Volunteer Finance Director

Are you a senior finance leader ready to put your expertise to work for the planet? Join amission-driven team tackling ocean plastic pollution with bold, systems-level solutions.

Join Ocean Legacy Foundation (OLF) as a Volunteer Finance Director, and help advance our mission to end ocean plastic pollution through innovative cleanup, education, manufacturing rooted in circular economy principles, and sustainable solutions. OLF is a Canadian-based non-profit organization initiated in 2013 to end ocean plastic waste and is an internationally recognized leader in plastic pollution response. 

This role is ideal for a CPA who is ready to lead the review and restructuring of the OLF’s finance function while contributing to one of the planet’s most urgent environmental causes.

The ideal candidate will bring experience in manufacturing finance, particularly in sectors aligned with sustainable materials or recycling, to help us scale and optimize our operational impact.

Whether you are a seasoned executive seeking purpose in the next chapter or a values-aligned professional looking to apply your financial leadership to sustainability, this opportunity offers both strategic challenge and meaningful impact. If you’ve served in CFO, Controller, or Finance Director roles and you are energized by applying financial rigour in the service of manufacturing systems and ecological regeneration, we would love to hear from you.

Role Overview:

Reporting to the Executive Director, the Volunteer Finance Director (Fractional) will provide strategic financial oversight, support internal capacity building, and help guide OLF’s financial operations during a time of growth and innovation. This role is ideal for a retired or semi-retired finance executive or a working professional looking to lend their time and expertise in a flexible, impactful way.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Financial Guidance

Restructure the current team, provide oversight and mentorship to finance staff to clarify team roles, strengthen capacity, and ensure effective day-to-day financial operations.

• Review and advise on the current roles of the financial department staff
• Support the development and implementation of financial policies, procedures, and best practices.
• Provide advisory oversight to ensure compliance with Canadian tax laws and non-profit financial regulations.
• Contribute to aligning the Chart of Accounts with organizational goals and reporting needs, particularly those related to manufacturing operations, cost centers, and product development.
• Offer strategic advice on financial sustainability, budgeting, and risk management.

Financial Operations Support

• Review and advise on Accounts Payable processes and general ledger entries.
• Oversee reconciliation of bank statements and review cash flow management.
• Assist with journal entry preparation and monthly close recommendations.
• Review and strengthen internal financial controls to ensure transparency,
• accountability, and audit + readiness.
• Identify and recommend improvements to financial systems, workflows, and
• technology tools to enhance efficiency, accuracy, and scalability with specific
• attention to inventory tracking, supply chain integration, and production costing in a
• manufacturing environment

Analysis & Reporting

• Contribute to financial modelling, scenario analysis, and multi-year forecasting to inform strategic planning and sustainability, including manufacturing cost analysis and ROI modeling on production investments.
• Support preparing and reviewing financial statements, forecasts, and performance metrics (KPIs).
• Offer guidance on reporting to stakeholders, funders, and auditors.
• Contribute to building a financial performance evaluation framework.

Compliance & Risk Oversight

• Advise on risk mitigation strategies and financial compliance related to grants and donations, and manufacturing-related liabilities.
• Help ensure alignment with nonprofit standards and evolving financial regulations.

Collaboration & Communication

• Act as a trusted advisor to senior leadership on financial planning and decision-making.
• Provide strategic oversight to the finance team and contribute to board-level updates by supporting internal financial communications, surfacing key insights, and aligning reporting with organizational priorities.

Payroll Oversight (Light Support)

• Provide advisory input on payroll processes and compliance protocols.

Skills & Qualifications:

• CPA designation or equivalent senior-level finance experience.
• Minimum 5 years of financial leadership, ideally in a Canadian nonprofit or public sector setting, with a track record of effective decision-making and team collaboration.
• Required experience in financial leadership within a manufacturing environment—preferably involving sustainable materials, recycling, or green technologies.
• Government funding and grant experience.
• Solid understanding of Canadian tax laws and non-profit compliance.
• Experience in financial systems (e.g., QuickBooks, Sage, or similar).
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• High attention to detail and strategic thinking ability.
• Passion for environmental stewardship, sustainability, and the circular economy.

Time Commitment:

• Approximately 10 hours a month (flexible scheduling) after onboarding.
• While this is currently a volunteer role, we are actively exploring models for compensated fractional leadership support as OLF grows. Volunteers demonstrating strategic alignment and long-term commitment will be considered first as paid opportunities emerge.
• Remote/virtual position with optional involvement in special events or meetings

Why Volunteer with Ocean Legacy Foundation?

• Play a pivotal role in tackling one of the most pressing environmental challenges of our time.
• Apply your financial leadership in a flexible, high-impact advisory capacity.
• Contribute directly to systems that support cleaner oceans, stronger governance, and resilient coastal communities.
• Join a values-aligned team of changemakers driving tangible, measurable outcomes.
• Help shape the financial future of a mission-driven organization committed to long-term, systemic impact.
• Volunteering with OLF is more than just giving back—it's about becoming part of a passionate movement that protects marine ecosystems, influences policy, and builds a cleaner, more sustainable future. As a volunteer leader in our organization, you’ll gain the satisfaction of driving real change while engaging with an inspiring community of environmental change makers.