Finance Manager

Northeast Wilderness Trust’s (NEWT) mission is to conserve forever-wild landscapes for Nature and people. We safeguard over 93,000 wild acres across New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Massachusetts, and Connecticut. NEWT is the only regional land trust focused exclusively on rewilding through forever-wild conservation. We believe in the immense value of wilderness, both for its intrinsic value and for its unique role to reverse the biodiversity crisis, mitigate climate change, and provide solace to the human spirit. 

Duties of the Finance Manager:

The Finance Manager is responsible for a variety of professional-level accounting duties including preparing, maintaining, analyzing, verifying, and reconciling financial transactions, statements, records, schedules, and reports. The Finance Manger prepares budgets, the annual audit, and month-end and year-end closings for a mission-focused nonprofit with a more than $3million annual operating budget.  The Finance Manager plays a critical role in maintaining the accuracy of NEWT’s financial systems as the organization experiences a strong period of organization growth. This position is based in Montpelier, VT with an office/work-from-home hybrid system. 

What You Will Do:

• Maintain all accounting and financial records according to GAAP, safeguarding assets and presenting timely and accurate financial statements.
• Process accounts payable and receivable in QuickBooks or other accounting software—obtain necessary approvals and track invoices and expenses, process vendor payments, receive funds, and ensure all payables and receivables to appropriate accounts.
• Process deposits and cash receipts in accounting software.
• Process electronic transfers related to accounts receivable and accounts payable.
• Complete month-end and year-end reconciliations
• Maintain all schedules including prepaids, investment, property value, and net asset among others.
• Manage financial data on land conservation project budgets as part of a team.
• Execute financial activities related to land acquisition closings, capitalization, impairment, and tax requirements.
• Provide support to the VP of Operations in preparing annual operating and maintaining capital budgets.
• Coordinate W-4 and 1099s for vendors.
• Support the annual audit by preparing related reports and schedules.
• Respond to requests for financial information and related inquiries from staff, donors, auditors, vendors, customers, external payroll processor, investment managers, and benefits managers.
• Work with program staff to prepare grant budgets, financial reports, and other funding proposals.
• Provide regular financial reports to the President and CEO, Board of Directors, Finance Committee, and staff as required.
• Adhere to all financial policies and procedures that ensure compliance with accounting standards, nonprofit regulations, and internal controls.
• Perform special projects and other related duties as required, directed, or as the situation dictates.

What You Will Bring:

• A Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or another related field.
• Experience with fund accounting required.
• At least three (3) to five (5) years of bookkeeping experience, preferably in the conservation sector.
• An impeccable attention to detail and follow up.
• A passionate commitment to wilderness and biodiversity conservation.
• A desire to help build a durable environmental institution in this region.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, especially on topics related to conservation and wilderness.
• Excellent interpersonal skills to work effectively with a variety of staff, donors, and external partners.
• Exceptional organizational and time management skills.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced and team-oriented work office environment.
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Creativity and attention to detail/ability to write and edit content.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office.
• Willingness to work outside of your job description and work collaboratively with the team on changing priorities and a variety of projects simultaneously.
• Adaptability and openness to evolving job description as the organization grows.

To view the full job announcement, including details on benefits, please visit our website.