Director of Finance and Operations

About the Global Carbon Market Utility (GCMU) 

The GCMU is an early-stage financial services company with a mission to build market infrastructure to help grow the carbon market. This market is essential to drive capital toward reducing and removing emissions. But today, the market is too small to make a significant climate impact, because it lacks many structures and processes that are critical foundations of the mature markets that make our global financial system safe and trustworthy.  

The GCMU aims to provide the services of a public financial market utility. It will establish and maintain robust data standards and ledgers and provide a central book of record. It will develop and operate systems for data transparency and management, contracts, audits, verification, and dispute resolution. This infrastructure will enable financial intermediaries to enter the market, provide project financing, manage risk, and match thousands of buyers and sellers together. 

Role Overview 

The Finance and Operations Director is responsible for managing the company’s financial health, ensuring accurate financial reporting, running accounting processes, and maintaining compliance with all regulatory requirements. This role also includes oversight of human resources (HR), employee management, and payroll functions to ensure smooth business operations and adherence to labor laws. The ideal candidate is an accomplished financial professional with experience in accounting, compliance, payroll, and HR operations, holding a clear picture of the company’s overall financial and organizational well-being. 

We may consider hiring a Finance and Operations Officer in lieu of a Director. 

Responsibilities could include:  

Financial Management & Oversight: 

• Oversee all financial reporting, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and compliance with regulatory requirements. 

• Manage accounting functions, including accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll, and general ledger. 

• Oversee audits, tax filings, and compliance with financial reporting standards and best practices. 

• Lead budgeting and forecasting processes, ensuring financial stability and long-term planning. 

• Monitor and analyze financial performance, providing insights and recommendations to leadership. 

• Manage cash flow, banking relationships, and financial planning. 

• Manage relationships with external bookkeepers and services. 

Compliance & Risk Management: 

• Ensure full compliance with financial regulations, tax laws, GAAP/IFRS, and industry-specific guidelines. 

• Implement and enforce financial controls, policies, and procedures to safeguard company assets. 

• Stay up to date on changes in financial regulations and ensure company adherence. 

• Identify and mitigate financial risks, including cost management, investment analysis, and regulatory exposure. 

• Manage relationships with external auditors, tax advisors, financial institutions, and regulatory bodies. 

HR, Employee Management & Payroll: 

• Oversee payroll processing, ensuring accuracy, compliance with tax regulations, and timely payment to employees. 

• Ensure compliance with labor laws, employee benefits regulations, and company policies. 

• Manage employee benefits programs, including health insurance, retirement plans, and leave policies. 

• Develop and enforce HR policies and procedures, ensuring they align with company culture and legal requirements. 

• Assist with talent management, including recruitment, onboarding, and performance review processes. 

• Support leadership in workforce planning, employee relations, and retention strategies. 

Operations: 

• Collaborate with leadership to align financial, HR, and operational planning with company objectives. 

• Identify, negotiate and contract vendors (e.g., legal teams, IT vendors, tax firms, impact monitoring and reporting) and platforms (Justworks, Quickbooks, Expensify etc) 

• Manage GCMU’s real estate, including partnering with leadership to set up GCMU’s new office space during its start-up phase 

• Prepare financial and HR reports for leadership, investors, or board members 

• Evaluate and improve accounting, payroll, and HR systems for efficiency and compliance. 

As a newly established organization, GCMU is looking for an adaptable, organized, and entrepreneurial individual. This person is expected to roll up their sleeves on jobs large and small. This individual will report to the Chief of Staff and will be her right-hand person leading GCMU’s finances, grant management, reporting, compliance, internal processes as well as operational scalability, and will need to be skilled across a variety of financial and operational functions. 

Qualifications & Skills 

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or a related field (CPA, SHRM, or MBA preferred). 

• 10+ years of experience in financial management, accounting, HR, or a related role. 

• Strong understanding of financial reporting, tax regulations, payroll compliance, and HR laws. 

• Deep experience with accounting software, payroll systems, and financial reporting tools. 

• Knowledge of employment laws, benefits administration, and workforce management best practices. 

• Excellent leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills. 

• Ability to interpret financial and HR data to provide strategic recommendations. 

• Experience with start-ups preferred.  

We encourage people of all backgrounds, races/ethnicities, genders, and other forms of identity to apply. 

Total Compensation range: $125K-$275K (across Officer and Director roles) 

Location: New York City 

Authorization: Must be authorized to work in the United States 

To Apply: Please email careers@gcmu.net with two documents: 

• Your resume 

• Answers to the following questions. Each answer should be in concise bullet points, rather than prose, and not more than 300 words. 

• Are you authorized to work in the US? 

• Based on what you know about GCMU and its needs, please list 3-4 of your core skills or experiences that will be most relevant to this job. 

• What experience do you have building or launching a new startup, initiative, or organization? 

• What experience do you have working across various financial and operational needs within an organization?