Assurance Officer

About us

Acting to combat climate change is one of the world’s most pressing challenges. Climate Friendly was founded in 2003 as a profit-for-purpose business. Our growing team is passionate about active land management, and we are focused on finding economically viable solutions to maximise our impact on climate change. 

We are one of Australia’s largest and most experienced carbon farming project developers. This includes more than 160 projects with farmers, plantation managers, agribusiness, and Indigenous groups on carbon farming projects.

Climate Friendly has delivered over 20Mt in carbon abatement as at the end of 2020. Our immediate mission is to establish partnerships, by 2025, that will store or reduce 150Mt of CO2-e, while repairing nature and supporting reconciliation. Join our team and you will be helping to build A productive, sustainable land sector that contributes to a zero net emissions & nature positive Australia by 2050.

We have a genuinely friendly and supportive culture where everyone has a voice and opportunity to help shape our future and to fulfil our purpose.

The role

As Assurance Officer, you will work across three small teams within Climate Friendly’s Assurance Hub: Due Diligence & Initial Audits, Subsequent Audits, and Reporting. The aim of the role is to be proficient in the skillsets of each team to enable movement across teams to better manage peaks workloads across this part of Climate Friendly’s business.

Key responsibilities include:

• Coordinating and delivering the due diligence program for projects in the pipeline, including analysis of qualitative and quantitative biophysical and management data to assess project eligibility, suitability and commercial feasibility.
• Data collection and spatial mapping/ GIS assessment on prospective project areas such as cadastral boundaries, bioavailability, historical management, intended areas where project activities will be implemented, and planned management including stock and feral animal management, planting dates and species position.
• Assisting the Project Development Team in assessing and implementing new opportunities to secure a new pipeline of carbon farming projects.
• Review of proposed potential habitat value, species composition and planting design in relation to emerging Federal and State biodiversity legislation.
• Preparation of due diligence reports describing the process to estimate the amount of carbon likely to be sequestered, eligibility of the project, and potential project risks.
• Presentation of due diligence assessment results to an internal technical review committee, and responding to questions as they arise.
• Coordinating and preparing documentation for the registration of new projects, in collaboration with the Legal and Governance and Project Development Teams.
• Supporting the Project Development Team in responding to information requests from the CER.
• Supporting the Head of Assurance in ensuring existing SOPs, TGs, and templates for a range of carbon project methods, remain current in line with CER and legislative requirements and Climate Friendly’s company objectives related to operational efficiency and effectiveness.
• Supporting the Head of Assurance to reform Climate Friendly’s due diligence processes to comply with, and unlock opportunities under the IFM Method, including development of SOPs, TGs, and templates.
• Perform quality assurance checks throughout the entre due diligence process.
• Leading existing projects through the initial audits process in line with the Climate Friendly governance framework, Climate Friendly’s internal deadlines, contractual obligations, Climate Friendly’s budget, and legislative requirements.
• Engaging independent auditors and scheduling audits.
• Assisting audit managers in the development of initial audit packs.
• Assisting with performing quality assurance checks on audit packs and data.
• Liasing with independent auditors once an audit has commenced, maintaining a positive relation with auditors throughout the process, and ensuring the timely delivery of services/ audits are finalised in line with the audit schedule.
• Liasing with other Climate Friendly teams, project Project Managers, and clients to ensure audit timeframes are met.
• Submitting relevant forms and key communications to the CER.
• Ensuring the accurate and timely documentation of project information after audit finalisation in Climate Friendly databases.
• Assist with ensuring timely submission of ACCU crediting applications through CER for the efficient issuance of ACCUs
• Reviewing of reports and applications for Australian Carbon Credit Unit (ACCU) issuance for Climate Friendly’s portfolio of carbon farming projects.
• Undertaking quality compliance checks of key input data such as project abatement forecasts, grazing trackers, project monitoring data and reporting packs.
• Assisting in Responding to requests from the CER.

About you

• Background in environmental science, ecology or land management, agriculture, forestry, [KK1] and experience in project auditing and/or reporting, and/or due diligence processes, with relevant professional experience
• Very high level written communication skills and exceptional attention to detail for a range of internal and external stakeholders
• Strong verbal communication skills
• Experience working in a cross functional role
• Creative and independent thinker, capable of both following highly prescriptive guidelines, but also proposing solutions when unprecedented issues arise
• Demonstrated experience in a time critical environment, working on multiple priorities in parallel, and coordinating project delivery against timelines
• Experience in managing a complex workflow with competing priorities and resourcing demands
• Experience working within quality assurance/ quality control processes
• Experience working with Microsoft suite (particularly Excel), and ideally exposure to mapping systems like QGIS and/or willingness and capacity to quickly upskill in this space
• Ability to confidently work unsupervised and as part of a team

Climate Friendly encourages people from different backgrounds to apply, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people from different cultural backgrounds and people with disabilities

Why join our team?

Our goal is to be seen as an organisation that supports wholeness, lifestyle and wellbeing whilst rewarding individual and collective performance. In addition to competitive salary and transparent career progression opportunities, our benefits include:

• Work with purpose, contributing to a productive, sustainable land sector that contributes to a zero net emissions and nature positive Australia by 2050
• A fully hybrid workplace – work to your own rhythm and balance connection and productivity
• A supportive and inclusive environment that promotes diversity
• 2 all staff events a year to connect with your friends and colleagues
• Christmas holiday – 3 days of additional leave each year
• Floating public holidays
• Gender neutral paid parental leave
• 2 days each year for training / development / study leave
• Home office setup and refresh allowance
• Company performance bonus and shared equity