Finance Officer

Thunder Bay Art Gallery; Northwestern Ontario; Hybrid; CAD 52,000 - 78,000; Full time

Job summary

A community-focused art institution in Northwestern Ontario seeks a Finance Officer to join its senior leadership team. The role involves overseeing financial operations, ensuring compliance, and supporting strategic growth. Ideal candidates will have a degree in business administration, a professional accounting designation, and a passion for arts and culture. This full-time position offers a salary range of $52,000 to $78,000, with a possibility of hybrid work arrangements.

Qualifications

• Minimum of three years of accounting experience in a computerized environment.
• Proficiency in computerized accounting systems and advanced knowledge of Microsoft Office.
• Knowledge of relevant legislation, GAAP, and accounting standards for the not-for-profit sector.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the full scope of financial operations and compliance.
• Prepare accurate financial reports and maintain books of account.
• Ensure compliance with legal and grant reporting requirements.

Skills

Strong business and financial acumen

Excellent analytical skills

Problem-solving skills

Communication skills

Leadership skills

Education

University degree in business administration or related field

Professional accounting designation or relevant experience

Tools

QuickBooks

Microsoft Office

Job description

Title: Finance Officer

Status: Full-Time (35 hrs/week)

Supervisor: Executive Director

Salary Range: $52,000-$78,000

Application Deadline: October 7, 2025, open until filled

Overview

The Thunder Bay Art Gallery is seeking a skilled and detail-oriented Finance Officer to join our senior leadership team. This pivotal role oversees the full scope of financial operations and compliance, including accounting, financial reporting, budgeting, payroll, accounts payable and receivable, inventory, capital assets, and banking and investment activities.

As a key member of the Management Team, the Finance Officer supports the Gallery’s financial integrity, sustainability, and strategic growth. The ideal candidate is a collaborative leader with a strong foundation in not-for-profit accounting, a commitment to rigorous financial management, and a passion for arts and culture in service to our community and region.

This is an exciting time to join the Thunder Bay Art Gallery! With nearly 50 years of steady growth, we are preparing to move into a new, purpose-built facility on Thunder Bay’s beautiful waterfront. This transformative project will more than triple our operating and programming space and marks a major milestone in our evolution as a leading cultural institution.

This position is part-time 35 hours a week, and offers the possibility of a hybrid work arrangement, depending on the needs and qualifications of the successful candidate.

Key Responsibilities

• Contribute to the development of workflows, strategic initiatives, and implementation of short- and long-term goals as part of the Management Team.
• Prepare accurate and timely financial reports, including monthly Executive reports, annual financial statements in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) for not-for-profit organizations, year-end working papers, and external financial reporting.
• Maintain complete and accurate books of account, including but not limited to cheque preparation, invoice coding and posting, deposits, reconciliation, charitable receipts, and petty cash. Complete monthly reconciliation for all accounts and maintain accurate and complete supporting documentation for all financial activities and transactions.
• Ensure compliance with legal, regulatory, and grant reporting requirements; maintain appropriate insurance coverage and internal controls.
• Develop and monitor budget and financial forecasts; prepare monthly financial statements and variance analyses for project staff, the Executive Director, and the Board of Directors.
• Administer and support financial systems, including online accounting systems, software updates, troubleshooting, and backups.
• Oversee capital project accounting, accounts payable/receivable, charitable receipting, sales, inventory, and internal system of handling funds.
• Manage payroll, personnel records, and benefits administration; maintain internal HR databases.
• Stay current on best practices, funding opportunities, and changes in accounting and reporting standards.
• Perform additional duties as required to support the Gallery’s financial and operational goals.
• Lead by example, demonstrating the Gallery’s values and fostering a collaborative team environment.

Qualifications

• University degree in business administration, commerce, or a related field with an accounting major.
• Professional accounting designation or relevant experience.
• Minimum of three years of accounting experience in a computerized environment, including financial reporting and payroll.
• Essential Skills
• Strong business and financial acumen, with experience in planning and human resources.
• Proficiency in computerized accounting systems; advanced knowledge of Microsoft Office and experience with QuickBooks an asset.
• Knowledge of relevant legislation, GAAP, and accounting standards for not-for-profit sector.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.
• Ability to build strong relationships with internal and external partners/customers.
• Demonstrated leadership, time management, and organizational skills.
• Experience in and passion for not-for-profit organizations, galleries or museums is an asset.

Condition of Employment

• Successful completion of a Criminal Background Check.
• Agreement to and compliance with the Gallery’s Employee Confidentiality Statement.

About Thunder Bay Art Gallery

The Thunder Bay Art Gallery gratefully acknowledges that we are located on the territory of the Anishinaabe peoples of Northwestern Ontario. We work and live on the lands of the Fort William First Nation who are signatory to the Robinson-Superior Treaty of 1850.

As the public art gallery for Thunder Bay and Northern Ontario, the Thunder Bay Art Gallery exhibits, collects, and interprets art with a focus on the work of contemporary Indigenous and Northern Ontario artists. The Gallery nurtures a life-long appreciation of the visual arts by:

• presenting exhibitions of artistic and educational value to cultivate a depth of visual arts experience for the public in Thunder Bay and the broader region of Northern Ontario;
• supporting and enhancing the development of contemporary Canadian artists with an emphasis on (but not limited to) contemporary Indigenous artists and artists from Northwestern Ontario;
• stewarding, conserving, and animating a permanent collection of art focused on the work of contemporary Indigenous artists and innovative cultural and artistic practice of Northwestern Ontario artists;
• and, presenting public programming and outreach activities in order to build audience, increase reception, and expand understanding of the visual arts.

For nearly 50 years the Thunder Bay Art Gallery has steadily grown and is now the largest art museum in Northern Ontario. Today, we have more than 1600 works of art in our world renowned permanent collection and welcome more than 30,000 people through our doors each year. Every day, the Gallery provides school tours, hosts free public programs, and shares our space with community groups. We are a bustling cultural hub committed to contemporary Indigenous, local, and regional art.

Finally, we are in the process of preparing for the transition to a new purposed designed facility on Thunder Bay’s waterfront in 2027. This new gallery will more than triple our exhibition and operating spaces. This significant addition to Ontario’s cultural infrastructure will provide $33 million in direct economic impact during construction. Once open, the Gallery’s operations will generate $2.2 million annually in direct and indirect impacts to the local and regional economy, as well as an estimated $7 million in annual visitor spending.

How to Apply

Applicants who are Deaf, have an exceptionality or disability, or who need support expressing interest or applying for this opportunity are encouraged to contact [e-mail] or

call 807.577.6427 to allow for appropriate accommodation of your needs and to discuss alternate formats for submitting your application.

To apply for this position, please send via email to [e-mail], a letter of intent, a current resume and the names of two references, under the subject line “Accountant” addressed to:

Mathew R. Hills, Executive Director

Thunder Bay Art Gallery PO Box 10193

Thunder Bay, ON, P7B 6T7

The Thunder Bay Art Gallery is committed to employment equity and diversity and encourage applications from all qualified candidates, including women, people of any sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression; Indigenous peoples; visible minorities and racialized people; and people with disabilities. We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.