Assistant Director and Senior Accounting Operations

Socket.dev; Ottawa; On-site; CAD 88,000 - 113,000; Full time

Job summary

Saint Paul University seeks an Assistant Director and Senior Accounting Operations Advisor to oversee accounting operations, budgeting and financial controls. You will supervise staff, provide technical leadership, and ensure timely, accurate financial reporting in a complex academic environment.

The role requires seven years of accounting/finance experience, a degree in accounting or business admin, and CPA considered a strong asset.

Qualifications

• University degree in accounting or business administration; CPA asset is a plus.
• Seven years of progressive experience in accounting/financial management.
• Experience in budgeting, variance analysis and financial controls.
• Experience leading a team and coaching staff.
• Familiarity with accounting systems and ERP environments.

Responsibilities

• Supervise day-to-day accounting and financial operations.
• Provide technical leadership and resolve complex accounting issues.
• Support budgeting, planning, and financial statements preparation.
• Develop tools for financial analysis and reporting.
• Advise managers on budgeting and financial controls.
• Assist in audit preparation and liaison with auditors.
• Ensure compliance with policies and regulatory requirements.

Skills

Accounting leadership

Financial analysis

Budgeting

Internal controls

ERP knowledge

Education

Bachelor's degree in accounting or business administration

CPA designation considered a strong asset

Tools

Excel

Raiser's Edge

Orion

Workforce Now

UO Campus

Job description

Job Title: Assistant Director and Senior Accounting Operations Advisor

Competition Number: 015-2026

Administrative unit: Financial Services

Immediate Supervisor: Director, Financial Services

Job Type: Indeterminate (non-unionized)

Work Schedule: 35 hours per week (4-day work week)

Vacancy: 1

Salary Scale : Level 10 ($ 88 202 to $ 113 473)

In this document, the masculine pronoun is used without discrimination and only for conciseness.

Saint Paul University (1848) is the founding college of the University of Ottawa, with which it has maintained an affiliation since 1965. Bilingual and on a human scale, it has more than 1,000 students; it offers programs in social communications, counselling and psychotherapy, canon law, public ethics, conflict studies, social innovation, leadership, ecology and equity, and theology.

Why choose Saint Paul University?

Working at Saint Paul University means working in an environment where collaboration, proximity and the opportunity to have a concrete impact are important. The University offers its staff an environment that promotes professional development, work-life balance which includes a four-day work week, as part of a regular 35-hour week for administrative staff, vacation, a pension plan and a group benefits program. Staff also benefit, subject to applicable conditions, from a tuition fee exemption for most programs offered by Saint Paul University and the University of Ottawa, promoting learning and professional development throughout their careers.

We are looking for people who want to share their expertise at the service of an organization on a human scale, while actively contributing to the development of their colleagues, the evolution of the University and the continuous improvement of our practices. At Saint Paul University, your expertise is recognized, your contribution is visible and your work will have a concrete impact.

Summary of duties

Reporting to the Financial Resources Director, the incumbent plays a key role in the management of the University's accounting and financial operations. They plan, coordinate and actively participate in the day-to-day activities of the department, as well as supervise the team's work and ensures the quality, accuracy and integrity of accounting operations and compliance within set deadlines.

As a senior resource person in accounting and financial matters, they also provide technical leadership to the team. They support staff members in the resolution of complex accounting issues, ensure the transfer of knowledge and actively contribute to the development of their skills and professional autonomy.

The incumbent also supports the Director in financial management, budget planning, preparation of financial statements, financial control and continuous improvement projects. They participate in the development of decision-making tools, financial analysis and the improvement of controls and processes.

They act as an advisory resource for managers on matters within their areas of expertise, particularly in the areas of accounting practices, administrative policies and procedures, and legislative and regulatory requirements. They also contribute to the development, implementation and harmonization of the University's financial practices, processes and systems. These responsibilities take up and reinforce the advisory role already provided for in the current description.

Key Functions

Team management, coaching and development

• Supervise and coordinate the day-to-day activities of Financial Services staff.
• Collaborate with the Director to establish operational priorities, distribute work and monitor timelines and results.
• Act as the first point of contact for technical questions in accounting and finance.
• Provide team members with the necessary advice to solve complex problems.
• Coach, train and mentor team members to strengthen their technical, accounting and financial knowledge and skills.
• Identify the technical development needs of the team and promote knowledge transfer.
• Review work processes and provide feedback to improve the accuracy, efficiency and autonomy of team members.
• Establish and promote high standards of quality, rigour and financial control.
• Foster a work environment based on collaboration, learning and professional development.

Accounting, banking and financial operations

• Supervise and monitor accounting, banking and financial operations.
• Review and validate financial transactions and ensuring that they are properly recorded.
• Oversee bank and financial reconciliations.
• Review accounting entries, adjustments, accruals and closing activities.
• Identify accounting discrepancies, errors or anomalies, determine their causes and ensure the implementation of appropriate corrective measures.
• Ensure the integrity of the general ledger and the quality of financial information.
• Authorise banking transactions in accordance with the applicable delegations of authority.
• Compile, analyze, interpret and report financial data to the director of the department
• Ensure that the University's accounting practices and controls remain appropriate and well documented.

Budgetary operations and financial analysis

• Support the director in budget planning, preparation, analysis and control.
• Develop and improve budget tracking tools, reports and mechanisms.
• Review and validate budgets submitted by the different departments.
• Advise managers on the management and monitoring of their budgets.
• Analyze variances between actual results, budgets and forecasts and recommends appropriate actions.
• Track endowments, deferred revenues, scholarships, grants, donations, and other restricted funds.
• Analyze the distribution of salary expenses and identify discrepancies.
• Prepare various financial and salary analyses necessary for decision-making.
• May conduct salary cost analyses in support of management and labour relations activities.

Student Accounts and Accounts Receivable

• Review and validate financial transactions from student records management systems.
• Ensure the consistency of accounting information between the different financial and administrative systems.
• Perform or supervise reconciliations of accounts receivable.
• Follow-up on amounts owed and recommend appropriate collection actions.
• Ensure the consistent application of controls and procedures related to student financial transactions.

Director assistance and support

• Act as a liaison for objectives set by supervisor or senior management.
• Inform the Director of Financial resources of problems found in operations and propose and/or recommend solutions.
• Assist the Director as needed in the management of various special or institutional projects.
• Ensure compliance with the various levels of government by filling out forms and producing reports as needed (e.g., research grant, T3010, T1235, F300, Statistics Canada NPO status, etc.).
• Assist the Director in the preparation of worksheet, reports and dashboards as well as financial statements and notes.
• Assist the Director in managing the audit process and in responding to questions and requests for information from auditors.
• Participate in the communication of financial information among managers.
• Prepares or revises required financial and regulatory returns, reports, and forms.
• Ensure that the quality of customer service is consistent among all members of the department;
• Perform any other task requested by their supervisor in their field of activity;
• Replace the Director as needed in case of absence and ensure team stability.

Improvement of financial processes and systems

• Participate in the development, review, implementation, documentation and harmonization of accounting and financial policies, procedures and processes.
• Review existing practices and recommend improvements to increase efficiency, reliability and strengthen controls.
• In collaboration with the various internal and external partners, participate in the implementation or improvement of systems that have an impact on financial and budgetary operations.
• Participate in the development and validation of financial processes related to the systems used by the University, including UO Campus, Workforce Now, Raiser's Edge, Orion, and accounting systems.
• Contribute to the automation and improvement of financial reporting tools.

Education, Experience, Knowledge and Abilities

• Education and professional designation:
  • University degree in accounting, or business administration, with a specialization in accounting, or a directly related discipline.
  • CPA designation considered a strong asset.
  • An exceptional combination of specialized accounting education and extensive professional experience may be considered when it clearly demonstrates an equivalent mastery of the required accounting skills.
  • Continuing education or professional development in accounting, internal control, financial analysis, auditing or financial management is an asset.
• Experience
  • A minimum of seven (7) years of progressive and relevant experience in accounting and financial management, including significant experience in functions requiring advanced accounting expertise.
  • Extensive experience in multiple accounting cycles, including:
    • general ledger;
    • reconciliations and conciliations;
    • adjusting and closing entries;
    • accounts receivable and payable;
    • deferred revenue and restricted funds;
    • budgeting and variance analysis;
    • financial controls;
    • Preparation of financial statements
  • Demonstrated experience in analyzing and resolving complex accounting issues, including year-end activities, preparing audit files, and interacting with external auditors.
  • Experience in supervising, coordinating or leading a team, including coaching, mentoring, training or knowledge transfer to members of an accounting or finance team.
  • Experience in improving accounting processes and strengthening internal controls.
  • Experience in an accounting firm, particularly in auditing, is a strong asset.
  • Experience in the academic, public, parapublic or not-for-profit sector is an asset
• Professional expertise and knowledge
  • In-depth expertise in accounting principles and practices, as well as an ability to apply them to complex situations.
  • An excellent understanding of the full accounting cycle and the mechanisms to ensure the integrity of financial information.
  • A strong command of the preparation and analysis of financial statements.
  • In-depth knowledge of internal control mechanisms, financial risk management and segregation of duties.
  • An excellent understanding of the principles of budgeting, financial forecasting, and variance analysis.
  • An ability to analyze complex transactions or problems, identify the root cause, and recommend sustainable solutions.
  • A very good knowledge of accounting and financial systems as well as ERP environments.
  • Excellent proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel, as well as comfort in using various analysis and reporting tools.
  • Bilingualism (oral and written).

We thank all applicants for their interest in this position. We will be contacting only those candidates who have been chosen for the next step of the selection process.

We are committed to ensure employment equity and we encourage the participation of all Canadians. If your application is successful and you think you need accommodation during the selection process, please notify us. Your personal information is protected under the provisions of the Privacy Act.