Policy Advisor, Financial Institutions Policy

Role Responsibilities

Shape the Future of Financial Institutions Policy in Alberta

Are you a seasoned policy professional with a passion for shaping the future of Alberta’s financial services sector? Financial Institutions Policy is seeking a highly skilled policy professional to join its team as Policy Advisor, Financial Institutions Policy, within the Financial Sector Regulation and Policy Division of Treasury Board and Finance.

The Policy Advisor, Financial Institutions Policy provides policy analysis, advice, and recommendations related to Alberta-regulated financial institutions. The role also supports the Government of Alberta’s Financial Services Concierge and Regulatory Sandbox initiatives, which foster innovation and investment across Alberta’s financial services and financial technology sectors.

Reporting to the Manager, Financial Institutions Policy, the Policy Advisor supports oversight of policy matters related to Alberta credit unions and ATB Financial, including matters concerning the Government of Alberta’s exposure to deposits held with ATB Financial and Alberta credit unions.

As a member of the Financial Institutions Policy team, you will help to advance branch, divisional, and departmental priorities while contributing to a safe, sound, innovative, and competitive financial services sector in Alberta. In this role, you will:
 

• Analyze and recommend policy, legislative, and regulatory frameworks to support a safe, sound, and innovative financial services and financial technology sector in Alberta.
• Provide strategic advice and develop policies and legislation that support government priorities and encourage innovation in the financial services and financial technology sectors.
• Consult and engage stakeholders on policy, legislative, regulatory, and financial services sector issues, including Alberta ministries, provincial and national finance ministries, Alberta credit unions, Credit Union Central of Alberta, CUDGC, ATB Financial, loan and trust corporations, industry associations, and academics.
• Participate in discussions with Invest Alberta, Treasury Board and Finance, other ministries, and regulators to support innovation in financial institutions and the broader financial services sector.
• Support financial services and financial technology companies that are starting, expanding or relocating into Alberta to advance economic diversification.
• Support operational tasks completed by the Branch, including Action Requests, market conduct calls, stakeholder inquiries, and the management of payments, records and information.
• Enable and support innovation and new investment in the financial services and financial technology sector to support economic diversification.
• Promote Alberta's Financial Services Concierge and Regulatory Sandbox through stakeholder engagement and outreach activities.

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.

The following competencies are essential for the position:

• Build Collaborative Environment – Establish and maintain strong and constructive relationships within ATB and/or loan and trust corporations, Treasury Board and Finance and other government ministries and external stakeholders. These stakeholders include members of boards of directors, senior officials of regulated entities, the Provincial Auditor General’s Office, CUDGC, extra-provincial regulatory agencies and the Bank of Canada.
• Develop Networks – Seeks and leverages internal and external relationships to ensure perspectives and needs are reflected in projects and complex regulatory issues.
• Agility – Anticipate, assess and adapt while maintaining resilience when facing competing priorities and timelines. This will include managing assigned or seconded team members and independent consultants to ensure that risk-based examination activities are carried out effectively.
• Systems Thinking – Consider legislation and emerging financial system trends and the relevance to new and existing financial services at ATB, including digital banking and increased third party service provision through the cloud.
• Creative Problem Solving – Proactively works across the branch and department to access and consolidate resources, insights and subject matter expertise to resolve issues or further escalate issues/concerns facing regulated entities.

This link will assist you with understanding competencies.

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in a related field (such as business, economics or public administration) and a minimum of four years of progressively responsible experience in policy analysis and development. Experience in financial institutions, financial services, or financial regulation is preferred.

Required skills and experiences:

• Experience in in public policy development and coordination (e.g., issue identification, research and analysis, options development, consultation, decision-making, implementation, or evaluation).
• Demonstrated understanding of the broader policy environment, including Government of Alberta priorities, legislative processes, cabinet and caucus structures, budget and business planning cycles, and the fiscal and operational implications of policy decisions.
• Experience supporting legislation development, regulatory processes, or submissions to Cabinet or Cabinet Policy Committees.
• Strong analytical, critical, and lateral thinking skills, with the ability to synthesize large volumes of information and identify emerging trends, issues, and implications.
• Highly developed written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present clear, concise, and neutral analysis and recommendations to senior leadership, including Executive Team and the Minister, as well as compelling messaging for external stakeholders.
• Ability to anticipate emerging issues, independently solve complex problems, and develop action plans with minimal direction from executive leadership.
• Advanced conceptual thinking skills, including the ability to integrate perspectives from leadership, stakeholders, and research across disciplines to develop innovative policy solutions.
• Commitment to ongoing research and environmental scanning, including awareness of government priorities, stakeholder needs, and external factors influencing policy development.
• Strong project management skills, including the ability to influence across divisions, ministries, and stakeholder groups, and to develop solutions when facing competing priorities or limited resources.
  
  

The following would be considered as assets:

• Master’s degree in a related field (such as business, economics or public administration).
• Legislative drafting experience is an asset.
• Knowledge of financial institutions, capital markets, financial management frameworks, and the digital economy, including open banking, digital finance, and digital assets.

Equivalency: 

• 1 year of education for 1 year of experience; and
• 1 year of experience for 1 year of education.

Please submit a cover letter outlining your related experience to help us better understand how well your qualifications relate to this role.

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

This is a permanent full-time position working 36.25 hours per week, Monday to Friday.

This position is located in 302-9515 107 Street NW, Edmonton, AB, T5K 2C3.

Candidates may be asked to participate in a written assessment.

Candidates with lesser qualifications may be considered at a lower classification and salary. This competition may be used to fill current and future vacancies at equal or lesser classification across the Government of Alberta.

Final candidates will be required to undergo a security screening.

• Final candidates will be required to undergo a criminal records check (CRC).
• Applicants being considered for this position will be required to complete a level 1 Security screening (including an enhanced criminal record check as part of the pre-employment checks for this position.

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 the Government of Alberta has to offer:

• Working for the Alberta Public Service
• Public Service Pension Plan (PSPP)  
• Alberta Public Service Benefit Information
• Professional learning and development
• Research Alberta Public Service Careers tool
• Positive workplace culture and work-life balance.