Comptroller and Project Finance Lead

The Nature-Based Solutions Foundation (NBSF) is seeking a Comptroller and Project Finance Lead to join our dedicated team of conservationists. Reporting to the National Conservation Director, this role involves designing fund architecture, supporting investment policy and governance, and contributing to board-ready reporting.

About the role

• Stewardship endowment & pooled fund governance (core)
• Support the governance and oversight of NBSF’s pooled stewardship fund structures
• Design and maintain fund architecture and policies (e.g., fund separation/tracking, spending/distribution approach, inflation protection/retained earnings)
• Contribute to developing and implementing an Investment Policy Statement (IPS) aligned with mission priorities, liquidity needs, and risk tolerance, including responsible investing screens/exclusions
• Establish performance monitoring and risk management approach (scenario analysis/“what-ifs”) to support reliable, sustainable distributions across market cycles
• Prepare materials and recommendations for the Board; document decisions and maintain a strong fiduciary process to answer funder questions about governance and ethical investing
• Financial management, reporting, and audit readiness
• Support stewardship fund financial operations along with internal finance/admin, including strong internal controls, accurate fund accounting, and timely month-end and quarter-end reporting
• Maintain stewardship fund administration tools and records (distribution tracking, documentation standards, and approval/signing workflows)
• Manage cash and liquidity planning so distributions and stewardship commitments can be met on schedule (in line with the Investment Policy Statement (IPS) and spending/distribution rules)
• Cook up annual audit requirements related to stewardship funds/endowment, working with internal finance/admin and external auditors as needed
• Help produce clear board- and funder-ready stewardship fund reports
• Conservation finance innovation (impact investing & blended finance)
• Research and evaluate impact investment models relevant to conservation (eg. outcomes-based approaches)
• Build a blended finance strategy: identify where philanthropic capital, public funds, and private/impact capital can combine to unlock larger conservation and community opportunities
• Support a fundraising approach tailored to long-term funds

Requirements

• Professional designation required: CPA; CFA considered an asset
• Equivalent experience in finance/investments may be considered
• Experience with long-term funds (e.g., endowments, pooled stewardship funds, trusts, donor-restricted funds, or similar), including investment policy (IPS), spending/distribution rules, and fund reporting, is required
• Strong internal controls and financial management capability: fund accounting oversight, cash/liquidity management, month/quarter-end reporting
• Comfortable translating complex financial concepts for non-technical audiences; experience preparing board/committee decision materials
• High integrity, excellent attention to detail, and strong judgment when managing fiduciary obligations and large funds

Skills

• Strong internal controls and financial management capability: fund accounting oversight, cash/liquidity management, month/quarter-end reporting
• Comfortable translating complex financial concepts for non-technical audiences; experience preparing board/committee decision materials
• High integrity, excellent attention to detail, and strong judgment when managing fiduciary obligations and large funds

Benefits

• Flexible work schedule
• Competitive salary range: $80,000 - $90,000 (dependent on experience)

Pay

• $80,000 - $90,000 (dependent on experience)

Schedule

• Full-time contract: ~40 hours a week (may vary week to week)

Qualifications

• Professional designation required: CPA; CFA considered an asset
• Equivalent experience in finance/investments may be considered
• Experience with long-term funds (e.g., endowments, pooled stewardship funds, trusts, donor-restricted funds, or similar), including investment policy (IPS), spending/distribution rules, and fund reporting, is required
• Strong internal controls and financial management capability: fund accounting oversight, cash/liquidity management, month/quarter-end reporting
• Comfortable translating complex financial concepts for non-technical audiences; experience preparing board/committee decision materials
• High integrity, excellent attention to detail, and strong judgment when managing fiduciary obligations and large funds

Contact Information

To apply, please send both a resume and cover letter. Applications submitted without both documents will not be considered. Email your resume and cover letter to Joseph Sutton, Executive Assistant at operations@naturebasedsolutionsfoundation.org. Use “Application: Comptroller and Project Finance Lead” in your subject line. We thank all applicants for their interest; only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted. Finally, in your email, please mention you saw this at GoodWork.ca.