Chief Financial Officer
ClientEarth works to create a world protected by robust laws where people and nature thrive together. With more than 160 staff and 100 legal staff, this award winning NGO uses the law to drive systemic changes that tackles climate change and protects the natural ecosystems that sustain our world. Working from headquarters in London with offices in Beijing, Berlin, Brussels, Los Angeles and Warsaw, ClientEarth finds innovative solutions to some of society’s most pressing environmental challenges.
The Chief Financial Officer was a newly created role for ClientEarth as the organisation experienced a sustained period of rapid growth, significantly increasing impact and global reach. Providing inspirational leadership, the CFO is responsible for the long-term financial health of ClientEarth and all financial aspects of strategy and operations. This includes developing organisational, functional and programmatic financial strategies, instilling a strong business partnering approach and maximising how systems, data and reporting support the organisation’s mission.
Prospectus has a long standing relationship with ClientEarth, having recruited the organisation’s Deputy Chief Executive, Director of Development, Director of Communications and Legal Director. We were mandated to lead the search for the CFO in February 2020, looking for a commercially-minded, qualified accountant with significant leadership experience and a truly global outlook. Critically, candidates needed to evidence extensive experience of managing the finances of large and complex international organisations, whilst being highly entrepreneurial and mission driven.
Following an extensive search, Rachel Hewitt was appointed as ClientEarth’s CFO in June 2020. Rachel joins ClientEarth from Care International UK, where she was Chief Operating Officer. Previously, she was at the International Rescue Committee where she was Director of Resources. Prior to this she worked for the British Council in a range of roles in the UK and India, including change management relating to new systems. She is Treasurer for Flex, a small charity focusing on labour exploitation. Rachel is also a regular presenter at sector events including the Humentum Finance Directors series.