Financial Analyst - TERM

CPA Alberta; Red Deer; On-site; CAD 71,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Excellent benefits package

Competitive hourly rate

Job summary

The City of Red Deer seeks a Financial Analyst for a 2-year full-time term to advance budgeting, reporting, and financial governance. The role requires strong GAAP knowledge, CPA designation or equivalent, and experience with complex financial systems such as PeopleSoft and MS Office.

You will lead financial planning, analysis, and governance frameworks, while maintaining stakeholder relationships and ensuring compliance with MGA/PSAB standards.

Qualifications

• Five years of accounting experience with strong GAAP knowledge.
• Experience with complex financial applications and financial reporting.
• Experience with budgeting, audits, and financial statement preparation.

Responsibilities

• Lead corporate financial planning and reporting, including budgets and year-end processes.
• Conduct financial analysis and evaluate business cases for decision-making.
• Manage financial systems and drive process improvements across departments.
• Provide strategic financial advice to management and stakeholders.
• Lead corporate projects and coordinate cross-department teams.

Skills

CPA designation

GAAP expertise

Analytical thinking

Project management

Communication skills

Education

CPA designation or equivalent education/experience

Tools

MS Office

Excel

PowerPoint

PeopleSoft

MS Project

Job description

The Opportunity:

The City of Red Deer is currently recruiting for a Financial Analyst to join the team to fill a 2-year Full-time Term position. The Financial Analyst is responsible for analyzing, facilitating, developing and interpreting financial information and legislation in the budget, business process, systems and financial reporting areas. The Financial Analyst is also responsible for reporting, documenting, monitoring and reviewing controls and integrity. A high degree of professional judgement and independence is required in performing these duties while supporting City departments and maintaining strong working relationships with stakeholders.

Top Key Responsibilities:

1. Lead Corporate Financial Planning and Reporting - Lead the planning, preparation, analysis, and review of major corporate financial processes, including annual budgets, month-end and year-end reporting, audits, and financial forecasts.
2. Conduct Financial Analysis and Business Case Evaluations - Analyze contracts, agreements, business plans, financial feasibility studies, economic assumptions, variances, and operational performance to support decision-making.
3. Manage Financial Systems and Process Improvements - Plan, design, implement, test, and optimize financial systems, applications, upgrades, integrations, and related business processes.
4. Provide Strategic Financial Advice and Recommendations - Advise management on financial policies, procedures, controls, business practices, project feasibility, and process improvements.
5. Lead and Facilitate Corporate Projects - Manage financial and business transformation projects by coordinating resources, monitoring progress, resolving issues, and ensuring successful implementation.
6. Develop and Maintain Financial Controls and Governance Frameworks - Establish and monitor internal controls, audit trails, reconciliation standards, security requirements, and compliance measures to safeguard financial integrity.
7. Ensure Legislative and Accounting Compliance - Interpret and apply GAAP, PSAB, MGA, taxation requirements, contracts, and corporate policies to ensure compliance and minimize organizational risk.
8. Prepare and Present Financial Reports and Information - Develop financial statements, management reports, business cases, projections, regulatory filings, and executive-level presentations for stakeholders.
9. Build Strong Stakeholder Relationships and Provide Consultation - Collaborate with departments, leadership, external partners, vendors, and contractors to identify requirements, solve business challenges, and improve service delivery.
10. Deliver Financial Training and Organizational Support - Assess training needs, develop financial training materials, deliver education programs, and provide guidance to managers and staff on financial processes and systems.

As our preferred candidate, you will have:

• Chartered Professional accounting designation (CPA), or equivalent education and experience may be considered.
• Five years related accounting experience, significant experience with complex financial applications in a computerized environment, and strong knowledge of GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles). Preference will be given for experience in:
  • Implementation and upgrade experience for systems including setup and testing
  • Project management and/or project teamwork
  • Financial impact analysis and/or business process development and documentation
  • Coordination of multi-departmental budgets or guidelines
  • Development and implementation of process changes
  • Budget monitoring/variance analysis
  • Internal or external audit
  • Experience with auditing.
  • Experience with financial statement preparation.
  • Experience with PC software such as Microsoft Office suite including Excel, Word, Access, Microsoft Project and PowerPoint. Knowledge of PeopleSoft financial software is considered an asset.
  • Municipal fund accounting, including the requirements of the MGA (Municipal Government Act) and the Public Sector Accounting Board (PSAB) etc.
• The following are specific to this position:
  • Ability to apply advanced accounting principles, knowledge and skills to the maintenance of a complex set of accounting and budgeting records. Ability to perform financial and budgetary analyses, prepare complete financial reports and complex account reconciliation.
  • Ability to deal effectively, both verbally and in writing, with the public, other City departments and agencies, including in conflict situations. Must regularly communicate with software consultants, customers, vendors and other organizations such as the city’s external auditors, city solicitor, etc.
  • Ability to work with considerable independence and to demonstrate initiative and resourcefulness in establishing and achieving business objectives.
  • Ability to handle sensitive and confidential subject matter, which, if improperly handled, would have a significant negative impact on The City.
  • Frequent periods of stress, associated with resolving problems and meeting deadlines.Must quickly prioritize work while dealing with frequent interruptions and conflicting priorities.
  • Required to work outside regular business hours, including weekends and holidays, in order to meet deadlines, especially during budget reviews.

What we offer:

In addition to the very competitive hourly rate of $51.72 to $54.44 and an excellent benefit package; we offer a great work environment with a dynamic and dedicated team of likeminded professionals.