Finance & Regulatory Manager / Festival Hydro

The MEARIE Group; Stratford; Hybrid; CAD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a Finance & Regulatory Manager to lead financial operations and ensure regulatory compliance. This hybrid role involves managing the finance team, overseeing financial reporting, and collaborating with various departments to maintain financial integrity. The ideal candidate will possess a CPA designation and have a strong background in management and regulatory matters. Join a forward-thinking utility committed to excellence and make a significant impact in a dynamic environment where your leadership will drive strategic objectives.

Qualifications

• CPA designation required with 4+ years of management experience.
• Strong knowledge of legislation and accounting standards.

Responsibilities

• Manage finance operations and ensure compliance with regulations.
• Oversee budget processes and financial reporting.

Skills

Management Experience

Regulatory Compliance

Financial Reporting

Leadership Skills

Communication Skills

Strategic Thinking

Education

Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA)

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)

Job description

Finance & Regulatory Manager

Festival Hydro is a local electricity distribution company serving over 22,000 customers across seven municipalities. We are a forward-thinking utility committed to excellence in customer service and operational performance. We are currently seeking a skilled and motivated individual to join our team as Finance & Regulatory Manager.

Position Summary:
Reporting to the Chief Financial Officer, the Finance & Regulatory Manager is responsible for maintaining accurate financial records, overseeing financial and regulatory reporting, and providing effective leadership to the accounting team. This hybrid position plays a key role in supporting the utility’s financial integrity, regulatory compliance, and overall strategic objectives.

Key Responsibilities:

• Manage day-to-day operations of the Finance and Regulatory department and ensure all activities are completed accurately and consistent with timelines.
• Manage the budget process and create templates and reports to ensure appropriate consolidation and review of budgets.
• Review monthly financials for Festival Hydro and Festival Hydro Services and manage the finance team to deliver variance analyses to budget and provide rationale for variances.
• Manager the process to develop and consolidate budgets provided by business units and complete required forecasting for financial reporting.
• Manager the accounting processes within the Enterprise Resource Planning (“ERP”) system.
• Maintain the general ledger, complete reconciliations, and ensure accounts are set up in accordance with OEB requirements.
• Manage and approve all accounts payable and accounts receivable and post monthly journal entries.
• Manage and review payroll processes and transactions including understanding of the Union Collective Agreement and legislative requirements.
• Manage and post daily cash receipts, monthly accruals and inventory transactions.
• Communicate and collaborate with department leaders to stay abreast of spending, budgeting and reports.
• Assist CFO with preparing Board of Director reports and financial statements.
• Liaise with third-party auditors and tax accountants to provide required documentation to ensure the swift closure of auding activities.
• Regulatory filings, submissions, and compliance; act as an expert resource for all regulatory matters affecting the operations of Festival Hydro.
• Act as the internal resource for interpreting regulatory codes and related documents from provincial authorities, such as the OEB, IESO and Ministry of Energy.
• Work with the billing team to oversee the accuracy and timeliness of IESO settlements, and compliance with the OEB’s rules.
• Ensure Festival Hydro is in compliance with all regulatory requirements, including data collection, reporting, implementation of internal process changes, and record-keeping.
• Ensure compliance with the Affiliate Relationship Code applicable to regulated utilities in Ontario.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for translating and communicating the company’s financial position and operations for the purposes of regulatory applications and reporting requirements.
• Determine implementation and action plans of policy and regulation changes.
• Corporate Scorecard, Key Performance Indicators (KPI) and Reporting; analyze the company’s actual performance compared to the business plans.
• Provide people leadership and direction through coaching, development, performance management and resource planning.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) designation
• Minimum of four (4) years of management experience
• Experience in the utility sector is considered an asset
• Strong knowledge of applicable legislation, regulations, and accounting standards (e.g., IFRS, Regulatory Accounting, Canadian Payroll Standards)
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and financial systems
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and presentation skills
• Strong organizational, time management, and project coordination skills
• Demonstrated leadership and team-building capabilities
• Strategic thinker with sound judgment and initiative

How to Apply:
Interested candidates are invited to submit their resume and cover letter to [e-mail] by June 2, 2025 at 4:00 p.m., with "Finance & Regulatory Manager" in the subject line.

We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

Festival Hydro is committed to an inclusive and barrier-free recruitment process. Accommodations are available upon request for candidates participating in all aspects of the selection process.