Financial Analyst

Role Responsibilities

Broadband and Strategic Support Services, aligned with a government‑wide approach, builds and maintains strong relationships across the divisions it supports. The Financial Services unit works collaboratively with these divisions to lead the development and implementation of consistent financial practices and standards, creating efficiencies, reducing duplication and increasing value for the Government of Alberta. It also provides reporting and analytics that support strategic decision‑making at the executive level.

Reporting to the Manager of Financial Services, the incumbent supplies executive and operational leaders with budget and forecast information, financial analysis and management reporting to ensure the evolving needs of each division are met. This role is responsible for ensuring the accuracy of financial information by completing required reconciliations, investigating discrepancies, and resolving financial variances and business process issues.

The Financial Analyst’s additional responsibilities include forecasting for multiple expenditure officers with accuracy and timeliness to support effective use of funds and anticipate future trends; preparing budget variance reports with detailed explanations and executive‑level communication; creating and analyzing expenditure trend reports for the Director of Financial Services; reviewing internal controls to align with Government of Alberta best practices and implementing ministry policies and procedures to mitigate risk; and supporting the Office of the Auditor General by preparing reports and reconciliations for various audits.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Preparing and completing timely and accurate budget and forecast submissions for expenditure officers ensuring accuracy and completeness, providing advice and guidance to management at all levels on financial information to assist them in planning and controlling their operations.
• Identifying and working with Expenditure Officers to explain significant variances in actual or forecasted results as compared to budget and work in collaboration with Strategic Policy and Financial Services to present the program area with viable solutions to business issues taking into consideration the proposed solutions impact on the program areas budget.
• Evaluating and reporting on financial performance compared to prior year and budget allocations. This includes using methods such as trend analysis, investigating variances to be presented to the Manager, Financial Services and the Director, Financial Services.
• Working with expenditure officers to resolve enquiries, educate on accountabilities, assist in meeting timelines and the provision of information required.
• Leveraging experience and knowledge, guiding clients in the establishment and maintenance of financial and establishment structures ensuring they are inline.
• Analyzing and reporting on spending pressures and preparing supplementary analysis and presents alternatives and makes recommendations as necessary.
• Monitoring Full Time Equivalent (FTE) usage, budget and actuals by business areas.
• Preparing and loading the monthly forecast in the ERP system, prepares journal entries as needed to correct coding errors or reallocate charges.

Please click on this link to view the job description for this position.

APS Competencies

Competencies are behaviors that are essential to reach our goals in serving Albertans. We encourage you to have an in depth understanding of the competencies that are required for this opportunity and to be prepared to demonstrate them during the recruitment process.

Creative Problem Solving – You are able to assess options and implications in new ways to achieve outcomes and solutions.

Agility – You are able to anticipate, assess, and readily adapt to changing priorities, maintain resilience in times of uncertainty and effectively work in a changing environment.

Drive for Results – You are able to determine what outcomes are important and maximize the use of resources to achieve results that are aligned with the goals of the organization, while maintaining accountability to each other and all stakeholders. 

Systems Thinking – You are able to consider the whole system and recognize links between everything from the complex network of global to departmental priorities. Set goals within the context of long-term outcomes and broad perspectives.

This link will assist you with understanding competencies: https://www.alberta.ca/system/files/custom_downloaded_images/psc-alberta-public-service-competency-model.pdf.

Qualifications

Required:

University graduation in Business, Finance, Accounting, Commerce, Management or other related field plus 3 years progressively responsible related experience; or equivalent as described below.

Equivalency:

• Related diploma plus 5 years directly related experience.
• Accounting designation and 1-year additional related experience.

Assets:

• Solid understanding of project accounting and a working knowledge of cost accounting.
• Experience in contract management including review and preparation of contract budgets and related schedules, and experience in preparation and review of financial statements.
• Solid knowledge of financial analysis.
• Ability to exercise sound professional judgement and tact when dealing with matters of a sensitive and confidential nature.
• Knowledge and experience with IT.
• Advanced skills in Microsoft Office, including Word, Outlook, Excel and PowerPoint.
• Experience working with relevant financial information systems, reporting tools, and software (e.g., Excel, Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) / System Analysis Program (SAP) and ability to manipulate data sets.
• Solid understanding and experience with the application and research of accounting policies, practices and theories such as Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and Public Sector Accounting Board (PSAB).
• Knowledge of the Government of Alberta's applicable legislation (e.g., Financial Administration Act, Fiscal Planning and Transparency Act, Government Organizational Act and Alberta Public Agencies Act).
• Knowledge of Public Sector Accounting Standards (PSAS) and the ability to interpret PSAS for the monitoring, recording, reporting and interpretation of financial information.

A cover letter must accompany your application and should indicate how your previous work experience aligns to the qualifications and competencies required. Please provide clear examples of how you meet the criteria and skills required in your cover letter. Failure to provide a cover letter will lead to the application being screened out. Cover letter will be one of the ways to assess communication skills of candidates.

In your resume, please include dates (including months and years) associated with all education and work experience. As well, please indicate whether your work experience is casual, part-time or full-time. For example, January 15, 2006 - June 25, 2009: Assistant (PT three 8 hrs. shifts/week).

Minimum recruitment standards outline the minimum education and experience required for appointment to a job classification. Refer to https://www.alberta.ca/alberta-public-service-minimum-recruitment-standards.

Notes

Hours of Work: 36.25 hours per week.

Final candidates will be required to undergo a security screening.

Any costs associated with obtaining the required documents/checks as noted or interview travel expenses, will be the responsibility of the candidate. Out-of-province applicants can obtain the required documents/checks from the province they currently reside in.

What we offer:

• Working for the Alberta Public Service – https://www.alberta.ca/advantages-working-for-alberta-public-service.aspx
• Public Service Pension Plan (PSPP) – https://www.pspp.ca
• Alberta Public Service Benefit Information – https://www.alberta.ca/alberta-public-service-benefits
• Professional learning and development – https://www.alberta.ca/professional-development-support-directive
• Research Alberta Public Service Careers tool – https://researchapscareers.alberta.ca
• Positive workplace culture and work-life balance
• Leadership and mentorship programs