[Hiring] Finance Accounting Specialist @The Nature Conservancy

Role Description

The Finance Accounting Specialist provides specialized finance and accounting-related services to the Mexico, Belize, and Guatemala business units and is responsible for supporting the financial operations and compliance requirements of the local Civil Association in Mexico.

• Provides specialized services in accounting, accounts payable, payroll, cash management, statutory compliance, and financial reporting.
• Supports short-term projects across the Business Units.
• Administers and maintains finance/accounting activities in accordance with TNC policies and procedures and best practices in financial management.
• Applies independent judgment to resolve accounting and compliance matters, identify financial risks, and recommend solutions.
• Builds effective partnerships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Models TNC’s values and competencies, helping build team effectiveness, operational excellence, and strong stakeholder relationships across the region.

Responsibilities

• Serves as the primary finance and accounting focal point for Mexico, Belize, and Guatemala business units.
• Provides guidance to program leadership regarding accounting treatment, financial compliance requirements, and implementation of TNC financial policies.
• Identifies and resolves complex accounting and compliance issues across multiple jurisdictions.
• Ensures compliance with TNC policies and procedures, financial standards and legal requirements, and segregation of duties.
• Reviews month-end close activities, balance sheet reconciliations, accounting records, and supporting documentation.
• Supervises cash management, banking operations, and timely bank reconciliations.
• Supervises accounts payable processes and supports accounts receivable management.
• Coordinates and reviews accounting, local tax, statutory compliance, and regulatory deliverables for local legal entities, including civil associations, with external advisors and accounting service providers.
• Ensures external accounting information is complete, accurate, properly supported, and aligned with TNC policies and procedures.
• Leads the fiscal year-end close process for Business Units (BUs) under responsibility.
• Oversees statutory filings, certifications, and financial regulatory requirements.
• Performs financial analysis based on available information, identifies potential risks and/or recommended next steps.
• Exercises independent judgment in interpreting accounting guidance, organizational policies, and local statutory requirements.
• Recommends solutions to complex accounting, payroll, tax, and compliance matters.
• Escalates significant financial, compliance, or operational risks as appropriate.
• Ensures compliance with local statutory, tax, and regulatory requirements for legal entities under responsibility.
• Monitors changes in applicable accounting, tax, and regulatory requirements and recommends process improvements or corrective actions.
• Leads the coordination of external audits and statutory reviews and ensures timely resolution of findings.
• Supports the preparation and coordination of financial reports, coordinating payroll processes.
• Supports payroll processes from a finance, accounting, and payment perspective.
• Supports internal and external audits.
• Supervises one or more staff.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or related field and 3 years' related experience or equivalent combination.
• Experience with GAAP and fund accounting principles, practices, and regulations, as well as applicable Mexican legal, regulatory, tax, labor, and statutory requirements.
• Experience using automated accounting systems.
• Working knowledge of internal controls, segregation of duties, and financial documentation requirements.
• Experience managing or overseeing accounts payable, provider payments, and bank reconciliation processes.
• Experience leading, supervising, and developing staff, including providing coaching, mentoring, performance feedback, and guidance to support individual and team success.

Desired Qualifications

• Professional proficiency in both Spanish and English preferred, with demonstrated ability to read, write, and communicate effectively in English.
• Experience designing processes to assure accurate and on-time provider payments.
• Excellent organizational skills, including the ability to establish priorities and meet deadlines.
• Non-profit accounting experience is considered a plus.

Benefits

• Competitive and comprehensive benefits packages tailored to the individual countries where we work.
• Health care benefits, retirement benefits, parental leave, paid time off, life insurance, and disability coverage.
• Employee assistance program and other life and well-being benefits.
• Flexible work environment that supports the health and well-being of employees.