Job Description

Job Title: Finance & Operations Business Partner
Department: Finance & Operations (“FinOps”)
Location: Washington, DC; Oakland, CA; Remote. This position requires an ability to travel approximately two weeks per year.
Reports To: Finance & Operations Managing Business Partner
Supervises: n/a

Context: At the Sierra Club, we believe in the power of togetherness. Together, we remain committed to the fight for a healthy climate built on a foundation of environmental, racial, economic, and gender justice – a future where all people benefit from a healthy, thriving planet and a direct connection to nature. As the climate crisis and deeply entrenched systemic racism all fuel inequity, we will continue to fight for a bold, transformational agenda that recognizes the interconnectedness between our planet, our humanity, and our democracy. By recognizing that our destinies are tied, we continue to name that all things are fundamentally connected, and the overlap between ecology, race, gender, and representative government will move to either advance our collective humanity or to oppress it.

Sierra Club is comprised of staff across the country and a network of local chapters that support our grassroots engagement. We are also proud to be a unionized employer, with two labor unions representing more than half of our employees.

Scope: The Finance & Operations Business Partner serves in a critical role overseeing all business operations aspects of their assigned portfolio of campaigns, departments and teams. Serving as a trusted business partner to leaders–both within the FinOps department and their assigned portfolio–the Finance & Operations Business Partner serves as a one-stop resource for creating, guiding, tracking, completing and reporting out on various finance and operations tasks, including but not limited to the full lifecycle of financial transactions, contracts, vendor relations, adherence to organization-wide policies and procedures, and management of annual operating budgets & regular forecasting. The Finance & Operations Business Partner works closely with senior leaders and alongside all staff in their assigned portfolio to provide guidance on and help staff navigate the administrative functions of the organization.

Job activities include but are not limited to:

1. Acts as a Business Partner to leadership and staff of assigned portfolio of departments/campaigns. Administers all operational and financial aspects of the assigned portfolio. Provides strategic operating guidance to the portfolio’s leadership within the parameters of existing and new operating policies and procedures regarding budgetary and logistic implications of all plans and decisions. Advises on strategic staffing levels, operating expenses and discretionary programmatic expenditures in alignment with available funding streams, including multiple grant-funded restricted sources. Supports, coordinates and monitors contractual commitments between department leadership and FinOps colleagues. Masters and assists with the implementation of standard operating procedures.
2. Alongside leadership, manages the full lifecycle of assigned portfolio budget(s). Assists and coordinates assigned portfolio’s leadership in preparing and managing annual operating budgets. Tracks and forecasts revenue across multiple restricted grant funding and unrestricted funding streams. Tracks and forecasts expenses related to staffing, operating expenses and programmatic discretionary spending. Creates new and utilizes existing systems for sharing budget performance data across multiple stakeholder groups. Prepares qualitative operating budgets, monthly and quarterly forecasting, and year-end financial analyses.
3. Researches, analyzes and prepares various budget and financial reports. Coordinates information gathering & sharing across multiple systems and departments, both within FinOps and across the organization. Maintains accurate data related to assigned portfolio within budget management software systems. Prepares ad hoc and formal project and departmental financial variance & forecast reports using grants management and financial software systems as well as Microsoft and Google Suite applications. Develops and maintains systems to transparently coordinate and share budget & expense information within assigned portfolio across leadership, managers & staff.
4. Plans, organizes and manages day-to-day operating activities. Manages preparation of contracts and MOUs in consultation with assigned leadership and general counsel, including agreements for independent contractors and major purchases including capital expenditures. Manages and monitors the submission and processing of staff reimbursements and vendor invoices for payment, ensuring appropriate cost center and grant accounting. Approves disbursement of funds and ensures that expenses are paid in a timely manner. Ensures accurate and timely completion of department staff time reporting with regard to appropriate use of restricted funding and compliance with internal policies and grant agreements. Ensures compliance with all organizational policies and procedures, including Human Resources, FinOps, fiscal compliance and Information Technology policies and procedures. Coordinates with Facilities and IT teams to support staffing level workspace needs.
5. Supports the success of the Finance & Operations Department. Participates in confidential meetings and prepares and maintains confidential reports and analyses regarding staffing levels. Contributes strategic input to FinOps leadership teams, and supports the annual goals and objectives of the FinOps department. Builds and nurtures relationships within the FinOps department and across the organization to earn trust. Commits to, embodies and advances the equity, justice and inclusion goals of FinOps and the organization. Assists with monitoring and responding to organization wide Operations Help Desk inquiries in a timely, customer service oriented manner.

The successful candidate must have the following skills and experience:

• Non-Profit Finance & business acumen. Financial literacy and the ability to understand processes related to reporting, budgeting, forecasting and other financial & business operating skills. Experience managing and tracking multiple c(3) and/or c(4) funding and expense streams. Ability to understand and manage, with stakeholders, the financial indicators related to various resources, goals and strategic plans. This can be achieved through a mix of higher education and/or work experience.
• A Team Player. Nothing is beneath or above you. You are quick to always lend a hand, or two! You are able to earn influence without authority and naturally seek to support both small projects or large strategic goals.
• Proven project manager & communicator. Strong organizational skills and ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment. Has comfort with some ambiguity. Is a consensus builder when possible and always strives for transparent, equitable, timebound processes that arrive at timely decisions. Able to work under their own initiative, handle multiple assignments simultaneously, and manage projects to completion. You nurture relationships through your communications. You can adapt your communication style to meet the needs of your audience.
• Operational and Administrative superstar. Strong attention to detail, superior organizational skills, time-management skills, self-direction, and motivation. You bring proficiency with Microsoft and Google Suite applications and a strong desire to learn other systems.
• Ability to hold highly sensitive and confidential information. Excellent judgment and a high level of discretion, especially when handling sensitive and/or confidential information. Working knowledge of the legal and social implications of maintaining confidentiality. Operates in accordance with reporting and disclosure practices.
• Equity Analysis and Practice. You are aware of your group identities and how they have shaped your life and experiences at work. You have an analysis of how racism and other forms of oppression in society impact relationships, systems and culture. You bring experience and skills for working effectively with colleagues across group identities and position/role.

The strongest candidates will also demonstrate the following experience, skills and competencies:

• Systems Experience. Proficiency with financial applications (Concur, Workday’s Adaptive Insights, Netsuite, a plus!), MS Word and Excel.
• An Effective Collaborator. You’ve successfully worked across cultural lines on a dispersed team. You have brought together stakeholders from various roles, departments, and levels of seniority to achieve a common goal. You have a proven ability to oversee complex projects across a matrix-managed organization.
• Equity Leader. You model effective equity analysis and practice and have a track record of operationalizing equity, and have embedded justice and equity throughout team/department policies, processes, and systems.

Compensation and Benefits

The starting salary for this position is $85,000, based on a Region 1 work location of Oakland, CA or Washington, DC. A lower starting salary may apply for remote based hires.

The Sierra Club offers a competitive salary package commensurate with skills and experience plus excellent benefits that include medical, dental, and vision coverage, and a retirement savings 401(k) plan.

This is a category 5 exempt, non-represented, confidential position.

Sierra Club is a 501(c)(4) non-profit organization. Sierra Club employees are not eligible to participate in the Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program.

Sierra Club values the expertise and talents of foreign nationals. Sierra Club sponsors both nonimmigrant and immigrant visas when certain criteria are met, based on immigration laws and organizational needs. Such sponsorship is at the discretion of the Department Head and Sierra Club Human Resources in consultation with the employee’s manager. The Sierra Club cannot guarantee the approval of a visa petition. The Sierra Club is an equal opportunity employer committed to workforce diversity.

How to Apply

• Click here to apply online.
• This position does not have an undergraduate education requirement. If you choose to include your education history, please remove your schools from your resume. You may leave your degree (e.g., "B.A. Philosophy"), but please remove any undergraduate and graduate school names.
• This anonymous process is aimed at opening this opportunity to more candidates, reviewing applicants on performance assessments and mitigating bias in the decision making process.
• Lastly, we are intentionally not asking for a cover letter, so please do not send one in with your application.
• We are accepting applications until the position is filled.
• Explore, enjoy and protect the planet.

Job Categories: Finance / Investing. Job Types: Full-Time. Salaries: 80,000 - 100,000.

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