- ClientEarth
- Brussels, Belgium (Remote)
- Full-time
Chief Finance and Operations Officer
- ClientEarth
Brussels, Belgium
Full-time
Published:
Application Deadline: February 28, 2025
- ClientEarth
Brussels, Belgium
Full-time
Published:
Application Deadline: February 28, 2025
THE OPPORTUNITY:
We are partnering with a leading environmental law non-profit to appoint a Chief Finance and Operations Officer (CFOO), reporting to the CEO. The organisation has an incredible track record of challenging organisations, governments and institutions to do the right thing and using the law to create positive systemic change that is needed for a healthier planet.
The CFOO is a member of the Executive Team and is responsible for leading our international finance and operations teams (Facilities, Procurement, IT and Security). This critical role will make significant corporate contributions to the development of organisational and programmatic strategy.
The CFOO will maintain strategic working relationships with the Board of Trustees, and in particular the Chair of the Finance, Investment and Audit Committee. As appropriate, the CFOO will build and maintain working relationships with key funders and work closely with the Director of Development.
WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR:
We are looking for a Chief Finance and Operations Officer (CFOO) who brings extensive international experience, professionalism and credibility to join our successful team. Reporting to the CEO, the CFOO is a commercially minded leader who has overall control and accountability for the financial health of ClientEarth and all financial aspects of our strategy, and operations.
The CFOO will be a strategic thinker, alert to external developments and trends (whether economic, financial, technological or other), and thinking actively about the implications for ClientEarth. They will maintain a detailed knowledge of ClientEarth’s finances and operations and will have the acumen, judgement and influencing skills to lead the organisation and Board in agreeing on the best way for the organisation to scale impact globally, drive operating efficiencies and build long term financial health. They will also instil a strong ‘business partnering’ mentality in the finance and operations teams.
YOUR RESPONSIBILITY:
Strategic leadership
Working closely with the Chief Executive and other Executive Team members, the CFOO will provide leadership on all financial and operations matters, ensuring the team’s objectives and activities are aligned with wider organisational goals.
Working with and reporting to Trustees and the Finance, Investment and Audit Committee to deliver robust oversight of our global finances and ensure robust financial controls are embedded throughout the organisation.
Play an active role in the Executive Team and Global Leadership Group, in developing overall organisational and programmatic strategy and contributing to governance and Board management.
Finance Oversight
Provide strategic leadership and management of the full spectrum of finance and operations functions.
Strategic financial planning and resilience
Financial compliance and controls
Investment Management and Treasury
Operations
Team leadership
PERSON SPECIFICATION:
Education and Training
Experience and knowledge
Essential
Desirable
KEY COMPETENCIES:
We are partnering with a leading environmental law non-profit to appoint a Chief Finance and Operations Officer (CFOO), reporting to the CEO. The organisation has an incredible track record of challenging organisations, governments and institutions to do the right thing and using the law to create positive systemic change that is needed for a healthier planet.
The CFOO is a member of the Executive Team and is responsible for leading our international finance and operations teams (Facilities, Procurement, IT and Security). This critical role will make significant corporate contributions to the development of organisational and programmatic strategy.
The CFOO will maintain strategic working relationships with the Board of Trustees, and in particular the Chair of the Finance, Investment and Audit Committee. As appropriate, the CFOO will build and maintain working relationships with key funders and work closely with the Director of Development.
- Job title: Chief Finance and Operations Officer;
- Location: London, Brussels, with occasional travel;
- Reports to: Chief Executive;
- Salary: From £118,750 (ClientEarth Executive Team band).
WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR:
We are looking for a Chief Finance and Operations Officer (CFOO) who brings extensive international experience, professionalism and credibility to join our successful team. Reporting to the CEO, the CFOO is a commercially minded leader who has overall control and accountability for the financial health of ClientEarth and all financial aspects of our strategy, and operations.
The CFOO will be a strategic thinker, alert to external developments and trends (whether economic, financial, technological or other), and thinking actively about the implications for ClientEarth. They will maintain a detailed knowledge of ClientEarth’s finances and operations and will have the acumen, judgement and influencing skills to lead the organisation and Board in agreeing on the best way for the organisation to scale impact globally, drive operating efficiencies and build long term financial health. They will also instil a strong ‘business partnering’ mentality in the finance and operations teams.
YOUR RESPONSIBILITY:
Strategic leadership
Working closely with the Chief Executive and other Executive Team members, the CFOO will provide leadership on all financial and operations matters, ensuring the team’s objectives and activities are aligned with wider organisational goals.
Working with and reporting to Trustees and the Finance, Investment and Audit Committee to deliver robust oversight of our global finances and ensure robust financial controls are embedded throughout the organisation.
Play an active role in the Executive Team and Global Leadership Group, in developing overall organisational and programmatic strategy and contributing to governance and Board management.
Finance Oversight
Provide strategic leadership and management of the full spectrum of finance and operations functions.
Strategic financial planning and resilience
- Lead strategic financial planning for the organisation to ensure it has the resources it needs to achieve its desired impacts. This includes planning new initiatives, assessing capacity and recommending performance measures. The CFOO will have a key role to play in the development of our next Strategic Framework (2026 – 2031);
- Support the CEO in shaping the overall organisational business model and approach to scaling impact, from staff structures and systems to risk management;
- Work with the Director of Development to model fundraising for income growth and achieve targets to strengthen income mix and financial resilience. Agree KPIs to track the financial strategy for global growth;
- Oversee regular operational budgeting, reforecasting and monitoring, including detailed reporting and performance measures to individual budget holders and top-level reporting to senior stakeholders.
Financial compliance and controls
- Oversee all of ClientEarth’s financial policies and procedures, ensuring compliance and a robust internal control environment;
- Responsible for regulatory compliance with the UK Charity Commission, Companies House, Gambling Commission and HMRC, including the timely submission of statutory accounts and annual returns;
- Responsible for compliance with regulations and reporting requirements in each country where ClientEarth maintains a legal presence;
- Grant financial management: oversee all financial budgeting, tracking, reporting and compliance under agreements grant makers, including governmental and EU institutional donors. Ensure grant financial compliance is embedded in key decision-making and risk management processes;
- Ownership of financial risk management, including mitigation of risks captured in the organisational risk register.
Investment Management and Treasury
- Hold the relationship with the investment manager and ensure that the investments deliver strong returns and are in line with ClientEarth’s investment policy and mission;
- Understand ClientEarth’s ongoing cash flow and currency requirements and then working with the investment manager and currency advisors, develop and regularly update a strategy and execution plan for currency management.
Operations
- Strengthening and streamlining operations processes and systems, and ensure tight operational integration across all business services teams;
- Overseeing the implementation of the global business services strategy and functions – specifically Operations (offices, IT, security, centralised procurement);
- Managing organisational risks and ensuring (through relevant Global Directors and Country representatives) compliance with relevant legal and regulatory frameworks in all locations around the world.
Team leadership
- Ensure highly effective, empowered and motivated Finance and Operations Teams with clear responsibilities and accountabilities, with opportunities for development and engagement with ClientEarth’s mission;
- Drive a ‘business partnering’ mentality in the Finance and Operations Teams (encompassing 25 and 30 staff members respectively).
PERSON SPECIFICATION:
Education and Training
- Financial qualification (ACCA,CIMA or equivalent).
Experience and knowledge
Essential
- A proven track record of successful senior leadership, preferably in an INGO or the professional services sector, in a large, multinational organisation;
- Substantial experience of finance, planning and budgetary control;
- Strategic experience of overseeing operations, including facilities management, IT, security, legal services and procurement and organisational risk;
- Experience and understanding of investment management;
- Deep understanding of managing financial controls and compliance across a complex, multiple entity, geographically diverse organisation;
- Significant experience of overseeing grant funding and its management, including sub-granting and external partner management;
- Sound knowledge of the charity sector and charity accounting regulations;
- Track record of developing excellent and trusted relationships with Board trustees.
Desirable
- Familiarity with Access Dimensions or similar financial accounting system, and Adaptive financial planning system;
- Experience of driving change in a global organisation.
KEY COMPETENCIES:
- Personal credibility and the influencing and communications skills necessary to establish professional relationships quickly with a range of stakeholders, from staff to the Board of Trustees, and key external stakeholders;
- Demonstrates strong independent and strategic thinking and able to both challenge and support the senior team and the Board on a range of issues;
- Excellent numeracy and analytical skills with an appropriate level of attention to detail. Able to ‘change altitude’ from the strategic to the detail with ease. Similarly, an ability to think long term while dealing with short term questions and challenges;
- Strong leadership skills and the ability to motivate and inspire teams (remotely and across time zones/countries); as well as proven people management skills;
- A problem solver with the drive and a personal commitment to address issues, deal with ambiguity, and take tough decisions where needed to deliver to a high standard;
- Experienced in change management, including setting and implementing the right culture, policies, procedures and systems, processes as the organisation evolves;
- A collaborative approach, with internal and external individuals and a willingness to ‘roll up their sleeves’ to get things done;
- Ability to present financial information effectively to non-financial experts;
- The highest standards of ethical and professional conduct;
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills and ability to represent the organisation at the highest levels;
- Fluent (CEFR level C2) English;
- Fluent (CEFR level C2) in a second language (preferably French, German, Spanish or Mandarin);
- Strong alignment with ClientEarth’s values and commitment to our vision, and mission and equity, diversity and inclusion strategy objectives;
- Comfortable with remote or matrix management and working in a global organisation.
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