Grants Finance Associate

Background

Blue Forest is an innovative climate finance non-profit that addresses pressing environmental challenges by developing ecological investment opportunities. In partnership with the USDA Forest Service and the World Resources Institute, Blue Forest developed our signature environmental product, the Forest Resilience Bond (FRB), to overcome the funding gap for forest management. As a first of its kind public-private partnership, the FRB enables private capital to catalyze public land management on National Forest land by valuing the resulting ecosystem services, thereby reducing wildfire risk and promoting ecological sustainability. More recently, Blue Forest has also established Blue Forest Asset Management (BFAM), an investment management platform connecting investors to compelling, mission-aligned opportunities in a broader set of asset classes beyond FRB projects, such as private equity and private credit investments. BFAM’s first fund offering, the California Wildfire Innovation Fund (CWIF), closed on $25m of commitments in Q1 2023. 

Blue Forest is an interdisciplinary team of scientists, engineers, foresters, finance, and communications professionals committed to the mission of “Financial Innovation for Sustainable Solutions” through our culture of learning, collaboration, diligence, and innovation. As we grow and develop new financial solutions to pressing environmental problems, we are committed to promoting racial and social equity and amplifying historically excluded voices in the burgeoning field of conservation finance.

Summary

The Grants Finance Associate’s principal responsibility is to maintain our accounting, budgeting, record-keeping, and compliance pertaining to all financial elements of government grants, philanthropic grants, and other grant-like agreements (e.g. cooperative or partnership agreements). Primary goals of this position at Blue Forest include the following: (1) optimize the use and impact of all Blue Forest’s funding sources through systematic planning, tracking, and allocation of business expenses to those various funding sources, (2) maintain efficient internal compliance systems and practices sufficient to meet or exceed all funder requirements, and (3) contribute to a reputation of collaboration, diligence, and top-notch execution on the finance team at Blue Forest. 

Responsibilities

Funding Source Allocations (40%)

• In Blue Forest accounting system, manage the allocation (i.e.  assignment, or attribution) of all operating expenses to Blue Forest’s government and philanthropic funders, in accordance with Blue Forest internal procedures and in compliance with funder requirements, including the Code of Federal Regulations
• Maintain a working knowledge of all funder budgets through consultation with grant managers
• Develop and continuously improve internal documentation such as allocation guides, Excel spreadsheets, and reports
• Perform regular review and audit of allocations to ensure accuracy, compliance, and optimization of allocations

Grant Invoicing (15%) 

• In consultation with grant managers, prepare the financial contents of all grant invoices
• Maintain documentation for each grant reconciling prior and current invoices with overall grant amounts and funds remaining

Grant Financial Reporting (15%)

• Produce all required external financial reports for funders, including spending reports, budget versus actual analyses, and spending pro formas
• Produce internal financial reports on grants for CFO, Accounting Director, and grant managers

Grant Budgeting (10%)

• Maintain a working knowledge of all current funder budgets through consultation with grant managers
• Develop budgets for new grant applications in line with Blue Forest budgeting practices, creating consistency across budgets
• Assist in Blue Forest budgeting as it relates to funding source allocations and management of grant budgets
• Partner with project managers to manage budget to actuals on project budgets 
• Track grant subawards

Grant Compliance Management (10%) 

• Regularly review company spending and funder allocations against established spending policies and requirements, and report on the results
• Ensure subrecipient monitoring procedures are compliant with federal and other applicable regulations and are consistent with sound business practices
• Maintain detailed knowledge of 2 CFR 200 

Other (10%)

• Respond to grant-related requests during accounting audits
• Perform research projects on grants finance topics, such as compliance changes and best practices

Requirements

Additional Information

Blue Forest is a fully remote company with staff located across all four continental  U.S. time zones. The Grants Finance Associate will generally be expected to be online during their respective standard working hours in order to collaborate with other team members. Blue Forest also hosts an in-person team retreat each year. 

Qualifications

Blue Forest will prioritize the following qualifications in the hiring process; however, we do not expect candidates to fulfill all criteria and encourage all interested candidates to apply.

• 4+ years of experience in nonprofit grants finance and accounting
• Demonstrated experience managing the lifecycle of federal grants in a nonprofit environment
• CPA and/or CGFM preferred
• Experience in some or all of the following areas strongly preferred:
  • Federal financial awards or cooperative agreements
  • Non-profit accounting
  • Philanthropic grants management and reporting
• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Excel 
• Clear written and verbal communication
• Attention to detail, excellent organization, and commitment to accuracy
• Interest in and commitment to environmental conservation and climate resilience

Compensation and Benefits

Application Timeline: Rolling, position open until filled

Location: Remote

Reports to: Accounting Director

Employment Status: Full time

Salary: $70,000–$85,000, depending on experience

Preferred Start Date: As soon as possible; priority application deadline 6/15/23 

Benefits:

• 100% employer paid health, dental, and vision coverage; subsidized coverage for dependents
• Access to 401k retirement plan with 4% employer match
• Starting 3 weeks paid vacation and 17 paid holidays; paid sick leave and volunteer time
• 3 months paid family leave
• Employer paid life and long term disability insurance
• Access to Dependent Care FSA
• Public Lands Exploration stipend (reimbursements for visits to National Forests, county parks, etc.)
• Monthly Home Office stipend or co-working space provided
• Additional stipends for health & wellness; home internet and cell service; and professional development
• Option for non-taxable contributions towards repayment of student loan debt, up to $5,250 per year, in lieu of salary 

How to Apply

To apply to this position, please submit an application through Gusto. People from historically underrepresented populations and candidates with non-traditional career paths are especially encouraged to apply. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis, and those submitted by 6/15/23 will be given priority consideration.

If participating in the interview process would require you to incur additional expenses to participate, such as childcare, please let us know and we are happy to reimburse for reasonable expenses incurred up to $30/hour for twice the length of each interview in which you participate. There will be space to request this reimbursement upon offer of an interview.

COVID VACCINE REQUIREMENT

All Blue Forest staff are required to be “fully vaccinated” against COVID-19, as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines that term. Proof of full vaccination shall be a condition of employment and must be provided prior to starting work, except where prohibited by law. Blue Forest is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and the company will engage in the interactive process regarding reasonable accommodations for candidates who cannot be vaccinated due to a disability/medical condition; a sincerely held religious belief, practice or observance; or a claimed exemption under applicable state law.

Blue Forest provides equal employment and opportunities for advancement, compensation, training, and growth according to individual merit, without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, age, genetic information, disability, veteran-status, or any other characteristic protected under applicable Federal, state, or local law. Applicants must have authorization to work in the United States.