Manager Business Unit Accounting

City of Vancouver; Vancouver; Hybrid; CAD 111,000 - 139,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Vancouver seeks a Manager of Business Unit Accounting to enhance financial processes and ensure accurate reporting within a Finance Shared Services framework. This role involves implementing accounting policies, improving business processes, and leading a team in a dynamic public service environment. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in financial management, strong leadership skills, and a commitment to equity and sustainability.

Qualifications

• Minimum 8 years of progressive financial accounting experience.
• Experience with advanced financial systems and municipal environment preferred.

Responsibilities

• Operationalizes financial accounting policies and develops procedures.
• Provides guidance on accounting treatment and prepares financial statements.
• Leads staff training and handles performance management.

Skills

Leadership

Analytical Skills

Communication

Education

Professional accounting designation (CA, CGA or CMA)

University degree

Tools

ERP system

Microsoft Office

Job description

Requisition ID:43734

Organization

Located on the traditional, ancestral and unceded lands of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Peoples, Vancouver has a commitment to becoming a City of Reconciliation. Vancouver consistently ranks as one of the world’s most liveable and environmentally sustainable cities. Named among Canada's Top 100 Employers, BC's Top Employers, and Canada's Greenest Employers, the City of Vancouver seeks colleagues who can help shape and embody our core commitments to sustainability, reconciliation, equity and outstanding quality of life for all residents.

Consider joining our committed team of staff and being part of an innovative, inclusive and engaging workplace. Working at the City of Vancouver and within the public service can be a rewarding career where you play a key role in ensuring impartial and equitable access to services, upholding ethical governance, and addressing the needs of citizens with integrity and dedication.

Main Purpose and Function

The Manager, Business Unit Accounting is responsible for developing, implementing and improving Corporate policies, standards, financial processes and systems in various business units to support timely and accurate accounting transactions, financial and management reporting and financial analysis in a Finance Shared Services framework. The position is involved in recommending and implementing changes to improve business processes and system applications.

The incumbent works with business unit managers to operationalize accounting policies by implementing procedures for key financial transaction processes, support system implementations for financial reporting, mitigate financial risks through process and system designs, validate control effectiveness, and improve process efficiency. The Manager, Business Unit Accounting is the key liaison/interface for the business unit management and staff to Financial Services and other Finance functions. The Manager, Business Unit Accounting provides advice and assistance to management and staff in various business units throughout the City and encourages consistent application of Corporate policies and procedures, while having a keen eye for process re-engineering and system enhancements.

Specific Duties/Responsibilities

• Responsible for operationalizing financial accounting policies in the business units by developing and maintaining accounting procedures, practices and principles to ensure timely and accurate business unit financial statements
• Provides advice and guidance to departments on appropriate accounting treatment for business transactions and ensures consistent application
• Coordinates business units accounting staff in the preparation of the monthly reconciliations and yearend audit working paper files
• Acts as steward of City assets and assure revenue and expenses are appropriately recognized through appropriate control designs to mitigate risks and losses
• Designs and implements PSAB Accounting standard changes by bridging the accounting standard requirements to business and reporting changes
• Implements corporate policies and procedures relating to corporate master data, and transaction processing. Provides direction and advice to business units on accounting policies and procedures
• Reviews and recommends improvements to business processes. Sets objectives, establishes standards and trains business unit staff
• Provides input for the strategic development and implementation of enhancement to system applications related to financial processes and procedures. Assists business units in identifying issues, changes and improvements, defining user specifications and setting priorities for system enhancements. Coordinates resources for testing, documentation and implementation
• Participates in RFP evaluations pertaining to systems and support services for the business units
• Designs and implements operating systems with financial procedures, practices and principles
• Conducts reviews and studies and prepares complex analyses on financial issues. Prepares reports for senior management and Council
• Provides support and advice to City staff on the application of goods and services tax (GST) and provincial sales tax (PST) legislation
• Works with business unit operations managers to re-engineer staff functions in a Finance Shared Service model; responsible for identification and assessment of “as-is” and development of the “to-be” model; work with business unit to transition/implement the “to-be” model
• Reviews financial risk profile of the business units (staff and transactions), and builds appropriate internal controls to mitigate these risks
• Hires, orients and trains staff. Develops training and performance management plans to monitor staff performance. Handles disciplinary and labour relations issues
• Other duties/responsibilities as assigned.

Minimum Qualification Requirements

Education and Experience:

Professional accounting designation (CA, CGA or CMA) combined with a university degree plus a minimum of 8 years of progressive related financial accounting and senior management experience in a large organization, preferably within the public sector and union environment.

Considerable experience working with advanced complex financial systems such as an ERP system and strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office products (Word, Excel, Outlook)

Experience with financial and payment systems (Point of Sale, credit card etc.) in a recreational services and food and beverage setting would be an asset.

Experience in a municipal environment, familiarity with local government regulatory requirements would be an asset.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Sound working knowledge of complex fund accounting, and financial reporting requirements (PSAB)
• Proven leadership ability to lead organizational change, development of staff and teamwork
• Strong strategic planning skills coupled with ability to analyze issues on a broad business level and set priorities
• Effective problem solving ability supplemented by strong analytical and organizational skills
• Excellent communication (oral and written) and interpersonal skills, ability to handle conflict and facilitate resolutions

Where operationally appropriate and subject to change, the City of Vancouver has a Flexible Work Program. This program allows staff to work a hybrid work week from locations that are a daily commutable distance from their work at a City worksite. At this time this position is eligible to be part of the Flexible Work Program.

Business Unit/Department:Finance & Supply Chain Mgmt (1150)

Affiliation:Exempt

Employment Type:Regular Full Time

Position Start Date:July 2025

Salary Information: Pay Grade RNG-091: $111,139to $138,924per annum

Application Close: June 1, 2025

At the City of Vancouver, we are committed to recruiting a diverse workforce that represents the community we so proudly serve . Indigenous peoples, people of colour, 2SLGBTQ+ persons including all gendersand persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.Accommodations will be provided upon request during the selection process. Learn more aboutour commitment to diversity and inclusion.

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In addition to uploading your cover letter and resume, part of the application process may include answering application questions related to the preferred requirements of the role which may take approx. 5-10 minutes. Cover letters should express interest and highlight additional information relevant to the position and resumes should include a summary of skills and experience related to the position.