Senior Accountant

Canadian Mental Health Association Edmonton Region; Edmonton; On-site; CAD 56,000 - 72,000; Full time

Job summary

A community mental health organization in Edmonton is looking for a Senior Accountant to manage financial reporting and month-end processes. The ideal candidate has a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, with 5–7 years of experience, particularly in payroll management and non-profit environments. This role supports budgeting and financial system improvements, offering salaries ranging from $56,195 to $71,186 per annum.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5–7 years of accounting experience, including month-end close processes.
• Proven experience in payroll management and ensuring compliance.
• Experience working in a non-profit organization is highly desirable.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and review journal entries and reconciliations for month-end close.
• Manage payroll processing in collaboration with the HR team.
• Review accounts payable and receivable transactions daily.

Skills

Sage 300

Advanced Excel

Payroll management

Accounting principles

Analytical mindset

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field

Tools

ADP

Sage Intacct

Job description

Overview

Identifying Information
Job Title: Senior Accountant
Job Type: Temporary FT (2-3 month)
Job Level: Manager
Job Location: On site
Salary: $56,195- $71,186 per annum

Organization Summary

For over 100 years, the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) has promoted mental health for everyone. Today, we support the resiliency and recovery of people experiencing mental illness and their families in 330 communities across Canada. Locally, CMHA Edmonton offers the most comprehensive set of community mental health programs for individuals and families affected by mental health and related issues, like abuse, violence, and suicide, living in Edmonton and Northern Alberta. Tens of thousands of people depend on CMHA Edmonton for peer and family support, self-advocacy assistance, affordable housing, suicide bereavement, community education and training, and helplines like the Distress Line, 9-8-8, and 2-1-1. CMHA Edmonton currently has an operating budget over $10 million and assets over $12 million, including endowments, reserves, and buildings. To learn more about us, please visit our website

Job Summary

This position reports to Director of Finance. This role supports the Finance team through month-end close, payroll processing, and day-to-day operational accounting. This role ensures accurate financial reporting, compliance with policies and legislation, and strong internal controls while also contributing to budgeting, system upgrades (e.g., ADP, Sage Intacct), and process improvements to enhance efficiency.

Key Responsibilities

• Month-End Close — Prepare and review journal entries, reconciliations, and month-end schedules.
• Month-End Close — Collaborate with the Director of Finance to ensure financial reports are accurate, complete, and compliant with organizational policies and accounting standards.
• Payroll Process — Manage payroll processing in collaboration with the Payroll Specialist and HR team.
• Payroll Process — Ensure payroll compliance with legislation, collective agreements, and organizational policies.
• Payroll Process — Review payroll for accuracy, resolve discrepancies, and respond to payroll-related inquiries.
• Operational Accounting — Review accounts payable (AP) and accounts receivable (AR) transactions daily.
• Operational Accounting — Support and process weekly cheque runs.
• Operational Accounting — Maintain internal controls related to expense management, vendor payments, and revenue recognition.
• Operational Accounting — Assist with the preparation and analysis of the annual budget.
• System Implementation & Process Improvement — Support financial system implementations and upgrades (e.g., ADP, Sage Intacct).
• System Implementation & Process Improvement — Develop, document, and improve workflows and procedures to enhance efficiency and consistency.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field is required.
• Minimum 5–7 years of accounting experience, including month-end close processes.
• Strong experience with Sage 300 and advanced Excel
• Proven experience in payroll management and ensuring compliance with relevant legislation and policies.
• Experience working in a non-profit organization (NPO) environment is highly desirable.
• Demonstrated success in financial system implementations or upgrades.
• CPA enrolment or progress toward CPA designation is preferred.

Skills & Competencies

Technical Expertise

• Strong knowledge of accounting principles and month-end close processes.
• Experience with payroll processing, including compliance with legislation and collective agreements.
• Proficiency with financial systems such as ADP and Sage Intacct (or similar platforms).
• Advanced Excel skills and ability to work with large datasets.

Analytical & Problem-Solving

• Strong attention to detail with the ability to identify discrepancies and resolve issues.
• Analytical mindset to support budgeting, forecasting, and financial reporting.
• Ability to assess internal controls and recommend process improvements.

Communication & Collaboration

• Effective verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to explain financial information clearly to non-financial colleagues.
• Strong team player with experience collaborating across Finance, HR, and Operations.

Organizational Skills

• Ability to prioritize multiple deadlines and deliver accurate work under tight timelines.
• Strong time management and organizational skills to handle daily transactions and month-end close.

Adaptability & Initiative

• Proactive in identifying process efficiencies and system enhancements.
• Flexible and adaptable in a dynamic, changing environment.
• Strong sense of accountability and ownership of assigned tasks.