The Financial Analyst role is a new position at the District of Sparwood. Reporting to the Deputy Director of Finance, the Financial Analyst will be responsible for providing technical and analytical support services respecting financial management in accordance with District policies, procedures, and bylaws and generally accepted accounting principles. The Analyst should be comfortable preparing complex spreadsheets and have strong communication skills. The Analyst will recommend business process improvements and prepare a variety of financial reports and statements and assist other staff as required.
The Financial Analyst will work closely with District staff at various levels, seeking and soliciting co-operation and information, and participate in problem solving efforts to complete the Asset Management Investment Strategy. The incumbent will be responsible to work with departments throughout the District to assist with preparing the financial aspects of grant applications and reports to ensure that applications and funding claims are submitted according to the grantors’ requirements.
Primary Duties
- Support the development of the District’s multi-year financial and business plans and forecasts, review and validate financial assumptions and models, and identify trends that impact the District’s ability to meet budget and service delivery targets.
- Analyze budgets, performance indicators, business plans and ongoing financial results to enable strategic recommendations on corrective actions.
- Assist and advise departments in preparing their annual capital budget submissions, including recommending funding sources and allocations.
- Prepare, monitor, and maintain variances analyses, forecasting against actuals and reporting. Present and review results with department leads. Work to identify significant risks and investigate and resolve discrepancies and recommend mitigation strategies.
- Prepare monthly analysis and forecasting reports.
- Assist with the preparation of year-end working papers and collaboration with external auditors during the audit.
- Responsible for the process of accounting for tangible capital assets, contaminated sites, and asset retirement obligations.
- Support the Asset Management Committee in the development or maintenance of asset management policies, plans and inventories.
- Review and provide timely input to financial estimates of departmental submissions for grant applications.
- Backup support and coverage for property taxes and utility billing processes.
- Undertake special projects and assignments as required.
Qualifications and Job Requirements
- University Degree in Business Administration, or related discipline.
- Minimum 4 years of experience working in a variety of complex accounting practices and in a computerized environment; preference may be given to candidates with local government experience.
- Minimum 4 years of experience with full cycle accounting.
- Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) designation is preferred.
This position is a unionized position under CUPE local 2698. The 2024 hourly wage rate is $39.79 per hour for a Financial Analyst 1 and $45.55 for a Financial Analyst 2, as per the current collective agreement and includes a full range of benefits.
Detailed job specifications can be found below.
As part of the interview process, shortlisted candidates will be required to participate in a practical portion of the interview at the District of Sparwood Municipal Office. Qualified applicants who are offered and accepted, the role may be required to complete a satisfactory pre-employment Background Check. This may consist of all or a combination of the following: Canadian Criminal Record check, an Employment Verification and/or an Education and Accreditation Verification and a Clean Drivers Abstract.
Applicants are invited to submit their resume, complete with cover letter, in confidence by Wednesday, February 28, 2024, at 4:00 PM (MST), to the attention of:
Human Resources
District of Sparwood
email: careers@sparwood.ca
Job Description
| Job Title | Financial Analyst | ||
| Reports To | Deputy Director of Finance | Salary Grade | CUPE – Technical 1, or Technical 2 (CPA Designation) |
| Department | Finance | Updated | January 2024 |
Summary
Reporting to the Deputy Director of Finance, the Financial Analyst will be responsible for providing technical and analytical support services respecting financial management in accordance with District policies, procedures, and bylaws and generally accepted accounting principles. The Analyst should be comfortable preparing complex spreadsheets and have strong communication skills. The Analyst will recommend business process improvements and prepare a variety of financial reports and statements and assist other staff as required.
The Financial Analyst will work closely with District staff at various levels, seeking and soliciting co-operation and information, and participate in problem solving efforts to complete the Asset Management Investment Strategy. The incumbent will be responsible to work with departments throughout the District to assist with preparing the financial aspects of grant applications and reports to ensure that applications and funding claims are submitted according to the grantors’ requirements.
General Job Duties
Financial Planning
- Support the development of the District’s multi-year financial and business plans and forecasts, review and validate financial assumptions and models, and identify trends that impact the District’s ability to meet budget and service delivery targets.
- Analyze budgets, performance indicators, business plans and ongoing financial results to enable strategic recommendations on corrective actions.
- Assist and advise departments in preparing their annual capital budget submissions, including recommending funding sources and allocations.
- Prepare, monitor, and maintain variances analyses, forecasting against actuals and reporting. Present and review results with department leads. Work to identify significant risks and investigate and resolve discrepancies and recommend mitigation strategies.
- Develop financial and business analysis to support decision making related to a variety of District initiatives and various stakeholders.
- Evaluate business processes and assesses financial considerations for existing, or new services, programs, projects, and policies seeking opportunities to improve workflow, efficiencies, increase revenue or reduce costs.
Financial Month End
- Prepare monthly analysis and forecasting reports.
- Assist with the preparation of year-end working papers and collaboration with external auditors during the audit.
- Assist with the development, maintenance, and documentation of various financial information such as tangible capital asset inventory and municipal debt.
- Review and sign off on balance sheet reconciliations, miscellaneous analysis, and requests, as required.
- Recommend and contribute to the development of internal controls and financial policies to preserve the integrity of financial data.
Asset Management
- Responsible for the process of accounting for tangible capital assets, contaminated sites, and asset retirement obligations.
- Support the Asset Management Committee in the development or maintenance of asset management policies, plans and inventories.
- Develop financial models and apply expert judgement to develop strategies based on different scenarios (e.g., recapitalization vs. replacement including, risk vs. level of service, and capacity vs. age).
- Ensure proper communication and recording of asset additions, deletions, and adjustments in order to apply appropriate accounting procedures consistent with capitalization policies.
- Ensure budgeting for repair, replacement, and retirement of assets considers asset condition, remaining useful life, cost of maintenance, and other factors to make informed decisions about when to repair, replace or retire an asset.
- Ensure that information from asset management processes is integrated into the financial models and decision making to forecast funding sources, debt, revenue, and budget across the asset’s entire lifecycle.
Grant Funding
- Review and provide timely input to financial estimates of departmental submissions for grant applications.
- Review and ensure eligibility of expenses in accordance with the grant agreement.
- Prepare timely reconciliations of expenses to adhere to grant reporting requirements.
Other
- Backup support and coverage for property taxes and utility billing processes.
- Provide leadership and direction to team members regarding financial matters.
- Participate in reviews, examinations, and testing of current and proposed departmental systems and computer applications, including recommending changes to improve upon internal controls and/or efficiencies.
- Assist in the planning, implementation, and improvement of financial systems.
- Work collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders to assess and troubleshoot District financial software and provides training to new users.
- Participate in meetings of Council, other departments, committees, auditors, public meetings, and meetings with consultants as required.
- Adhere to safe work practices and comply with safety and other work-related regulations. Promptly report any unsafe or insecure situations that may arise and implements emergency procedures as directed.
- Undertake special projects and assignments as required.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- Considerable knowledge of the principles, practices, and procedures of accounting operations, including PSAB and GAAP.
- Strong knowledge of computer and accounting software and Microsoft suite products (including complex excel formulas). Preference may be given to candidates with demonstrated experience using Vadim or Questica.
- Strong written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills, complemented by excellent attention to detail and organizational skills.
- Able to exercise considerable independence of judgement and action in all aspects of the work but discuss difficult problems and policy matters with a supervisor.
- Ability to develop new systems and procedures to meet changing information needs.
- Ability to produce concise and complex financial reports.
- Ability to maintain effective working relationships with all levels of municipal staff and with various external parties.
- Ability to communicate with courtesy and tact in order to obtain and/or distribute routine data or information to internal and external customers. This may involve the ability to probe for information and clarification.
- Strong leadership skills in planning, prioritizing, organizing, and controlling.
- Ability to organize work priorities, meet deadlines, and maintain confidentiality.
- Strong analytical accounting and problem-solving skills.
Qualifications and Job Requirements
- University Degree in Business Administration , or related discipline.
- Minimum 4 years’ experience in a variety of complex accounting practices in a computerized environment; preference may be given to candidates with local government experience.
- Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) designation is preferred.
Our Work Environment
At the District of Sparwood we are always interested in attracting high performing team members to our staff by offering:
- A collaborative team environment
- Continual professional learning and development
- Earned day off program
- Employer paid benefits
- Active Living Pass for access to the Leisure Centre courts, fitness centre, climbing wall, pool, arena and many of the drop-in fitness classes
Post Date: February 8, 2024 | Category: Job Postings News & Updates