Brazeau County is looking for a full-time
Controller to join our Corporate Services team. This position works at our office location within our Finance division. Our administration staff enjoy great perks of work-life balance, including our County sponsored benefits and wellness program. This position participates in our earned flex day program and could work remotely on occasions.
If you posses a range of accounting experience and knowledge, work well independently, and are interested to perform and support the annual municipal finance cycle while providing guidance to team members – you may be the person we are looking for.
Position Summary
Reporting to and working closely with the Director of Corporate Services, the Controller is responsible for providing accurate and timely financial information and to ensure accounting system integrity. Additionally, the Controller’s duties include external reporting (financial statements, statutory reports, etc.), taxation matters, and providing advice on financial matters as they arise. The Controller also oversees direct reports who are responsible for the County’s Accounts Receivables and Accounts Payables functions.
Responsibilities
- Accountable for the municipality's financial accounting systems and procedures, ensuring accuracy, compliance with regulatory standards, and efficiency in accounting processes (accounts receivable, accounts payable, and reporting), including appropriate systems and internal controls.
- Oversees and monitors the monthly, quarterly and yearly financial cycle to ensure consistency with County policy and statutory requirements.
- Lead regular monthly variance analysis and financial reviews to identify trends and provide insights into fiscal health and opportunities for improvement.
- Responsible for the provision of preparing and reconciling reports including internal and external reports; budget reports, financial statements, GST reports, annual financial information returns, bank reconciliations, and monthly financial statements.
- Participates in the County’s asset management program and monitors and analyzes asset management.
- Responsible for the County’s insurance policies, including policy renewals, premiums, and claims.
- Maintains the general ledger (GL) and subsidiary ledgers by overseeing GL maintenance in the County’s Financial System, including the creation/change/deletion of GL accounts, tables and budgets, and reconciliation of GL accounts and subsidiary ledgers to the general ledger and fixed assets.
- Coordinate the year-end work in conjunction with the Director and create the year-end working papers for the financial statements.
- Compiles and prepares data for the year-end financial reporting, preparation of draft annual financial statements and assists in the completion of the statements and returns as required by the Director.
- Assist the Director with the preparation of documents for financial presentations to Council and attend as needed.
- Lead a diverse team of professionals managing accounts payable, accounts receivable, taxation, utility billing, cash receipting, and payroll while ensuring effective oversight of staff timesheet approvals, leave requests, and compliance with the County’s personnel policies.
- Manage the administration of operational and capital grants, including grant applications, tracking, reporting, and compliance.
- Monitor and manage municipal debt and investments to ensure financial sustainability and adequate liquidity for future capital projects.
- Monitor legislative changes, ensuring organizational compliance with all applicable bylaws, Acts, and regulations, and track trends that may impact the community or the municipality's financial operations.
- Provides coverage for the Director of Corporate Services when absent or when the Director is providing coverage for other members of senior management.
- To undertake any other reasonable duty, commensurate with the classification and responsibility of the position, across the department to meet service priorities and business continuity requirements.
- May be required in the event of a municipal emergency to support the emergency operations centre and incident action/recovery plan.
Education/Training
Competency Areas:
- A post-secondary degree in Business Administration, Accounting, Commerce, Public Administration, or a related discipline; with a CPA designation preferred or in progress.
Licenses/Certifications/Designation
- A professional accounting designation (CPA, CGA, CMA) or substantial completion of the program is required.
- Certification as a Payroll Compliance Practitioner (PCP) is considered an asset.
- A valid Class 5 Driver’s License is required.
Experiences/Knowledge/Skills
- A minimum of three years’ experience in municipal finance administration or a related field, with proven expertise in financial planning, budgeting, and auditing.
- A minimum of three years’ experience in a supervisory role.
- Familiarity with financial management systems (e.g., Sylogist, Questica, Great Plains Diamond) is required.
- A strong understanding of Public Sector Accounting Standards (PSAS), municipal finance regulations, and the Municipal Government Act is required.
- Asset management experience is considered an asset.
- Extremely high attention to detail and proficiency with data entry and review, and reconciliation.
- Exceptional analytical and communication skills, with the ability to present complex financial data clearly to diverse audiences.
- Ability to communicate professionally and tactfully with customers and co-workers.
- Highly proficient skills and advanced knowledge using financial software, Office 365 including Excel and Word, and databases.
- Ability to prioritize and complete multiple tasks within deadlines.
- Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
- Excellent writing and editing skills for correspondence, reports, and legal agreements.
- Trustworthy with relation to confidential matters.
ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE
Direct Reporting Relationships
- Director of Corporate Services
Indirect Reporting Relationships
Interaction With External Contacts
- Vendors
- Stakeholders
- Residents
This Position Provides Backup Support To
- Director of Corporate Services
Compensation And Classification
- The anticipated start date is June 23, 2025
- Full-Time, Permanent at 37.5 hours per week
- Monday to Friday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm with a one-hour lunch break
- Participates in the earned flex day program
- Full benefits and pension after three months
- Starting salary range is $102,548 to $116,222
- Non-union
- Supervisory