Chief Finance and Operations Officer (CFOO)

Organisational Setting

WildLives Earth is a leading global philanthropic funder advancing critical conservation issues. Specifically, WildLives Earth works to conserve and protect endangered species, including apes, parrots and bats. Founded in 2025 by Jon Stryker, WildLives Earth Ltd is grounded in Stryker’s longstanding belief that people can live in harmony with one another and the natural world, and that respect for diversity among people and for biodiversity is essential to a positive future for our planet and all of its inhabitants.

WildLives Earth’s Theory of Change is based on the logic that due to humans’ unsustainable exploitation of natural resources and destruction of ecosystems, the threats to biodiversity across the planet have increased, leading to countless species extinctions and devastated ecosystems. Change can only be achieved by systematically reducing or eliminating key threats and protecting ecosystems. The focus areas are thus ensuring that the ultimate drivers of threats to endangered species and their habitats are diminished and the underlying systems transformed, coupled with site-based conservation that supports resilient populations in prioritized landscapes governed in a sustainable, just and holistic way. In addition, by increasing people’s culturally appropriate respect for the intrinsic value of endangered species, as individuals, as populations and as part of their ecosystems, it is possible to improve the wellbeing of all species, including humans. The Charity is committed to building strong learning communities that understand and address the complexity of social and environmental challenges facing all life on earth. The Charity supports a diverse portfolio of organisations, including international scientific & conservation NGO’s, local & community organisations and Indigenous People’s groups. The Charity works in close collaboration with philanthropic and other partners working at the intersection of numerous environmental and social justice issues to support solutions that are holistic, long-term and equity-based and which embrace the intrinsic value of all beings. The Charity works globally and has an office in Cambridge, U.K.

The Opportunity

Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer and serving as an integral member of the senior leadership team, the Chief Finance & Operations Officer (CFOO) is responsible for the development of WildLives Earth’s financial management strategy and contributions toward the development of the organisation’s strategic goals. The CFOO manages a team and directs the foundation’s finance, accounting, human resources, information technology, and office operations functions in support of goals and objectives established by the Chief Executive Officer and Board of Trustees of the Charity.

Given some of the necessary external focus of the Chief Executive Officer’s role, the Chief Finance & Operations Officer provides support and leadership to the Governance functions including planning, scheduling, and documentation of Board and Committee meetings, overseeing the preparation of Board and Committee meeting materials. and ensuring all important board minutes and resolutions have been properly documented and archived.

Strategy, Vision, and Leadership

• Advises the Chief Executive Officer and other key members of the senior leadership team on financial planning, budgeting, cash flow, investment priorities, and operational policy matters.
• Serves as the liaison to the Board of Trustees Audit, HR, and Investment & Finance Committees.
• Contributes to the development of WildLives Earth’s strategic goals and objectives as well as the overall management of the organisation, maintaining continuous lines of communication and keeping the CEO informed of all critical issues.
• Represents the organisation externally, particularly in relationships with core vendors, investment advisors, legal counsel, public accountants, auditors, and other operational partners.

Team Development & Leadership

• Oversees, directs, and organizes the work of the operations teams, including finance, human resources, information technology, and administrative services.
• Promotes a culture of high performance and continuous improvement that values learning and a commitment to quality.
• Ensures staff members receive timely and appropriate training and development.
• Ensures the implementation of staff performance and development goals by assigning accountability, setting objectives, and conducting annual performance appraisals; mentors staff using a supportive and collaborative approach.

Finance

• Oversees and directs accounting, budgeting, treasury, audit, and long-range forecasting activities.
• Appraises the organisation’s financial position, providing complete, accurate, and timely financial and operating reports to the Chief Executive Officer, the senior leadership team, and the Board of Trustees.
• Plans, coordinates, and executes annual budget development and forecasting process.
• Works with external investment management firm to ensure that the foundation is adhering to the strategic investment plan, delivering status reports to the board.
• Provides analytical support to the foundation’s senior leadership team, including the development of necessary reporting capabilities and formats.
• Works to continuously improve the quality and efficiency of operational accounting services such as treasury management, grant payment processing, payroll, accounts payable, and purchasing.
• Formulates and recommends sound fiscal policies, systems, procedures, and forms, including an Accounting Procedures Manual. Oversees the development of and adherence to internal control policies.
• Ensures compliance with all regulatory tax filings and audit requirements.

Grants Management

• Oversees grants management function, ensuring efficiency and effectiveness of all grants management processes including legal compliance, intake of grant requests, review of grantee documents, grantee reporting, and data collection, and report generation.
• Works with the Director for Impact and Learning to ensure appropriate systems for monitoring and evaluation of grant programs.
• Ensures effective communication between the grants management, program and operations teams.

HR and IT and Other

• Together with the Director of Administration ensure the HR function is appropriately implemented through external consultants, according to a strategy developed in conjunction with the Director of Administration, senior staff and the Chief Executive Officer; includes recruiting, hiring, benefits administration, annual performance review systems, and other operational human resources functions, ensuring effective delivery of necessary human resources services to WildLives Earth staff.
• Develops and oversees implementation of organisation-wide IT strategy.
• Ensures appropriate implementation of IT operations, including IT support for staff and the implementation and maintenance of hardware and software systems.
• Oversees purchasing, facilities, real estate, and risk management activities.
• Guides effective communication and customer service from all operations teams to program staff.
• Completes such other duties and responsibilities as may be assigned from time to time.

• A finance executive with operational experience and a proven track record of creative problem-solving and change management in a high-innovation, mission-driven organisation.
• Registered Chartered Accountant, MBA, CPA, or related professional degree.
• A minimum of 10 years’ experience in a senior management role, preferably in a nonprofit or philanthropic setting; a minimum of 6 years of broad financial and operations management experience required.
• Familiarity with nonprofit organisations; prior experience in the nonprofit sector, preferably at a foundation, preferred.
• Demonstrated experience in financial management and accounting, including experience in budgeting, financial reporting, audit, and compliance.
• Excellent judgment and creative problem-solving skills, including skills in negotiation and conflict resolution; must possess strong mentoring and coaching skills with experience in leading a team with diverse levels of expertise.
• Energetic, flexible, collaborative, and proactive; a team leader who can positively and productively impact both strategic and tactical finance and operational initiatives.
• Exceptional written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills as well as the ability to effectively interface with senior management and the Board of Trustees.
• Shared commitment to WildLives Earth’s mission.

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