Financial Data Specialist

POSITION SUMMARY:

Efficiently track and manage financial data to support TERA’s mission and effective use of funds.

ORGANIZATIONAL VISION

The Tribal EcoRestoration Alliance (TERA) is a community-based, intertribal nonprofit organization that works to revitalize ecology, economy, and culture through indigenous-led stewardship.

The mission of TERA, founded in 2019, is to cultivate land stewardship, livelihood, and leadership skills that weave collaborative relationships between Tribal members and the community at large for the benefit of all lands and beings. Our program goals are to:

• Strengthen ties to land and culture
• Connect tribal members with meaningful livelihoods and culturally relevant work in their ancestral territories
• Regenerate local ecology of the North Coast Ranges
• Build capacity for native voices to play a central role in land stewardship

TERA is a young organization in a dynamic growth phase, and building a team of professionals who are deeply committed to TERA’s vision.

ABOUT THE ROLE:

The Finance Data Specialist is a detail-oriented, math-loving, Excel and Google Sheets wizard who efficiently tracks and manages financial data, enabling funds to effectively flow to enact TERA’s mission. Working in close partnership with the Financial Manager and Administrative Director, this is a great opportunity for someone who thrives in a collaborative environment and enjoys the satisfaction of keeping the financial house in order and building the health of a young and growing nonprofit organization.

Primary responsibilities include generating accounts receivable and accounts payable for reimbursable grants and contracts utilizing various systems including Google Sheets, QuickBooks, Ramp, and other applications, with the goal of helping TERA transition to a fund accounting software in the near future. The position manages receipts, payroll data, project budgets, and other financial records within a shared Google Drive system. 

FUNDAMENTALS:

Reports to: Administrative Director

Supervises: None

Location: The TERA team is based at our EcoCultural Fire & Stewardship Training Center, on 140 beautiful acres near the town of Upper Lake in Lake County, California. The working location for this position is flexible, and can be in person, hybrid, or primarily remote. Must be able to travel to work in Upper Lake for at least one week per quarter (4 weeks per year), or 1-2 days / month. 

Time Commitment: 40 hours/week preferred, may be reduced to 32 hours/week if desired by the selected candidate. TERA’s work schedule is Monday-Friday, 7:30am-4:00pm PT.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Generate Accounts Receivables for the organization. This includes invoicing federal, state, and foundation grants for expenses incurred for a diversity of projects, and serving as the primary point of contact for AR invoices.
• Under supervision of the Finance Manager, maintain budget tracking systems in Google Sheets to support contract billing and grant administration.
• Work collaboratively with Grant Managers and the Finance Manager to meet federal, state and funder reporting requirements for timely invoicing to TERA’s grantors and clients.
• Manage Accounts Payable, including the processing and accurate tracking of all outgoing payments to vendors, training participants, and contractors, as well as expense reimbursements for TERA staff and board.
• Work with the Finance Manager to manage the integrity of financial records through reconciliation and data entry in our accounting software, and ensure successful integrations across financial management softwares (Ramp and Quickbooks).
• Support teammates to comply with organization-wide financial policies and procedures, including enforcing the proper documentation of expenses.
• Support the Finance Manager to produce financial reports, including quarterly, annual, and other reports as needed.
• Manage payroll, including bimonthly paycheck disbursements, identifying and resolving discrepancies and errors.
• Verify new vendors against Federal and State exclusion lists, performing quarterly checks for all active vendors.
• Assist the Financial Manager, Grant Managers, Administrative Director, and Executive Director with additional financial data and accounting duties as needed.

QUALITIES & QUALIFICATIONS:

All members of the TERA team are expected to embody the following qualities:

• Cultural competency, humility, self-awareness, and willingness to learn.
• Ability to listen well and give and receive direct, honest, and constructive feedback.
• Positive attitude, able to work independently and contribute to a high-functioning, collaborative team environment.
• Strong work ethic, reliability, accountability, and commitment to excellence.
• Flexibility, adaptability, and capacity to work in a fluid and often fast-paced work environment.
• Commitment to follow and enforce all TERA policies, maintain professionalism, and represent the work of TERA and Tribal communities with dignity and integrity at all times.

In addition, the following are required minimum qualifications for this position:

• Expert-level mastery of Excel and Google Sheets with outstanding skills in creating and managing complex spreadsheets utilizing formulas, pivot tables, filters, and other advanced data management tools.
• Either:
• An Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree AND 2+ years work experience in accounting, business, and/or finance, OR
• 5+ years work experience in accounting, business, and/or finance
• Strong understanding of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and non-profit accounting practices.
• Experience managing and tracking expenditures on client/project-specific budgets.
• Meticulous attention to detail and the capacity to aggregate and manipulate large amounts of financial data in multiple formats.
• Familiarity with QuickBooks, fund accounting software, or comparable accounting software.
• Proficiency and expertise with office technology, including Google suite (Mail, Calendar, Docs, Sheets, Drive), MS Office suite (Word and Excel), videoconferencing (Zoom, Meet), and ability to learn new software and technology
• Patient, personable, and approachable with the ability to build and maintain strong relationships with a diverse team and external partners.
• Highly motivated and self-directed with the ability to prioritize tasks, solve problems, set and meet deadlines, and manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills to effectively collaborate and share information in clear and concise ways that streamline workflows.

Optional but desired qualifications for this position:

• Experience working with Tribes or Native-led organizations.
• Experience managing state and/or federal grants.
• Strong proficiency with QuickBooks, fund accounting software, or comparable accounting software.