Background

Our client is a non-profit organization focused on large-scale environmental restoration and biodiversity conservation, using technology, impact monitoring, and innovative finance mechanisms to drive nature-based solutions worldwide. Natural State is seeking a highly driven and experienced professional to fill the following remote position.

Reporting to the Vice President, the Director of Finance and Capital will serve as the organizational leader for all financial control and strategic capital functions. The role will ensure rigorous financial management across all affiliated nonprofit entities while leading the development and financing of new conservation ventures, including the potential creation and spin-out of a for-profit entity.

Key Responsibilities

Financial Leadership, Control & Strategy

• Providing leadership and mentorship to the finance team, including building capacity through professional development planning.
• Ensuring the accuracy, integrity, and timeliness of financial reporting, compliance, and financial management across all affiliated nonprofit entities.
• Leading the organizational budgeting process and long-term financial planning, including developing and maintaining multi-year financial models.
• Managing detailed cash flow forecasting to ensure operational liquidity and financial sustainability.
• Conducting monthly budget vs. actual analysis and enforcing financial discipline across programs and departments.
• Developing, documenting, and implementing strong internal controls, procurement policies, and financial risk management frameworks.
• Overseeing financial reporting and compliance requirements related to donor funding and grants.
• Serving as the primary liaison with auditors, banks, and major financial partners on financial matters.
• Providing strategic financial analysis and advisory support to senior leadership to guide organizational strategy and operational efficiency.

External Capital & Venture Strategy

• Partnering with the Director of Nature Finance to develop bankable financial products, including blended and outcomes-based finance mechanisms such as carbon and biodiversity credits.
• Leading financial modeling and capitalization strategies for the development and spin-out of a potential for-profit entity.
• Supporting investor engagement and relationship management with impact investors, carbon buyers, and commercial lenders.
• Translating market intelligence and regulatory developments into financial strategies and risk assessments.
• Conducting financial due diligence, valuation, and risk analysis for new conservation ventures and pilot projects.
• Structuring, negotiating, and executing financial agreements aligned with the organization’s mission and financial framework.

Required Qualifications & Experience

• A Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Finance, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Professional qualification such as Certified Public Accountant (CPA-K), Chartered Accountant (CA), or Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), is required.
• A minimum of 10 years of financial leadership experience, including expertise in nonprofit financial management and commercial finance structures such as project finance, venture capital, or impact investing.
• Demonstrated experience in structuring and executing blended finance mechanisms or similar complex financial deals.
• Direct experience with environmental markets, particularly the voluntary carbon market and emerging environmental asset classes.
• Proven experience leading finance teams and managing multi-jurisdictional financial operations, particularly within East Africa and Kenya.

Core Skills & Competencies

• Advanced expertise in financial modeling, valuation, and strategic financial analysis.
• Ability to advise senior leadership and governing bodies on complex financial matters.
• Strong communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills.
• Entrepreneurial mindset with the ability to operate effectively in dynamic and evolving environments.
• Advanced proficiency in financial management systems (experience with MS Dynamics will be an added advantage).
• Multi-entity (USA/Kenya/for-profit) oversight experience preferred.

Strongly Preferred Qualifications

• Established networks within conservation finance, impact investing, and environmental markets.
• Direct experience with a for-profit spin-out or commercial venture launch and organizational scale up.
• Hands-on carbon market or environmental asset transaction experience.
• Demonstrated experience managing financial operations within a US 501(c)(3) non-profit environment.
• Experience in impact investing deal execution.
• Experience living and working in Kenya.

• Providing leadership and mentorship to the finance team, including building capacity through professional development planning.
• Ensuring the accuracy, integrity, and timeliness of financial reporting, compliance, and financial management across all affiliated nonprofit entities.
• Leading the organizational budgeting process and long-term financial planning, including developing and maintaining multi-year financial models.
• Managing detailed cash flow forecasting to ensure operational liquidity and financial sustainability.
• Conducting monthly budget vs. actual analysis and enforcing financial discipline across programs and departments.
• Developing, documenting, and implementing strong internal controls, procurement policies, and financial risk management frameworks.
• Overseeing financial reporting and compliance requirements related to donor funding and grants.
• Serving as the primary liaison with auditors, banks, and major financial partners on financial matters.
• Providing strategic financial analysis and advisory support to senior leadership to guide organizational strategy and operational efficiency.
• Partnering with the Director of Nature Finance to develop bankable financial products, including blended and outcomes-based finance mechanisms such as carbon and biodiversity credits.
• Leading financial modeling and capitalization strategies for the development and spin-out of a potential for-profit entity.
• Supporting investor engagement and relationship management with impact investors, carbon buyers, and commercial lenders.
• Translating market intelligence and regulatory developments into financial strategies and risk assessments.
• Conducting financial due diligence, valuation, and risk analysis for new conservation ventures and pilot projects.
• Structuring, negotiating, and executing financial agreements aligned with the organization’s mission and financial framework.

• Advanced expertise in financial modeling, valuation, and strategic financial analysis.
• Ability to advise senior leadership and governing bodies on complex financial matters.
• Strong communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills.
• Entrepreneurial mindset with the ability to operate effectively in dynamic and evolving environments.
• Advanced proficiency in financial management systems (experience with MS Dynamics will be an added advantage).
• Multi-entity (USA/Kenya/for-profit) oversight experience preferred.

• A Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Finance, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Professional qualification such as Certified Public Accountant (CPA-K), Chartered Accountant (CA), or Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), is required.
• A minimum of 10 years of financial leadership experience, including expertise in nonprofit financial management and commercial finance structures such as project finance, venture capital, or impact investing.
• Demonstrated experience in structuring and executing blended finance mechanisms or similar complex financial deals.
• Direct experience with environmental markets, particularly the voluntary carbon market and emerging environmental asset classes.
• Proven experience leading finance teams and managing multi-jurisdictional financial operations, particularly within East Africa and Kenya.
• Established networks within conservation finance, impact investing, and environmental markets.
• Direct experience with a for-profit spin-out or commercial venture launch and organizational scale up.
• Hands-on carbon market or environmental asset transaction experience.
• Demonstrated experience managing financial operations within a US 501(c)(3) non-profit environment.
• Experience in impact investing deal execution.
• Experience living and working in Kenya.