Director, Finance and Commercial Strategy - Keolis Grand River

Keolis provides mobility to over 3.4 billion passengers a year in 15 countries, operating every mode from commuter trains and automated metros to shared bicycles. The almost 1,000 employees of Keolis Canada operate light rail vehicles, urban buses, intercity coaches and airport shuttles. For over 12 million passengers a year, they make reaching their destination a safe, reliable and pleasant experience.

Reporting to the General Manager of Keolis Grand River (KGR), the Director, Finance and Commercial Strategy, contributes to the Region of Waterloo’s successful ION Light Rail Transit (LRT) system by being responsible for leading the financial and commercial strategy areas of KGR in the context of our long-term Operation, Maintenance and Rehabilitation (OM&R) contract as part of this Public-Private Partnership.

This position is responsible for leading a small team of multi-disciplinary employees in the areas of finance, contract management, IT, procurement and business analytics. Financial services include financial Reporting, Budget development, and generating deliverables with our corporately centralized financial group.

Key Accountabilities

• Lead KGR’s financial management and produce yearly budget, and business planning, including organization-wide forecasts and five-year plans, ensuring corporate alignment;
• Produce periodic future-looking financial information and outputs on performance, financial statements and financial ratios;
• Manage, support, mentor and coach both direct and once-remote employees for them to reach their potential and build a strong and motivated team;
• Work with all KGR departments and with Keolis corporate groups to analyze, understand and report on the financial results, and to meet quality and consistency of reporting;
• Provide contract management oversight on the ION LRT agreements binding the various partners of our Public-Private Partnership and provide advice in strategic planning and decision-making through the insightful identification, understanding and assessment of business levers and plans;
• Work with the contract manager for the analysis and interpretation of contracts, documents and correspondence; propose appropriate positions for the organization; and develop and monitor responses to contract management requirements, obligations and opportunities;
• Work positively with key business, contract and finance stakeholders to carry out detailed analysis and produce necessary reports for appropriate oversight, including internal and external auditors.
• Deliver and coordinate financial monitoring and audits with all departments, for budgetary tracking, control, identification of risks and opportunities;
• Recommend, develop and implement strategies and measures for financial performance, minimize the impact of variances and develop business cases as appropriate;
• Review and assess procurement and purchasing practices, and suppliers’ individual services, performance and costs, and propose changes as appropriate in line with the corporate framework;
• Identify, analyze and address contractual, business and financial risks, as well as gaps in compliance, performance and reporting;
• Coordinate legal analysis, interpretation and position on contract management issues with internal and external counsels as required;
• Lead, monitor and ensure accountability, transparency, legal and ethical compliance and traceability in financial processes.
• Lead continual improvement programs to further KGR’s financial performance.

Knowledge and Skills

• Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, financial modelling, operations and performance management
• Knowledge of financial systems such as; SAP Financials, Ax dynamics
• Knowledge of business and financial laws and regulations, procedures, precedents, and agency rules
• Knowledge of contract management systems, policies, procedures, and tools for contract compliance, interpretation and administration; business analysis and reporting; audits; financial management; risk assessment and management; and legal support.
• Comfortable leading and developing a team of multi-disciplinary employees
• Excellent English verbal and written communication skills
• French language skills a plus, but not required

Experience

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in business management, accounting or finance
• Developing and implementing financial strategies
• Experience in business negotiations, with a demonstrated ability to negotiate and influence
• Five to seven years’ experience in the field of management accounting with experience in contract management
• Demonstrated ability to identify, assess and manage financial and contractual obligations and risks
• Demonstrated analytical ability to enable sound reporting, identify and understand trends and lead improvements
• Demonstrated personal code of ethics and ability to work in a confidential manner
• CMA, CFA and/or CIM designation an asset