New job Senior Financial Reporting & Policy Advisor in Saskatchewan

NATURE OF WORK:

This position oversees key aspects of the management of financial reports, and other legislated reporting ensuring that they comply with the Public-Sector Accounting Board (PSAB) guidelines and other applicable sources of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). This position is responsible to oversee the research and response on complex Goods and Service tax and Provincial Sales Tax questions, Tangible Capital Assets (TCA) and other relevant sections of the PSAB standards and emerging issues. Oversee Tangible Capital Asset compliance, third party revenue agreements and other key financial accounting and policy issues pursuant to external legislation. This position plans and oversees corporate audits. This position reports to the Manager of Corporate Accounting and acts as the Manager of Corporate Accounting when required.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Leads the team to ensure existing PSAB guidelines and standards are applied to the systems and accounting procedures of the City of Regina and other related entities to ensure transactions are recorded and reported correctly.
• Research, develop, coordinate, and implement policies and procedures to ensure compliance with PSAB. Determines how to apply existing and new standards throughout the organization. Leads the team to apply Chartered Professional Accountants’ (CPA) guidelines to the City of Regina and related entity Financial Statements and other external reporting.
• Maintains involvement in the Government Finance Officers Association of the US and Canada (GFOA), and other related bodies to keep ahead of emerging issues and trends in accounting standards. Proactively looks for opportunities to have input into the processes that determine future standards in order to support the best interests of the industry and of the City of Regina and its related entities.
• Manage the staff responsible for the compilation and preparation of the City of Regina Annual Consolidated Financial Report, the Financial Statement Discussion & Analysis, the Public Accounts report, related entity financial statements and related reports. Provides direction to other areas of Finance and the corporation regarding year end and audit requirements.
• Liaise, confer, negotiate or collaborate with external auditors in relation to the audit services provided to the City of Regina. Plans and leads the corporate audits for the City of Regina, and several related entities.
• Liaise, confer, negotiate or collaborate with internal stakeholders to facilitate and ensure audit requirements are met.
• Provides overall direction to the staff responsible for the compilation and preparation of the City of Regina Tangible Capital Assets documentation, policies and procedures.
• Provide specialized expertise in the area of emerging issues related to municipal financial recording and reporting including, but not limited to, external legislation.
• Review and prepares reports to Council, and committees of Council, and provides follow up and additional information as requested.
• Manages the team who research and respond to complex tax-related questions, both Goods and Services tax (GST) and Provincial Sales Tax (PST) including correspondence with Canada Revenue Agency and/or Saskatchewan Finance. Review third party agreements to ensure compliance with Commodity tax issues. Manages the team who research and respond to questions, and provide information related to, TCA, asset register, third party agreements and other accounting inquiries.
• Prepare and deliver presentations to various groups within the corporation pertaining to a broad range of accounting standards, and issues related to financial reporting and compliance to related policies.
• Serve as a point of contact between internal departments, government officials, legislative bodies, and all required levels of City employees to facilitate financial and other related internal and external imposed compliance.
• Leads all human resources related activities including recruitment and selection, staff development and performance appraisals, employee relations and discipline.
• Ensures professional growth and development of the area staff through identification of both technical and transferable training needs, ensuring technical skills are kept current with changing technologies.
• Communicates with the corporation regarding accounting guidelines and assists other divisions of the Finance department with compliance to accounting guidelines.
• Ad-hoc reporting on a corporate and departmental basis.
• Leads in the development and documentation of corporate accounting policies and procedures to improve control and efficiency within the corporation.
• Leads in the development and documentation of internal controls that assist in ensuring data integrity, accurate financial recording and recording, as well as safeguarding the financial and tangible capital assets of the organization
• Performs other related duties as required.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Knowledge, Abilities and Skills:

• Thorough knowledge of accounting principles, practices and consolidation, particularly as they relate to Public Sector Accounting Board guidelines and municipal accounting as well as the standards of related entities; Demonstrated commitment, and ability, to maintain up to date knowledge of internal and external emerging issues and changing standards through continued professional development and direct involvement in the standards process from statement of principles through to the final standard.
• Knowledge of the principles of organization, supervision and administration and the ability to effectively apply these principles.
• Ability to design, prepare and consolidate multi entity complex municipal financial statements and reports to meet both internal and external requirements
• Ability to liaise with all levels of the organization and external legislative bodies to prepare and implement solutions to complex, interdependent issues encompassing not only financial but other compliance issues
• Ability to interpret the CPA and PSAB Handbook, other external legislation relevant to accounting and municipalities, and to combine that knowledge with internal polices, bylaws and constraints to recommend and implement policies, processes and procedures
• Knowledge of the principles of both internal and external audit
• Thorough knowledge of computerized financial and operating systems, specifically CaseWare and CaseView software.
• Knowledge of the corporation’s financial business processes, policies and procedures.
• Knowledge and ability to document and analyze internal control systems in an environment of continually changing standards
• Demonstrated problem solving skills and ability to apply principles of logical thinking to define problems, analyze, evaluate and interpret data and information, document findings and make effective recommendations.
• Ability to express ideas effectively, in oral and written form with particular emphasis being placed on the ability to prepare comprehensive reports for presentation to management and City Council.
• Ability to establish effective working relationships with external and internal stakeholders as necessitated by work assignments; requires a high level of accountability to both internal and external stakeholders. Ability to influence, persuade or convince others to adhere to rules/regulations or come up with an acceptable solution, while staying within policies and legislated requirements of both parties.
• Ability to work independently in a team environment, demonstrating sound judgement and initiative to establish priorities, meet users’ expectations and meet deadlines.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

• Typically, the knowledge, skill and abilities required are obtained through a University degree in Commerce, Finance, Business Administration, Accounting or a related degree supplemented by post-graduate level specialized training in the areas of accounting, audit, as would be required for membership in the CPA association. Demonstrated track record of continuing professional development, accountability and strict adherence to deadlines. Experience dealing with multiple stakeholders at all levels of an organization as well as external stakeholders. In addition, five (5) to seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in the preparation of complex financial statements, preferably in a public-sector environment. 5-7 years experience with computerized financial systems, 5-7 years supervisory experience, Experience in commodity taxes (GST/PST/HST) and 5- 7 years experience in internal audit/reviews, external audit and compliance reporting. Experience in a public practice accounting firm is a strong asset as is experience in a unionized environment.

• Note: Testing may be done to evaluate knowledge, skills and abilities.

*Candidates selected for an interview will be required to provide proof of acquired education. *

** In accordance with the City of Regina’s Criminal Record Check Policy, the position requires that the successful candidate provide a satisfactory Criminal Record Check as a condition of employment. **