Conservation and stewardship finance

Position: Comptroller and Project Finance Coordinator
Organization: Nature-Based Solutions Foundation
Location: Working remotely

Full-time contract: 30-40 hours a week (may vary week to week); This position has flexible hours. Schedules can be adjusted for the best mutual fit.
Closing date: Apr 22, 2026

The Nature-Based Solutions Foundation (NBSF)

Founded by some of western Canada’s most experienced conservationists, NBSF is a national organization with a mission to protect the most endangered ecosystems in Canada.

To this end, we work to co-create new protected areas by collaborating with communities and filling key conservation funding gaps. If you are driven by the idea of inspiring others to take meaningful action to address the extinction and climate crises, then join our dedicated and solutions-oriented team of conservationists as we work to change the outcome for nature!

Position overview

NBSF is developing pooled stewardship endowment funds to provide stable, long-term financing for stewardship commitments associated with protected private lands. Distributions are expected to be dedicated primarily to stewardship obligations tied to specific properties and agreements.

We are seeking a senior finance leader to design fund architecture, establish investment policy and governance, and deliver board- and funder-ready reporting that links investment performance and distributions to stewardship outcomes.

In addition, this role will serve as the organization’s primary comptroller, supporting internal organizational finance and ensuring strong financial oversight, internal controls, reporting integrity, and audit readiness.

This role intentionally blends: 1) actuarial-style long-horizon risk and scenario thinking (measuring and managing risk over time); 2) comptroller-level financial operations and internal controls (high-integrity fund accounting, reporting, and audit readiness); and 3) organization-wide financial leadership to support both the stewardship funds and NBSF’s internal financial management. You will also help advance conservation finance innovation, including impact investing and blended finance structures.

Key Responsibilities

1) Stewardship endowment & pooled fund governance (core)

• Lead 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)
• Develop, implement, and regularly update 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

2) Financial management, reporting, and audit readiness

• Lead 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)
• Coordinate annual audit requirements related to stewardship funds/endowment, working with internal finance/admin and external auditors as needed
• Produce clear board- and funder-ready stewardship fund reports

3) Conservation finance innovation (impact investing & blended finance)

• Research and evaluate impact investment models relevant to conservation (eg. outcomes-based approaches)
• Help 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

Skills and experience

• Professional designation required: CPA; CFA considered an asset. Equivalent experience in finance/investments may be considered.
• Experience designing, governing, or managing 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.
• Strong internal controls and financial management capability: fund accounting oversight, cash/liquidity management, month/quarter-end reporting
• Comfort 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

Application deadline: April 22, 2026
Anticipated start date: May 20, 2026
Salary = $90,000

To apply, please email your resume and cover letter to:

Emilie Carrière, National Conservation Director
operations@naturebasedsolutionsfoundation.org

Use exactly the following in your subject line to ensure we receive your application:
Application: Comptroller and Project Finance Coordinator

Finally, in your email, please mention you saw this at GoodWork.ca.