Associate, Finance

ASSIGNMENT PURPOSE

Gold Standard is currently seeking a Finance Associate to join our growing team. This role reports to the Finance Manager and is primarily responsible for supporting book keeping and accounting functions at Gold Standard. This is a remote full time position. It entails a fixed-term contract of 8 months based in Germany or UK.

WHAT WE DO

Gold Standard is a standards body and thought leader that promotes the best that can be achieved in climate and development projects. It was established in 2003 by WWF and other international NGOs as a best practice standard to ensure projects that reduced carbon emissions under the UN’s Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) also delivered sustainable development benefits. Today, our standard, ‘Gold Standard for the Global Goals’, allows climate and development initiatives within carbon markets, corporate supply chains, and sustainable finance to manage, measure and maximize their impacts toward the Net Zero ambition of the Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals. Certification against the standard provides the confidence that these results are measured and verified, enabling credible impact reporting. ISEAL Code Compliant and backed by a broad NGO Supporter Network, Gold Standard has 3000+ projects underway in over 90 countries, creating billions of dollars of shared value from climate and development action worldwide.

OUR VALUES

• PIONEERING

For almost 20 years, Gold Standard has shown how carbon finance can achieve its highest potential. We’ve created innovative new standards, programmes and tools that raise the bar for quality across a broader range of applications than carbon markets. We focus on those that have the most promise to contribute to our vision and mission, bringing them to market with the requisite planning and resources.

• RIGOROUS

We build on our reputation for quality and rigour with more robust measurement of outcomes, stronger safeguards and greater impact across the Sustainable Development Goals. Our objective is to make rigour simpler and more achievable at scale.

• COLLABORATIVE

We work with key partners who share our goals and complement our strengths. Our partnership strategy aims to move beyond working opportunistically as a delivery partner in favor of collaborating in long-term strategic synergy.

• TRANSPARENT

We were established to bring confidence, trust, and accountability to carbon markets. We will continue to take strides to improve transparency in our own processes, in the broader market and in non-market mechanisms.

The Gold Standard Foundation is looking to build our team with exceptional people who are excited and driven to shape and deliver this ambition and uphold our values.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Daily Record Keeping: Record incoming and outgoing payments on a daily basis in the accounting software.
• Customer invoices: Support creation and verification of outgoing invoices to Gold Standard customers.
• Bill Verification and Entry: Verify the accuracy of bills, ensuring they are approved and supported by the necessary documents. Enter verified bills into the accounting software.
• Payments Preparation: Prepare payments to vendors in a timely manner.
• Expense Report Verification: Verify and process team expense reports accurately and in a timely manner.
• Bookkeeping Accuracy: Ensure the accuracy of bookkeeping entries and the correct application of VAT rates.
• Monthly Reconciliation: Assist with monthly reconciliation of accounts to ensure accuracy and consistency.
• Year-End Closing and Audit Support: Assist with year-end closing and preparations for the annual audit.
• Transition to a new (ERP) accounting system (H1 2024): Contribute to a successful transition as part of the Finance team by cooperating with external developers and the rest of Gold Standard Operations team.

REQUIRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor degree in Business, Finance or Accounting; or equivalent

• 1-3 years of experience in a similar position in a fast moving office environment

• Excellent organisational skills and attention to detail.

• Enthusiasm for making efficiency improvements to existing processes

• Ability to work independently and to deadlines

• Solid skills in the use of MS Office programs and general aptitude for the use of IT systems

• Fluency in written and spoken English and French

• Knowledge of and enthusiasm for the environment or sustainable development a plus

COMPENSATION

The compensation for this role will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.

Other benefits to working at Gold Standard include:

• A mission-driven organisation working at the leading edge of climate and sustainability
• Rewarding work in a dynamic non-profit environment
• A collaborative workplace within a multicultural team
• An ambitious, agile and flexible environment

CLOSING DATE

Applications for this role will close on 23 October 2024. Successful candidates will be contacted for an interview and/or potentially a test.

APPLICATIONS

Please submit a 1-page cover letter explaining why you want to work for the Gold Standard and a CV through our recruitment portal.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES

Gold Standard provides equal opportunity for all job applicants and employees and is committed to providing a work environment free of discrimination. We are dedicated to an inclusive culture and we strive to create a workplace where teams of people with diverse backgrounds, characteristics, perspectives, ideas and experiences work together.

We welcome applications from individuals of all genders, ages, sexual orientations, nationalities, races, background, religions, beliefs, ability status, and all other diversity characteristics.