Finance Director

Skate Canada; Ottawa; Hybrid; CAD 120,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

RRSP matching

Fitness benefit

Job summary

Skate Canada is seeking a Finance Director to lead the finance function at our Ottawa head office with a hybrid work model. You will report to the CEO and be a key member of the Senior Management Team, overseeing budgeting, forecasting, cash flow, risk management, and external audits.

The successful candidate will provide strategic financial partnership to the CEO and Board, manage a small team, and ensure compliance with government funding programs.

Qualifications

• Minimum 10 years’ progressive experience in budgeting, financial analysis, accounting and reporting.
• Experience leading financial strategy for a nonprofit with multiple funding envelopes (national/provincial/government).
• Experience with compliance and regulatory requirements related to finance, audit, RCAAA, and organizational operations.
• Demonstrated ability to manage full financial cycle and partner with the board.

Responsibilities

• Lead budgeting, forecasting, cash flow management, financial analysis, and reporting.
• Prepare monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements and management reports.
• Provide the CEO and senior leadership with meaningful financial analysis to support decision-making.
• Oversee treasury, controls, audits, and regulatory compliance.
• Coordinate financial components of grants, contributions, and government funding programs.
• Lead and develop the finance team and foster accountability.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Financial insight

Leadership & coaching

Communication skills

Education

Post-secondary education in Finance/Accounting/Business

CPA designation preferred

Tools

Microsoft Dynamics GP

Business Central

Excel

Job description

Position: Finance Director

Type: Full-time permanent position

Reports to: Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

Location: This position is based out of our head office in Ottawa, Ontario, with a hybrid work model available for candidates.

Travel: The role requires limited travel and/or weekend work.

Hiring Salary Range: $120,000 to $140,000 annually*

*Skate Canada is committed to equitable and competitive compensation. We welcome applications from candidates with a variety of backgrounds and levels of experience. Final salary placement within this range will be based on the successful candidate's knowledge, skills, experience, and the needs of the role, while ensuring internal equity and consistency across the organization. We encourage candidates who are excited about this opportunity to apply, even if they do not meet every qualification listed.

WHO WE ARE.

A not-for-profit organization, Skate Canada is the oldest and largest figure skating organization in the world and is recognized by the Government of Canada and the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) as the governing body for the sport of figure skating in Canada. Skate Canada is committed to attracting, developing and engaging a diverse workforce that reflects the community we serve.

OUR PEOPLE SHAPE OUR SUCCESS.

At Skate Canada, we're not just about skating—we're about creating a vibrant, inclusive community where everyone feels like they belong and are empowered to thrive. As an equal opportunity employer, we celebrate diversity and warmly invite all qualified applicants to join our journey.

ABOUT THE JOB.

Reporting directly to the CEO and serving as a key member of the Senior Management Team, the Director leads the finance function and acts as a trusted advisor and business partner to the CEO in delivering on the organization’s strategic plan. The Director is responsible for financial planning, forecasting & reporting, cash flow management, risk management, and supervises two direct reports who are part of the finance team.

This is a hands-on role that combines strategic leadership with day-to-day execution. The successful candidate will be comfortable moving between preparing financial reports, developing budgets and forecasts, supporting staff with financial processes, preparing government reporting, and advising the CEO and Board on strategic priorities.

LOCATION.

This position is based out of the Skate Canada office in Ottawa, ON at 333 Preston St, where we offer a hybrid work model.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES.

Financial Management

• Lead all aspects of financial management, including budgeting, forecasting, cash flow management, financial analysis, and reporting.
• Prepare accurate and timely monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements and management reports.
• Provide the CEO and Senior Leadership Team with meaningful financial analysis to support decision-making.
• Monitor organizational financial performance against budgets and forecasts, identify risks and opportunities, and recommend appropriate actions.
• Maintain strong financial controls, policies, procedures, and approval processes to safeguard the organization’s assets and ensure compliance with regulatory requirements.
• Oversee the accounts payable and receivable processes, ensuring accurate and timely processing of payments and collections.
• Manage the organization’s treasury functions, including cash management, investments, and banking relationships, to ensure liquidity and optimize financial returns.
• Ensure the integrity of the full accounting cycle, from transaction entry to financial reporting, maintaining accurate records and compliance with accounting standards.
• Lead the preparation and coordination of the annual audit, working closely with external auditors to ensure a clean audit outcome.
• Support the CEO and Board/Finance Committee with financial reporting, analysis, presentations, and recommendations.
• Lead financial reporting and accountability requirements related to Sport Canada and other government funding agreements and programs.
• Coordinate financial components of grant applications, contribution agreements, funding reports, and audits.
• Maintain strong systems and documentation to support compliance with funding requirements.
• Act as a financial business partner to managers across the organization by helping staff understand budgets, financial reports, coding, expense management, and organizational financial processes.

Organizational Leadership & Planning

• Collaborate with the CEO and other members of the senior leadership team to implement the organization’s strategic and operating plan
• Lead the development and execution of the organization’s operational planning process, determining timelines, processes and tools to support planning within and across departments in line with the strategic plan.
• Facilitate operational planning and monitoring, helping to achieve efficient resource allocation and cross-functional execution.
• Lead the establishment and monitoring of key performance indicators (KPIs), providing regular reports to senior leadership to track progress and drive performance improvements.
• Lead, coach, and develop the finance team, fostering accountability, continuous improvement, and professional growth.
• Foster a culture of excellence within the organization, demonstrating behaviors that role-model our values and operating principles

Operations & Risk Management

• Lead the Enterprise Risk Management Framework for the organization in collaboration with the senior leadership team to identify, assess, and manage organizational risks.
• Lead the management, planning and control of property insurance requirements, lease requirements, capital expenditures and other elements that impact the organization’s operating needs
• Ensure the fulfilment of day-to-day operations including payroll, benefits administration and relationships with vendors and contractors.

DIRECT REPORTS

• Sr. Financial Analyst
• Coordinator, Accounts Payable & Payroll

KEY STAKEHOLDERS

• Senior Leadership Team
• Skate Canada Finance & Risk Management Committee & Board of Directors
• External Auditors
• Sport Canada and funding partners
• Facility and key vendors, partners, providers

CORE COMPETENCIES

• Strategic financial leadership and business acumen.
• Ability to translate financial information into actionable business insights.
• Strong leadership, coaching, and relationship-building skills.
• Exceptional written, verbal, and presentation skills.
• Sound judgment, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities.
• Strong planning, prioritization, and organizational skills.
• Commitment to fostering an inclusive, high-performing workplace culture.

QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE, AND KEY SKILLS.

• Post-secondary education in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or a related field
• A CPA designation is preferred.
• Minimum 10 years’ progressive experience in budgeting, financial analysis, accounting, and reporting within a non-profit or publicly funded organization.
• Experience leading financial strategy and planning function for a nonprofit organization with multiple funding envelopes (national, provincial sport sector or government-funded organization experience is strongly preferred).
• Experience with compliance and regulatory requirements related to finance, audit, RCAAA, and organizational operations
• Demonstrated experience managing the full financial cycle within a small or medium-sized organization.
• Experience working with boards of directors, finance committees, and external auditors.
• Experience working with government/public agencies and demonstrated understanding grant and funding rules and application processes
• Strong hands-on experience with Microsoft Dynamics GP, Business Central, and Excel
• Experience with implementing accounting platform/ERP transitions
• Knowledge and understanding of the Canadian sport system is an asset
• High level of proficiency in Microsoft Office 365 applications
• Familiarity with fundraising management software is an asset
• Bilingual English / French is an asset
• A passion for sport

ADDITIONAL JOB REQUIREMENTS.

• Travel for the purposes of meetings and events.
• Ability to work overtime as required to meet the fluctuating needs in a timely manner.

PLEASE NOTE:

The successful candidate will be required to undergo a criminal background check as a condition of employment.

COMMITMENT.

This is a full-time, permanent position. Occasional weekend work and travel may be required to attend meetings and events.

COMPENSATION.

• The hiring salary range for this position is $120,000 to $140,000 annually, with a comprehensive benefits package available.
• Health, Vision, Dental, LTD, STD and Life Insurance (employee premiums covered by Skate Canada; family dental coverage is optional and available at employee expense).
• RRSP matching.
• Fitness benefit - $350 annually.
• Paid volunteer time - 4 hours monthly.

For inquiries, please contact [e-mail].

Skate Canada is committed to ensuring our recruitment and selection processes and work environment are inclusive and barrier-free. At Skate Canada, we celebrate the diversity of all employees and believe that having a team of individuals with different backgrounds, views, experiences, and capabilities working together makes us stronger and better as an organization.