Finance Business Partner

Competition ID:
J0125-0354

Job Title:
Finance Business Partner

Job Type:
Temporary Full Time

Job Category:
Accounting & Finance

Open Positions:
1

Department:
Corporate Finance & Treasury

Date Posted:
January 14, 2025

Closing Date:
February 14, 2025

Salary:
$88,479.18 - $112,569.60

Hours per Week:
The Finance Business Partner role is multifaceted and integral to ensuring the financial health and strategic direction of the municipality. The primary responsibility lies in maintaining accurate financial accounting and reporting, conducting thorough variance analysis, and performing meticulous reconciliations. Additionally, the Finance Business Partner transitions work in progress to capitalization, safeguarding the integrity of asset management protocols.

Expertise extends to forecasting against council-approved budgets, playing a central role in providing insights that guide resource allocation and expenditure decisions. With a keen eye for detail and a deep understanding of financial dynamics, the Finance Business Partner actively monitors and manages fund operations and capital projects, ensuring alignment with organizational objectives and regulatory requirements.

In the capacity as a trusted advisor, the Finance Business Partner provides essential budget and financial planning support to department managers, empowering them to make informed decisions that optimize performance and drive efficiency. Through proactive collaboration and effective communication, a culture of financial stewardship and accountability is fostered across all levels of the municipality.

Contributions are instrumental in enabling strategic decision-making, mitigating financial risks, and driving sustainable growth in alignment with overarching mission and objectives. As a Finance Business Partner, they serve as a linchpin between finance and operations, driving excellence and innovation in financial management practices within the municipality.

This position will be posted until a suitable candidate is found.

KEY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Financial Analysis, Accounting & Reporting (25%)

• Conduct comprehensive financial analysis to support decision-making processes across various departments within the municipality.
• Ensure accurate and timely financial accounting and reporting for all departments, adhering to regulatory standards and internal policies.
• Collaborate with department heads to develop and monitor departmental budgets, providing guidance and support as needed.
• Perform variance analysis to identify key drivers of financial performance and recommend corrective actions where necessary.
• Prepare and present financial reports and insights to departmental stakeholders and senior management, facilitating informed decision-making.
• Provide training and guidance to departmental staff on financial policies, procedures, and systems to ensure compliance and accuracy in financial reporting.
• Proactively identify opportunities for process improvement and automation within the financial accounting and reporting function.
• Maintain a deep understanding of municipal financial regulations, accounting standards, and best practices to ensure compliance and mitigate financial risks.
• Support year-end financial accounting activities and audit requirements.

Business Partner Program (25%)

• Build good working relationships at all levels across the organization and establish respect and confidence in the information and quality of advice provided.
• Provide fiscal oversight, financial reporting, accounting, and budget services to assigned divisions within the County.
• Understand and promote consistent implementation and use of corporate financial bylaws, policies, processes, guidelines, and tools in order to maintain integrity, safeguard corporate assets, and mitigate risk.
• Work with client groups to assist with accurate and timely budget, forecast, and variance analysis.
• Advise on the implementation of operating and capital procedures, processes, and reporting to ensure alignment with corporate objectives, procedures, and processes in the management of operating and capital accounting for County projects and programs.
• Hold responsibility for preparing and facilitating monthly management meetings providing insights into their financial activity, collecting financial information, and observing any significant areas of interest to inform leadership and Council through the County's financial reporting framework.
• Collaborate with management and staff to provide financial expertise in areas including budgeting, forecasting, coding, contracting, and other financial decision-making and analysis.

Budget & Financial Planning (25%)

• Understand key financial and operational drivers of performance and integrate these into financial models for analysis and forecasting advice in order to assess progress being made toward financial goals and objectives.
• Assist with departmental operating budget development and department review of base budget submissions for operations prior to fall each year.
• Complete variance reviews of projected revenues and report to treasury and financial planning team.
• Complete variance reviews of projected expenditures and report to treasury and financial planning team.
• Act as a liaison for significant changes to department managers for operating budgets.

Other Related Duties (25%)

• Support internal and external special projects as assigned by management (financial systems, controls, processes, research, etc.).
• Provide coverage within the department for finance and accounting activities as required.
• Read, research, create, and understand policies, directives, procedures, bylaws, meeting minutes, software manuals, and relevant work-related legislation.
• Remain current on relevant accounting standards, internal processes, procedures, policies, bylaws, and Municipal Government Act requirements that may be relative to the finance team and communicate as necessary.
• Adhere to applicable responsibilities and accountabilities as outlined in the Sturgeon County Health and Safety Management System.

KNOWLEDGE, EDUCATION, QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS, ABILITIES, AND EXPERIENCE

Required:

• Good knowledge of government accounting and auditing practices and principles as well as strong accounting skills.
• Bachelor's degree in an accounting related field and a minimum of 2 years' experience or be enrolled in an accounting degree program and a minimum of 5 years of relevant accounting experience.
• Ability to work in a team environment or independently.
• Ability to take initiative, be independent, resourceful, work well and effectively under pressure and meet deadlines in an organized manner.
• Ability to communicate clearly and professionally verbally and in writing, including being adaptable, receptive, and timely when communicating with others.
• Strong public relation problem-solving skills.
• Ability to deal with confidential information with a high degree of diplomacy.
• Ability to analyze issues, including applying problem-solving skills and ability to provide recommended solutions.
• Detail oriented with figures, excellent mathematical skills.
• Proficiency when using all Microsoft Office Programs (Excel, Word, and PowerPoint, etc.).

Assets:

• One of the following accounting designations would be considered as an asset:
• CPA,
• CMA,
• CGA, or CA