This is a senior position within the financial services team that is directly responsible to assist with the alignment of the day-to-day financial operations to strategic financial management and further, financial reporting activities. This position is an active participant within the senior finance team providing financial information, advice, and recommendations.
This is a temporary position up to 24 months.
KEY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
People Leadership (15%)
- Creates an open, positive working environment to stimulate open discussion, which includes both in office, remote, or hybrid employees.
- Invests time in managing and developing people through career planning and professional development. Provides insightful, motivating, and constructive feedback, coaching, and guidance. Sets clear expectations, monitors, evaluates, and conducts annual performance reviews.
- Sets and delegates work responsibilities and tasks for staff.
- Provides rewards and recognition in alignment with the County's policies and procedures.
- Follows the HR policies and procedures when addressing performance or disciplinary investigations and considerations.
- Measures and reports on capacity and diversity to meet current and future needs of County within departmental program areas.
- Makes effective recommendations on hiring decisions with Manager within approved roles, working in collaboration with the HR team.
- Specific program oversight and people responsibilities, including assisting with planning and mentoring the financial operations team (accounts payable, accounts and utilities receivable), and providing leadership of the finance business partner team.
Financial Operations \& Systems (70%)
- Responsible to be a fluid user and trainer of the County's financial systems to ensure a system of controls exist, updates, integrations, and staff are using them appropriately and effectively.
- Reviews the administration and accounting of the financial operations team in accordance with accounting standards, internal processes, policies, bylaws, and the Municipal Government Act requirements and informs management on any control gaps or risks.
- Assists in financial accounting and reconciliation activity, as necessary.
- Oversees and is accountable for ensuring the financial processes are effective and efficient, and information is being received and recorded in a timely manner.
- Manages the short-term goals financial reporting incorporating the County's objectives, best practices, and innovation.
- Provides financial projections through the year as required, based on information consolidated using management's monthly financial reporting results.
- Plans, coordinates, reviews, and consolidates monthly management reporting to the Leadership Team.
- Updates the annual audit plan for review and approval and coordinates the annual Interim and Year End Financial Statement Audit activities.
- Assigns audit working papers for completion and an independent review of each working paper by alternative individual(s) in accordance with audit requirements.
- Prepares the audited financial statement package for Council.
- Coordinates financial reporting debriefings with the Manager and treasury and financial planning team to improve future financial planning.
Other Related Duties (15%)
- Monitors finance business partner meeting minutes and presents anything of relevance to the treasury and financial planning team as necessary.
- Performs and reviews complex financial calculations, analytical procedures, and reconciliations, and provides evidence-based recommendations if necessary and applicable.
- Provides crossover finance business partner tasks and supports the department manager as required.
- Remains current on relevant accounting standards, internal processes, policies, bylaws, and Municipal Government Act requirements that may be relative to the finance team and communicates as necessary.
- Adheres to applicable responsibilities and accountabilities as outlined in the Sturgeon County Health and Safety Management System.
KNOWLEDGE, EDUCATION, QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS, ABILITIES, AND EXPERIENCE
Required:
- A minimum of 5 years of relevant accounting and leadership experience.
- Solid understanding and experience in municipal operations and capital planning.
- Knowledgeable and proficient in accounting standards, adequate control systems, and municipal financial reporting requirements.
- A bachelor's degree.
- One of the following designations:
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CPA,
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CMA,
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CGA, or CA.
- Ability to read, research, follow, and understand processes, procedures, and policies to perform work in accordance with expectations.
- Proficiency when using all Microsoft Office Programs (Excel, Word, and PowerPoint, etc.)
- Ability to analyze complex situations and provide creative and measurable solutions.
- Ability to regularly engage and collaborate with stakeholders to facilitate open and thought-provoking discussions to address current and future needs of the county, with the ability to discuss and reach an agreement on issues in an objective, logical, and sensible manner.
- Project management skills with the ability to motivate others toward achieving a common goal.
Assets:
- Knowledge of the Municipal Government Act (MGA) would be an asset.
- Experience and knowledge of the Public Sector Accounting Standards (PSAS) and the application within the public sector accounting is an asset.
- Local government education and/or financial experience would be an asset.
