Finance Manager

Stantec; Halifax; On-site; CAD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Stantec is seeking a Finance Manager to act as a strategic partner to Operations and the Financial Services team. You will lead budgeting, forecasting, and financial analysis, providing clear commentary and control adherence within a professional services environment, preferably engineering consulting.

You will oversee WIP, DSO, revenue recognition, and cost modelling for bids. You will collaborate with project managers, BCOLs, and RBLs, driving transformative change and financially responsible

Qualifications

• Strong collaboration with operations leadership and finance partners
• Experience in budgeting, forecasting, and financial reporting
• Familiarity with financial controls and SOX compliance

Responsibilities

• Act as a finance business partner to Operations leadership and project teams
• Oversee financial operations for business centers including revenue recognition, DSO, WIP and cash cycle
• Prepare monthly, quarterly and year-to-date executive summaries with variance analyses
• Develop financial plans, annual budgets and quarterly forecasts with business partners
• Ensure accurate and compliant forecasts for material projects
• Develop pricing and costing models for bids including KPI bonuses and complex terms
• Maintain key controls for financial reporting and support internal audits
• Coordinate monthly project reviews with leadership to address performance gaps
• Collaborate with other Finance Managers to implement process improvements
• Understand key contractual agreements with clients
• Assist with acquisitions and integration of project financial data

Skills

Financial analysis

Budgeting

Forecasting

Leadership

Communication

Risk management

Job description

Your Opportunity

As a Finance Manager, you will be a pivotal member of the Financial Services team and a strategic partner to our operations. You will leverage your financial expertise and commercial acumen to support and enhance the performance of the designated Business Line. Your role will involve strong collaboration, clear communication, effective leadership, and exceptional organizational skills. To excel in this role, you should possess a deep understanding of finance and accounting, ideally within a professional services environment, with a preference for engineering consulting experience. You should be a proactive and critical thinker, adept at clear and frequent communication across all company levels. We are seeking a strategic and change-oriented individual who is innovative and continually seeks improvement. You will thrive in a dynamic, fast-paced environment, demonstrating high energy and resilience. This position offers a unique opportunity to assume a key leadership role in driving transformative change and fostering sustained, profitable growth for the company.

Your Key Responsibilities

• Act as a finance business partner to Operations leadership, including Regional Business Leaders (RBLs) and Business Center Operations Leaders (BCOLs), actively participating in the management team and providing ongoing financial support to our project management teams.
• Oversee all aspects of financial operations for the business centers, including reviewing and analyzing financial statements, managing revenue recognition, DSO (Days Sales Outstanding), Work-in-Progress (WIP) and cash cycle.
• Prepare monthly, quarterly and year-to-date executive summaries with transparent and concise commentaries and variance analyses to aid leadership in strategic and operational decision-making.
• Facilitate the development of financial plans, annual budgets, and quarterly forecasts in close collaboration with your business partners.
• Work together with project managers and project approvers to ensure accurate and compliant financial forecasts for material projects to the business.
• Develop pricing and costing models for large and often complex project bids, including those involving KPI bonuses, joint ventures/arrangements and other unorthodox contractual terms.
• Ensure adherence to internal policies, procedures, and protocols.
• Maintain effective key controls for financial reporting in line with Stantec’s SOX and internal control requirements.
• Collaborate with financial and operational leadership to coordinate monthly project reviews and analyze financial performance to address challenges and implement solutions.
• Work with other Finance Managers and Directors to plan and implement continuous business process improvements and best practices.
• Maintain a comprehensive understanding of key contractual agreements with clients.
• Collaborate with internal and external auditors as needed.
• Support potential new acquisitions and integration of project financial data as required.