Senior Officer, Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A)

ROLE PURPOSE

As part of the growth of our Finance Team,  Gold Standard seeks a Senior Officer, Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A). Reporting to the CFO, the incumbent will be responsible for analytical activities and long-term financial planning of Gold Standard. This will be a new position within Gold Standard that will be formed within the first months on the job.  The role will involve analyzing various business and financial data, creating financial models, developing and implementing long-term financial plans, and providing strategic recommendations to support the organization's goals and objectives.

The Senior Officer, FP&A will primarily work with the finance team as well as collaborate with various stakeholders, including program managers, department heads, and the executive team, to ensure effective financial management and informed decision-making.

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 maximise 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 2000+ 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.  We are now seeking a Senior Officer, Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A) to work as part of the Finance and Operations team.

YOU WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FOLLOWING:

Financial Analysis:

• Conduct regular financial analysis to assess Gold Standard financial performance, trends, and highlight areas for improvement.
• Prepare financial reports and variance analysis reports.
• Provide insightful analysis and recommendations to support decision-making on financial resource allocation, cost optimization, and revenue generation.
• Perform financial modelling and scenario analysis to evaluate the financial impact of potential initiatives or changes.

Long-term Financial Planning:

• Develop and implement cyclical, long-term financial planning process aligned with organization’s financial strategy and overall strategic objectives.
• Collaborate with strategy team, department heads and market intelligence to prepare financial models and different scenarios with probability distribution.
• Monitor and evaluate organization’s progress against long-term financial goals, identify variances, and provide recommendations to achieve financial targets.

Financial Forecasting:

• Develop and maintain financial forecasting models for certain types of income and cost categories, with the focus on organization’s certification activities.
• Analyze financial trends, market conditions, and funding sources to provide accurate forecasts and predictions.
• Develop KPIs for forecasting accuracy and work against reaching annual accuracy targets.

Stakeholder Engagement:

• Collaborate effectively with program managers, department heads, and other stakeholders to provide financial guidance and support.
• Communicate financial information and analysis in a clear and understandable manner.
• Assist in preparing financial presentations for Management meeting, board meetings and other stakeholder engagements.

YOU WILL BRING TO THE ROLE:

Qualifications, knowledge and skills

• Bachelor's degree in finance, accounting, or a related field. A master's degree or professional certification (e.g., CPA, CFA) is preferred.
• Proven experience (at least 5 years) in financial planning, financial analysis, and budgeting, preferably in the non-profit sector or NGOs.
• Strong knowledge of financial management principles, accounting standards, and financial regulations for NGOs.
• Proficiency in financial analysis techniques and tools.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills with a keen attention to detail.
• Strong financial modelling and forecasting abilities.
• Advanced proficiency in MS Excel and Power BI tool.
• Good communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with diverse stakeholders and build positive relationships.
• Self-motivated, structured working, conceptual thinking, and strategic reasoning, while being hands-on.
• Team player with highest levels of ethics and integrity.

YOU WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN AND GROW BY:

• Working within an internationally leading environmental standard at the cutting edge of climate and sustainable development action.
• Working as a key member of the Finance Team in a period of growth of the organization.

WHAT WE OFFER:

The salary range 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 (We are open to applications for 80% FTE).

CLOSING DATE

Applications for this role will close on 15 October, 2023. Successful candidates will be contacted for an interview.

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.