Manager, Financial Reporting and Operations

Role Responsibilities

Ready to shape the future of financial reporting and operations for Alberta?

The Ministry of Affordability and Utilities has a unique opportunity for an experienced Manager of Financial Reporting and Operations who is looking for something different. The ministry was created in October 2022, being the first ‘completely new’ ministry created in fifteen years. You’ll shape an organization still in development, and directly contribute to making Alberta a better place. Although Affordability and Utilities is one of the smallest ministries, we’re the fourth most financially complex, providing interesting financial puzzles for you to solve.

You’ll play a key role in a comprehensive range of financial reporting and operations for the ministry, including leading two teams of professionals and preparation of the Department's and the Ministry's financial statements. Rapidly developing expertise in GoA enterprise resource planning (1GX/SAP) system and deeply understanding financial structures is critical to your success.

As the successful candidate, you must posess strong communication and leadership skills, and the ability to develop professional staff and to establish positive working relationships with other entities. You’ll represent the department in cross-government committees and working groups, with the aim of ensuring financial accountability and effective use of resources.

• Preparation of briefing material for executive and the Minister to support presentations to the Cabinet Policy Committee (CPC), Public Accounts, Committee of Supply, Treasury Board and Finance and the Public.
• Provide briefings on variance analysis between prior year, current year and budget activities.
• Design and guide the regular reconciliation and maintenance of all accounts.
• Provide, both directly and through the teams, professional strategic advice, guidance and support on financial related matters to executives, managers and staff throughout the Ministry to enable them to effectively meet their goals and objectives as set forth in the ministry Business Plans.
• Ensure source data accuracy through regular reconciliations of General Ledger to Sub-Ledgers, reviewing/analyzing accounting transactions and preparing adjusting entries as required.
• Advise on new financial systems, standards and processes at the Department wide and GoA level with respect to accounting needs.
• Oversee the administration and security access for all departmental financial systems (e.g., 1GX/SAP) financial system, Electronic Payment System (EPS), etc.) and ensures that training and support to line areas is carried out.
• Develop accounting policies and procedures aligning to the reporting requirements of Public Sector Accounting Board (PSAB), Office of the Controller, Ministry policies and procedures, and Treasury Board Directives and reporting timelines.

For a copy of the full job description for this position, please visit this link.

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.

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

Build Collaborative Environments – The success of the position relies on other branches to meet financial reporting goals and must therefore work closely with staff and managers across the Ministry to develop innovative solutions when developing position papers and financial statements.

Creative Problem Solving – The position is required to take a leadership role for departmental financial reporting decisions, leading the audits, and interpreting accounting standards. This requires working with multiple Program Areas and two external entities to develop financial statements.

Agility – The position will focus on achieving goals, for instance delivering financial information to the Office of the Controller within a prescribed time frame. 

Systems Thinking – This position requires a strong understanding of how reporting decisions impact the presentation of financial information the GoA financial statements and how reporting requirements for different business areas impact the ministry's ability to achieve business outcomes.

Qualifications

Required:

• University degree in Commerce, Accounting or related field such as Business (or other related program), plus a minimum of four years’ experience.
• A Canadian accounting designation – Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA).

Assets:

• In-depth knowledge of generally accepted accounting principles, application of the Public Sector Accounting Standards and preparation of financial statements.
• Preparation of financial statements is essential as the role is responsible for the monitoring, recording, reporting and interpretation financial information, which requires the ability to interpret and apply the Public Sector Accounting Standards.
• Knowledge and experience in Microsoft Office - Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
• In-Depth nowledge of government 1GX/SAP accounting software.
• Familiarity with business intelligence tools such as Power BI or Tableau.
• Experience in the government sector and working knowledge of government 1GX/SAP accounting software and general computer logic would be desirable.

Related experience or education may be considered as an equivalency on a one for one basis.

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

A cover letter is required with your application and should indicate how your experience aligns with the behavioral competencies of the role you are applying for. This cover letter may be used to assess your communication abilities.

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, 2016 - June 25, 2019: Accounting Clerk (PT three 8 hrs. shifts/week).

Candidates with lesser qualifications may be considered at a lower classification and salary. This competition may be used to fill future roles at the same or lower classifications.

Final candidates will be required to undergo a security screening. All costs associated with the recruitment process including documentation fees and travel expenses are the candidate’s responsibility. If documentation is requested from an applicant, out-of-province applicants can obtain the documents requested from the province they reside in.

What we offer:

• Working for the Alberta Public Service – https://www.alberta.ca/advantages-working-for-alberta-public-service.aspx
• Management Employees Pension Plan (MEPP) – https://www.mepp.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