BFA Senior Accountant

City of Edmonton; Edmonton; Hybrid; CAD 75,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work arrangement

Job summary

The City of Edmonton, within the Financial Services Department, seeks an experienced accounting professional to support budgeting, forecasting and financial analysis. You will review transactions, provide policy guidance and ensure controls and reporting meet provincial standards.

The position requires a CPA designation and at least five years of public-sector accounting experience, with strong Excel and SAP skills. A hybrid work arrangement and full-time schedule are available.

Qualifications

• CPA designation required
• 5+ years accounting experience, preferably public sector
• Strong Excel/Google Sheets skills
• Experience with budgeting, forecasting and variance analysis
• Knowledge of Public Sector Accounting Standards and Municipal Government Act
• Ability to supervise and mentor staff
• Experience with financial reporting and notes disclosures

Responsibilities

• Review transactions and monthly accounting entries; ensure proper controls
• Provide financial policy guidance and assist with complex events or transactions
• Interpret accounting data to support multi-year and one-time budgets
• Lead cost analyses and business case development with reports
• Oversee working paper packages for operating reporting and disclosures
• Provide leadership and coaching to accounting staff
• Coordinate operating budget submissions and financial planning for business areas
• Support strategic operational decisions with complex financial analytics
• Journalize and summarize financial data for council reports

Skills

Attention to detail

Communication

Analytical thinking

Independent work

Time management

Cross-team collaboration

Policy interpretation

Education

CPA designation

Tools

COBS

SAP

Job description

The City of Edmonton is continuing to evolve and grow in response to the needs of our citizens. We are redefining how we do finance in a municipal setting while fiscally guiding our organization to a higher standard of excellence. Within the Financial Services Department, you will be part of the Finance and Treasury Branch.

What will you do?

• Review of transactions and monthly accounting entries, including periodic review of recurring transactions with the business areas
• Provide technical and professional advice and assistance in matters pertaining to financial policy, procedures and controls, and accounting policies and standards, including the evaluation and analysis of non-routine and complex events or transactions
• Provide financial advice and support to client operations by interpreting accounting data and developing strategies for ongoing, multi-year, and or one-time operational budget proposals
• Review transaction processes ensuring appropriate controls exist to mitigate the risk of errors, fraud and misstatement
• Identify areas for continuous improvement and lead change through providing advice and expertise in accounting and business process areas
• Perform financial evaluations on the portfolio assessments, providing detailed analysis and interpretation of overall costing. Support business case development to include the generation of reports and analysis to support or refute business case options.
• Responsible for the oversight of the non-consolidated working paper packages for all aspects of the operating reporting included in the legislative reporting; including preparing and reviewing related note disclosures
• Provide leadership, direction, guidance and supervision to a team of accounting professional and technical staff by communicating department vision, work, values, and core deliverables
• Provide coaching and mentoring to staff and support training and development to facilitate successful career development
• Provide financial expertise and consultative services to ensure the accuracy and completeness of financial planning, forecasting and budgeting activities, monthly performance reporting, variance analysis and other financial analytical reviews
• Coordinate the operating budget submissions for the business partner
• Support strategic decisions for operational needs through complex financial analytics to support business decision making
• Coordinate and direct the preparation of a variety of reports and statements to support financial planning for business area projects and emergent requests
• Identify areas for continuous improvement and lead change through providing advice and expertise in accounting and business process areas
• Ensure adherence of financial requirements to the Municipal Government Act, Public Sector Accounting Board standards and City of Edmonton financial policies and procedures
• Conduct analysis of cost drivers and provide advice and recommendations to Operations identifying potential areas where financial issues may occur
• Provide recommendations and interpretation of analysis for business case and council reports as required
• Liaise between client and centralized financial services
• Perform other duties as assigned

Qualifications

• Recognized Canadian professional accounting designation (CPA, CA, CMA, CGA) is required
• Minimum five (5) years of progressively responsible related accounting experience, preferably within the public sector environment, including financial management, variance reporting, financial analytics, and financial planning and budgeting within a large organization

Skills required for success

• Ability to liaise with internal and external parties to analyze, reconcile and evaluate accuracy of financial information and advise accordingly in order to ensure compliance with policies and regulatory requirements and consistency across departments
• Excellent written and verbal communication, customer service, time management, and prioritization skills and the aptitude to maintain working relationships with all levels of management and non-management personnel in a complex environment
• Strong independent analytical and conceptual problem solving skills and effective communication are expected to resolve complex financial issues and support operational and business needs
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision is required
• Ability to effectively communicate and maintain a working relationship with all levels of management and non-management personnel
• Demonstrated resilient interpersonal skills with ability to support and engage with internal and external Community Partners including other municipalities
• Strong knowledge of Public Sector Accounting Standards and the Municipal Government Act and regulations, along with understanding of acceptable business practices, internal controls and policies within a large corporate environment is considered an asset
• Advanced skills in Microsoft Excel and Google Sheets and strong attention to detail are required
• Significant knowledge and experience with COBS, SAP, and other related systems within the context of the work
• Embrace the Cultural Commitments of Safe, Helpful, Accountable, Integrated and Excellent, and foster an environment that encourages others to do the same
• Applicants may be tested

Work Environment

• Note: This position may be eligible for a hybrid work arrangement with the flexibility to work from both home and the worksite as per the Letter of Understanding between the City of Edmonton and Civic Service Union 52.
• The weekly hours of work for this position are currently under review and may change at a future time. Any changes will be made in accordance with the City of Edmonton/Civic Service Union 52 collective agreement and the incumbent will be notified in advance.
• Alignment to our Cultural Commitments and Leadership Competencies ( https://bit.ly/4brRrXm )
• Embracing a culture of equity, diversity, reconciliation and inclusion

The City of Edmonton values applicants with a diverse range of skills, experiences and competencies, and encourages you to apply. We strive to provide reasonable access and accommodations throughout the recruitment process. To request an accommodation, please contact [e-mail]. Learn more about our benefits https://bit.ly/COEbenefits

Up to 1 temporary with benefits full-time position for up to December 31, 2027 in accordance with the Enterprise Systems Transformation Program (ESTP) Letter of Understanding between the City of Edmonton and Civil Services Union 52

Hours of Work: 40 hours per week

Salary Range: $54.505 - $68.843 (Hourly); $113,806.440 - $143,744.180 (Annually)

Recruitment Consultant: KE/SB

Edmonton rests in the heart of Treaty Six territory in Alberta and the homelands of the Metis Nation.