Engineering Accountant

City of Red Deer; Red Deer; On-site; CAD 58,000 - 61,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Red Deer is seeking an experienced accounting professional to manage the integrity of the Engineering department’s financial records and support budgeting with strong GAAP knowledge. This term full-time role involves mentoring staff, capital project accounting, and ensuring controls across municipal finance.

The ideal candidate holds a CPA, a Bachelor's in accounting or finance, and at least four years in a municipal or large-organization setting while demonstrating independence and

Qualifications

• Undergraduate degree in accounting or finance with CPA designation; equivalent combos considered.
• Minimum four years of accounting experience in a large organization, municipal engineering preferred.
• Strong knowledge of GAAP in municipal context and integrated systems.
• Experience with JDE (JD Edwards) is an asset.
• Advanced Excel skills; proficient Word and PowerPoint.

Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate departmental accounting activities including transactions, reconciliations, and year-end processes.
• Provide financial analysis and guidance for decision-making, including forecasts and contract reviews.
• Support operating and capital budgets, including preparation and cash flow analysis.
• Ensure compliance with PSAB and other accounting standards and controls.
• Coordinate grant funding and capital project financial activities.
• Provide leadership to staff and improve financial processes.

Skills

GAAP knowledge

Municipal accounting

Financial analysis

Excel advanced

Communication skills

Independent work

Education

Bachelor's degree in accounting or finance

CPA designation

Tools

JDE JD Edwards

Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint)

Job description

About Red Deer:

Red Deer sits at the heart of Central Alberta along the QEII corridor, perfectly positioned between Calgary and Edmonton. With more than 100,000 residents and a regional reach of over 300,000, it’s a growing hub for business, services, and opportunity.

Here, big-city amenities meet small-city ease. Enjoy abundant parks and trails, vibrant arts and culture, excellent recreation and education, and a strong sense of community.

With easy access to lakes, outdoor adventures, and the mountains, plus a thriving economy and high quality of life, Red Deer is an inviting place to live, work, and grow.

About The City of Red Deer Municipal Government:

The City of Red Deer is a dynamic municipal organization with a $480M operating budget, a $60M capital program, and a workforce of nearly 1,700 employees. It is focused on growing with purpose by attracting talented, community-minded people who want to make a difference.

Guided by the vision “Our City, One Voice,” Red Deer is building a thriving, inclusive, and connected community, with priorities centered on a vibrant economy, community wellbeing, and strong engagement.

At its core, the City values its people, embracing diverse perspectives and fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and shared success

The Opportunity:

This position is responsible for ensuring the integrity of the Engineering department’s financial and accounting records, facilitating, and supporting the budget process, monitoring revenues and expenditures for operating and capital budgets. Provides accounting mentorship to section and departmental staff. Provides financial and administrative support including interpreting, reporting, recommending, and overseeing internal controls. A high degree of professional judgement and independence is required in performing these duties while supporting the department and maintaining strong working relationships with other departments, division, and corporate staff. This position requires the ability to manage multiple tasks accurately within tight deadlines and conflicting priorities.

This position also provides accounting support to the staff of the Development & Protective Services departments.

As part of Capital Projects for the department, this position may be required to provide the accounting processes needed for the successful delivery of a variety of capital projects from various other City Departments

Top Key Responsibilities:

• Lead and coordinate departmental accounting activities, including financial transactions, account reconciliations, revenue and expenditure reporting, capital project accounting, and year-end processes.
• Provide financial analysis, reporting, and guidance to support operational and strategic decision-making, including contract reviews, variance analysis, development agreements, reserve management, and financial forecasting.
• Support the development, monitoring, and administration of operating and capital budgets, including budget preparation, cash flow analysis, expenditure tracking, and compliance reporting.
• Ensure compliance with municipal, legislative, and accounting standards, including PSAB requirements, tangible capital asset accounting, grant reporting, purchasing policies, and financial controls.
• Coordinate and manage grant funding and capital project financial activities, including grant applications and reporting, capital job setup, project tracking, and monitoring contract expenditures and revenues.
• Provide leadership and expertise to departmental staff by guiding accounting practices, improving financial processes, supporting financial systems, and promoting accurate and effective financial management across the department.
• Additional responsibilities: conduct financial research and analysis

As our preferred candidate, you will have:

• Completion of an undergraduate degree majoring in accounting or finance. Completion of the CPA designation. An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.
• Four years performing accounting duties and providing financial analysis and advice for a large organization, preferably within a municipal engineering environment.
• Must have knowledge of generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), specifically as they relate to a municipal accounting environment and procedures as applied in an integrated computer environment.
• Four years’ experience in the use of complex computerized accounting systems. Experience with JDE (accounting system) would be an asset.
• Knowledge and experience with business software such as Word and Power Point is required with advanced Excel skills.
• Demonstrates the City of Red Deer’s four RISE principles of Respect, Integrity, Service and Excellence.
• Demonstrable experience in applying accounting theory in conjunction with approved policies and procedures.
• Wide range of general accounting and/or audit experience.
• Ability to work with considerable independence and to demonstrate initiative and resourcefulness in supporting business objectives.
• Ability to perform financial and budgetary analyses, prepare financial reports and complex accounting reconciliations.
• Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing with City staff, consultants, auditors, contractors, customers and occasionally with other government officials.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks accurately within tight deadlines and conflicting priorities.
• Ability to handle sensitive and confidential subject matter, that if improperly handled, would have a significant negative impact on the City.

Affiliation:

Canadian Union of Public Employees, Local 417

Status:

Term Full‑time

Remuneration:

$41.93 - $44.40 per hour

Hours of Work:

75 hours biweekly, Monday to Friday. Some evening and weekend work may be required.

Additional Information:

This is a term position with an anticipated end date of December 31, 2027.

The City of Red Deer does not permit the use of unauthorized internet resources or Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools (for example, Copilot, ChatGPT or any other form of AI) during interviews or any supervised or timed assessments. Any violation may be investigated and result in serious consequences, including the rejection of your application.

We thank you for your application. Only those selected for an interview will be contacted.