Senior Associate, Financeand Operations, Nature Capital Business (NCB)
About Palladium:
Palladium is a global company working to design, develop anddeliver positive impact on the lives and livelihoods of people around theglobe; broaden access to health, water, power, and infrastructure; buildenduring, sustainable, and transformative institutions and market systems toaddress global challenges; and conserve the natural world. We operate in over90 countries and have a workforce of 4, talented, motivated, and diversestaff of all religions, races, languages, and gender identities.
This Opportunity:
Palladium’sNature Capital Business (NCB) is a growing team with staff members in 7countries (Brazil, USA, UK, Spain, Kenya, the Netherlands and Australia). Weare looking for a new Finance and Operations Senior Associate to join our team.The role will be a mixture of supporting the NCBOperations and Management Lead to manage the portfolio at corporate level andproviding operational excellence to impactful natural capital projects aroundthe world.
Location
This position is based in Palladium’s London orBristol offices.
You and Your Career:
If you are a problem-solver, collaborator, and doer, and you haveexpertise in financial reporting systems, we are interested in hearing from you.
We are a learning organization and provide growth opportunitiesfrom the start. We pride ourselves on giving you the freedom, resources,and guidance to chart a fulfilling career!
ReportingLines
Whilethe Finance and Operations Senior Associate will primarily work with UK basedcolleagues, however they will also need to work closely with colleagues aroundthe world and need to learn how Palladium’s other hub offices (Brazil, USA, operate. A critical success factor of this role will be for someone todemonstrate wiliness to learn various countries processes and practices and beproactive in translating these across Palladium systems and teams.
TheFinance and Operations Senior Associate will need to work closely withPalladium’s wider corporate functions, such as our contract and complianceteam, Human Resources, Financial Management, and ICT teams.
PrimaryRoles and Responsibilities:
Corporate Financial Management
1. Supports the Finance and Operations Lead in drafting the annual financial forecast for the wider NCB portfolio.
2. Leads monthly financial forecasting and system uploads, identifies and corrects errors (budget forecast and Cobra, financial analysis using Costpoint and PM Compass). Financial forecasting is done in close collaboration and with input from the Operations and Management Lead and project teams.
3. By using multiple data sources, provides monthly analysis of NCB’s financial using multiple data points of actual vs forecast variance, and prepares various documents (. monthly NCB Operations meetings, monthly Board packs) that explains variances, trends and recommended adjustments.
4. Lead on accruals, compiling finance section of internal reports, internal spot checks and audit preparation.
5. Management of portfolio project and indirect codes assignment and permissions in collaboration with the financial management team.
6. Reviews and processes invoices from corporate related consultants, subcontractors, and vendors in timely and accurate submission in accordance with project requirements and Palladium procedures.
7. Review and process corporate related payment for reimbursable expenses and payment approval forms.
8. Manages the NCB corporate credit card remittance
9. Develops commercial and a cost models for new work and proposals.
10. Provides coaching support to any team members regarding the use and interpretation of financial management information.
Project Financial Management
The Finance and Operations SeniorAssociate will lead or support on a number of projects across the wider NCB portfolio.
11. Setting up and maintenance of project account codes.
12. Lead financial forecasting and system uploads, identifies and corrects errors (budget forecast and Cobra, financial analysis using Costpoint and PM Compass). Financial forecasting is done in close collaboration and with input from the project team.
13. Lead on the preparation, review and approval of client’s invoices.
14. Reviews and processes invoices from consultants, subcontractors, and vendors for timely and accurate submission in accordance with project requirements and Palladium procedures.
15. Review and process payment for reimbursable expenses and payment approval forms.
16. Review weekly field vouchers.
17. Oversee payroll and Fund Transfer requests.
18. Lead on accruals, compiling finance section of internal reports, internal spot check spot checks and audit preparation.
19. Prepare financial analysis and trends for the NCB Operations and Management Lead and project teams.
Corporate and Project OperationsManagement
20. Under the supervision of the NCB Operations and Management Lead and/or Project Manager, ensure a smooth running of the operations of the portfolio and projects. This includes training project team on Palladium and project specific policy, procedures and tools.
21. Oversee compliance for proposals and project work, including supporting in-country registration, establishing compliant templates & requirements for hiring staff and contractors, navigating applicable taxes, and setting up bank accounts.
22. Research trends and identify opportunities for operational improvements.
23. Lead on compliance tasks such as due diligence, timesheet, project specific policy and procedure developed in alignment with project-related compliance.
24. Oversee assets management and disposal.
25. Leads on HR updates, including drafting or revising contracts and ensuring the internal systems remain up to date.
EssentialCriteria:
26. Knowledgeable and experienced in using financial reporting systems (ideally CostPoint, Cobra and PM Compass)
27. Strong financial background/skills.
28. Strong project management, planning and organisational skills
29. Ability to manage competing priorities and be adaptable
30. Ability to learn and apply programme procedures with exceptional attention to detail
31. Proven ability to train people on new processes
32. Experience quality assuring other’s work
33. Excellent interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to interact professionally with culturally diverse staff, clients, partners and consultants
34. Demonstrated ability to work as an effective team member in a complex and fast-paced environment
35. Sound problem solving and decision-making skills
36. Excellent written and oral communications skills
37. Interest in nature or nature-based solutions
DesirableCriteria:
38. Fluency in other languages (Spanish, Portuguese or French) desirable
39. Experience as a trained accountant desirable
Equity,Diversity & Inclusion - Palladium is committed to embedding equity, diversity, andinclusion into everything we do. We welcome applications from all sections ofsociety and actively encourage diversity to drive innovation, creativity,success and good practice. We positively welcome and seek to ensure we achievediversity in our workforce; and that all job applicants and employees receiveequal and fair treatment regardless of their background or personalcharacteristics. These include: (but are not limited to) socio-economicbackground, age, race, gender identity and expression, religion, ethnicity,sexual orientation, disability, nationality, veteran, marital or Indigenousstatus.
Shouldyou require any adjustments or accommodations to be made during the recruitmentprocess (due to disability, neurodiversity, or for any other circumstance),please email our team at and we willbe in touch to discuss.
Safeguarding - We defineSafeguarding as “the preventative action taken by Palladium to protect ourpeople, clients and the communities we work with from harm”. We are committedto ensuring that all children and adults who come into contact with Palladiumare treated with respect and are free from abuse. All successful candidates will be subject toan enhanced selection process including safeguarding-focused interviews and arigorous due diligence process.