rate projections for Rainforest Alliance and USAID

• Maintain and track project codes in accounting system and provide access to staff when needed

• Create and maintain financial report templates and reporting tools

• Responsible for sub-awardee financial monitoring, site visits, reports and follow up

• Support in the preparation and update of FFATA Subaward Reporting System (FSRS) to USAID

• Ensure that implementation of funded activities is in conformity and on schedule with the provisions and requirements of the donor

• Proactively participate in, and/or convene cross-functional communication spaces at the country and/or sub-regional level to promote excellence in financial management

• Serve as a key communication conduit to and from Management and other staff, ensuring the timely and accurate dissemination of information

• Support, review and approve budgets from subgrantees

• Provide training and guidance to staff and partners on budget formulation, tracking and adjustments, expense accounting, financial analysis and reporting and contract management 

• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications: 

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, accounting, finance, or related field

• Experience with budget management and supervising administrative and financial activities at the Latin America regional level

• 5+ years of work experience in a similar position in projects funded by USAID

• Familiarity with U.S. Government Federal Acquisition Regulations and USG rules preferred

• USAID projects experience in any related field is a must

• Experience in a not-for-profit and international environment in a global organisation is required

• Written and verbal proficiency in Spanish and English

• Excellent writing, editing and verbal communication skills

• Experience in organizing and presenting information

• Ability to track tasks until completion

• Excellent organizational skills, ability to work independently as well as in a team environment, assess priorities and multi-task with strong attention to detail

• Strong analytical skills

• Takes initiative and is self-motivated, resourceful, detail-oriented, dependable, with strong attention to detail

• Proficient in Microsoft Excel, Word, Power Point and Outlook

• Availability to travel locally 40% of the time

Job level: 4A

Salary: Commensurate with experience.

Deadline: June 30, 2023

Notes: Only candidates authorized to work in Guatemala will be considered.

Hiring of this position is contingent upon successful award of the Activity.

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