Controller

First United Church; Vancouver; On-site; CAD 86,000 - 96,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading charity organization in Vancouver is seeking a Controller to manage financial operations, ensuring compliance with accounting standards and accuracy in financial reporting. This role requires a Bachelor's degree in accounting, CPA designation preferred, and experience in non-profit fund accounting. The organization offers a comprehensive benefits package, a positive work environment focused on social justice, and competitive salary range.

Benefits

Comprehensive health benefits

Defined benefit pension plan

15 days of paid vacation

Paid statutory holidays and sick leave

Qualifications

• 5-7 years of experience in finance/accounting.
• Accounts payable and receivable management.
• Experience in fund accounting for non-profits.

Responsibilities

• Maintain accounting records and compliance with Canadian GAAP.
• Oversee accounts payable and payroll processing.
• Prepare financial reports and coordinate budgets.

Skills

Expertise with payroll software

General understanding of processing payroll

Excellent organizational skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in accounting or business administration

CPA designation (completed or nearing completion)

Tools

QuickBooks Online accounting software

Payworks

Raiser's Edge

Job description

FIRST UNITED is a registered charity that has been serving Vancouver's Downtown Eastside community for 140 years. We offer responsive, low-barrier services to individuals who are low-income, underhoused or homeless. We pursue dignity, belonging, and justice to meet the daily needs of community members while engaging in systems change work to reduce homelessness and break cycles of poverty. If you're looking for purpose-filled work and want to make a difference in the community, this might be the opportunity for you.

FIRST UNITED is seeking applications for the position of: Controller

WHAT WE OFFER:

Salary: $86,108 - $95,605

• Annual salary progression for all staff
• Comprehensive and 100% employer-paid health benefits including extended health and dental plan for regular staff, spouses and dependents
• United Church of Canada defined benefit pension plan; employee contribution rate 6%, employer contribution rate 9%
• Life insurance, Long-term Disability, and AD&D benefits
• 15 days of paid annual vacation
• 13 statutory paid days off every year and 12 days of paid sick leave

Each job within the First United Church Community Ministry Society should promote our accomplishment of our vision, mission, and values.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

The Controller is accountable for accounting operations at First United Church Community Ministry Society: including reconciliations, maintenance of adequate systems of accounting records, and ensuring accuracy of First United's financial records, including compliance with Canadian generally accepted accounting principles.
This position also provides support to the Senior Director, Finance & Administration in various areas of financial analysis and reporting, including preparation of annual budgets and reports for funding partners.

SPECIFIC DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Accounts Management:

• Maintains and enforces a documented system of accounting policies & procedures
• Oversees the operations of the accounting department, including control systems, transaction-processing operations, policies and procedures

Accounting Transactions:

• Ensure accounts payable are paid in a timely manner and that all reasonable discounts are taken; process cheque runs & prepare/process electronic payments and transfers
• Ensure that accounts receivable are collected promptly
• Assist the Payroll & Benefits Coordinator with payroll reporting problems or in correcting errors
• Review bi-weekly payroll before finalization
• Process bi-weekly payroll when Payroll & Benefits Coordinator is absent
• Ensure that bank reconciliations are completed
• Ensure reconciliations with Raiser's Edge (fundraising software) are completed
• Ensure required debt payments are made on a timely basis (if applicable)
• Maintain the chart of accounts
• Maintain orderly accounting filing systems
• In partnership with the Senior Director, Finance & Administration, maintain a system of controls over accounting transactions
• Make weekly bank deposits and enter bank deposit information from the Raiser's Edge (fundraising) software as receipts in the QuickBooks accounting system
• Enter adjusting journal entries as needed

Finance Reporting & Compliance

• Review monthly financial statements
• Preparation of financial reporting to institutional funders & for annual reports, as necessary
• Coordinate annual budgeting processes with Senior Director, Finance & Administration
• Provide financial analysis as needed, under the direction of the Senior Director, Finance & Administration
• Coordinate the provision of information to external auditors
• Prepare quarterly and annual filing for WorkSafeBC premiums

KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS

5-7 years of progressively responsible experience in a finance/accounting department of a mid-sized organization ($3-8M operating budget).

• Expertise with payroll software and general understanding of requirements of processing payroll in a Canadian context
• Expertise with Payworks would be an asset
• Expertise with Raiser's Edge a plus
• Good command of English language both written and verbal
• Ability to effectively interact with a variety of staff and members of the public in a diplomatic, professional and result-oriented manner.
• Excellent organizational skills and ability to prioritize one's workload

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor's degree in accounting or business administration, or equivalent business experience
• CPA designation (completed or nearing completion), or equivalent business experience
• Expertise processing accounting transactions with QuickBooks Online accounting software
• Accounts payable, accounts receivable and bank reconciliation experience (5-7 years)
• General accounting and financial reporting experience (3-5 years)
• Fund accounting for not-for-profit experience (2+ years)

SCOPE OF RESPONSIBILITY

Supervisory Responsibility
None

Financial Responsibility
Responsible for accounting for the revenues and expenses, including internal reporting. Oversees cash receipts and cash disbursements. Monitors the bank balances and cash flow requirements of the organization.

Latitude
The incumbent works fairly independently. If clarification is required, it is expected that the incumbent will request further direction from the Senior Director, Finance & Administration.

INTERNAL/EXTERNAL RELATIONSHIPS

Regular communication is maintained with all levels of management and staff as accounting information is gathered, transactions are processed, and reports are produced.

• Management: seek input or exchange information about accounts payable, accounts receivable, budget or other accounting related matters
• First United Church staff: to exchange information, advise or receive instruction on specific accounting tasks
• Vendors, donors, payroll software, WorkSafeBC, BC Housing, CRA, and other external parties: regular communication to provide and obtain information, answer general inquiries, phone calls, emails etc.

JOB CLASSIFICATION & WAGES

X Exempt □ Management □ Bargaining Unit

Job Classification: The United Church of Canada Wage Grid Category 8

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We are committed to becoming a more just, equitable, inclusive, and diverse workplace, which extends to how we hire. We are continually learning new and unlearning old practices while examining systemic causes of inequity, including colonialism.

We aim to be representative of the communities that we serve. We welcome everyone to apply, and we strongly encourage applications from members of communities that have been marginalized based on Indigeneity, race, colour, religion, nationality, social or ethnic origin, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression. In order to achieve a representative team, preference may be given to people who are members of one or more of these groups.

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