Conservation Careers: Finance and sustainability working hand in hand – Lizeth Prieto, Senior Finance Analyst.

Delve into the world of finance at WWF UK with Lizeth Prieto, our Senior Finance Analyst. Working as a panda since earlier this year, Lizeth focuses on the financial analysis of the UK Landscapes programmes, managing the ins and outs of our expenditure. As a passionate advocate for people and planet, Lizeth shares her story of her interests and volunteering experiences for the environment and how this has influenced her role in finance. Fun fact: Lizeth grew up in Colombia’s Andes region and at the age of 24 she achieved her first mountain summit of 5,267 metres in Colombia's Nevado del Tolima!?

What does a typical day doing your job look like? ??

In my role as a Senior Finance Analyst at WWF-UK, my workday can have many different elements. A typical day involves reviewing financial reports for our projects in forests, rivers and coasts in the UK, ensuring our spending's align with budgets, and flagging any discrepancies or trends. This task is crucial in maintaining the financial health of our projects, ensuring we can continue our work supporting nature and bring our world back to life.?

I collaborate closely with project managers, providing them with financial analysis and reporting to support decision-making, keeping transparency with funders, and maintaining trustworthy relationships with our partners. This involves not only crunching numbers, but also drafting grant agreements in collaboration with our legal team and serving as the first point of contact for project-related payments with our suppliers.?

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But my workdays are not all about finance! I've had the privilege of participating as a young leader in workshops like Eat4Change, where I've delved into the realm of sustainable food practices. This experience has inspired me to adopt a more conscientious approach to my personal consumption habits, reducing my meat intake and prioritising ethically sourced foods.?

My job enables me to develop my management skills and provide recommendations based on real-time financial data to help project managers make informed decisions to optimise resources and manage risks.? This combination of financial expertise and sustainability advocacy enables me to make a meaningful contribution to WWF-UK's mission while continuously growing both personally and professionally.?

Tell us about something you're currently working on. ?

This month I’m working on a collaborative file for our UK nature programmes. This internal project aims to provide project managers with an online visual tool that displays funding details and budget spending's for each of their UK conservation projects – helping to create simplified process for all teams! This is an ongoing project that I expect to finish in 3 or 4 months due to the complexity of grouping different types of projects, funding, partners and resources. Still, the goal of this project is to help streamline decision-making for our project managers and reduce wait times for accessing important information helping future conservation.?

How did you get into finance, within the environmental sector??

During high school, my chemistry teacher engaged us in a research project focused on understanding the acidity levels of rivers in Bogota and their impact on surrounding ecosystems and communities. This experience led me to explore the fragile ecosystems of the paramos and the potential consequences of agricultural and mining activities on our cities if these ecosystems were compromised.?Then, while studying accounting at University, I became involved in volunteering efforts aimed at poverty alleviation in my country. It was during this time that I witnessed first-hand the challenges faced by vulnerable communities living near dumpsites and lacking access to clean water and proper sanitation. However, amidst these challenges, I observed that these communities were sustaining themselves through the recycling business. This realisation helped me understand the dual importance of recycling—not only for the environment but also for the local economy.??

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Transitioning into the corporate sector, I led a paperless office initiative, which highlighted the positive impact that sustainable practices could have on daily operations. Meanwhile, I continued my volunteer work, focusing on corporate responsibility projects in Colombia's Pacific region, including beach clean-ups and recycling efforts.?Upon realising my desire to pursue a career that merges financial sustainability with positive community and environmental impact, I transitioned into the NGO sector. I pursued a Master's in Management of Development Projects to further align my passions with my professional endeavours. Ultimately, my journey led me to WWF, the place where I can work towards the good management and efficiency of natural resources and escalate the positive impact of these projects in the communities.?

In this path my professional interest gravitates around the impact of environmental changes in the social development of vulnerable communities and deeply resonates with what WWF is doing to build and promote harmony between humans and nature.?

If you could give one piece of advice to someone looking to apply for a similar role, what would you say???

Be a person who is honest and passionate about finance and nature. These financial roles in conservation require individuals who are dedicated to making the world a better place for all species. They also demand critical thinking skills to support Project Managers in safeguarding and efficiently managing the limited funds available for these projects. As a finance professional, you become a key player in ensuring funding accountability while simultaneously adding tremendous value to project efficiency and impact.?

Finally, what gives you hope in our mission to bring our world back to life???

I’m interested in the projects that are focusing on seaweed farming in the UK for agricultural adaptation. There is an innovative approach to use seaweed biostimulants in crops grown to reduce synthetic fertiliser that pollutes our waters which showcase nature's ability to provide less invasive yet effective ways to produce our food.?

I also like the collaborative work we do with indigenous and native communities in Africa and the Amazon. These communities have lived in harmony with their habitats for millennia and in collaboration with WWF, we can replicate and support programs that seek to restore this balance, helping our world to be back to life.??

Finally, as a Latin American, I hold a special interest in the Amazon. That's why I'm currently enrolled in 'The Living Amazon: Science, Cultures, and Sustainability in Practice ' course. I encourage anyone interested to learn about the region's challenges and understand the consequences if the Amazon reaches its tipping point.?