FINANCIAL ANALYST ACCOUNTING SERVICES

City of Toronto•Toronto, ON

77d•CA$96,566 - CA$132,880•Onsite

About The Position

The Accounting Services Division within the City of Toronto is responsible for delivering on the City's financial reporting obligations and ensuring that the City's financial transactions are accounted for in accordance with the Public Sector Accounting Standards (PSAS), while meeting provincial and federal legislative reporting requirements. The Analysis and Compliance team within the Division plays a vital role in upholding the financial integrity of the City. The team proactively execute in-depth transaction review and balances within our financial system. The goal is to ensure our financial statements can be prepared in accordance with applicable accounting standards and policies. Utilizing various analytical processes and tools, the team publishes dashboards and management reports. The goal is to highlight strength and challenges to various divisional leadership, while developing strategies to enhance internal controls, mitigate risks and promote process efficiencies. The team also participates in various multi-divisional compliance and regulatory submissions. The Division's Analysis and Compliance team is seeking a Financial Analyst.

Requirements

Professional Canadian accounting designation (CPA) is required, accompanied with minimum 4 years of professional experience in a public or private sector accounting environment.
Extensive experience in the preparation of financial statements within a similar environment.
Experience with SAP and various computer applications including Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel and PowerPoint)
Experience supervising, leading, motivating, and training staff in a unionized environment.
Advanced knowledge of Public Sector Accounting Standards (PSAS), common municipal policies and practices.
Excellent written communication skills
Advanced knowledge of financial and internal controls
Superior analytical and problem-solving skills
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills in working with all organizational levels.
Familiarity with Ontario Statutes, including the Occupational Health and Safety Act, employment standards, labour and human rights, and other applicable government legislation, is essential to this role.
Commitment to the highest standards of ethics and integrity, and can lead cross-divisional teams, facilitate decision-making and achieve excellence in accounting practices and reporting, as well as exercise independent judgement and discretion when dealing with confidential matters.
Ability to work under minimum supervision and work overtime when required.

Responsibilities

Implements detailed plans and recommends policies/procedures regarding program specific requirements.
Reviews complex accounting transactions for compliance with various corporate policies, guidelines, and accounting principles. Prepare and review analyses and reconciliations for the period end reporting processes.
Develops and presents reports, briefing notes, graphics, audio-visual presentations, dashboards, summaries and other printed and digital materials (pamphlets, brochures) for staff, Committees describing data analytics, key performance indicators (KPI), emerging trends impacting the City's financial position and performance and support recommendations.
Actions on the trends and analytics identified from dashboards and summaries, the successful candidate will design and implement policies and procedures for future improvements and risk mitigations.
Serves as subject matter expert to an assigned portfolio of City Divisions and/or consolidated entities supporting the accounting for complex transactions, interpretations of new and upcoming changes to Public Sector Accounting Standards (PSAS) or the Excise Tax Act (ETA), external audit requirements, financial and sustainability reporting and compliance with the City's accounting policies and processes and Canada Revenue Agency tax legislation.
Reviews contracts and/or agreements to advise City Divisions and/or consolidated entities regarding potential operational/financial/accounting/taxation related risks associated with the arrangements.
Maintains confidentiality of contractual terms and conditions and other sensitive arrangements.
Provides input into and administers assigned budget, ensuring that expenditures are controlled and maintained within approved budget limitations
Carries out period-end activities to ensure that the City's general ledger is complete, accurate and compliant with PSAS, the ETA, City by-laws and the City's accounting policies and processes.
Monitors and evaluates financial and non-financial information to identify potential issues arising from accounting/taxation errors, internal control weaknesses/failures, information gaps or other internal policies and/or processes. Leverages findings to develop and execute a work plan, including risk analysis, financial impact assessment and partner engagement plan for purposes of resolving all identified issues.
Develops and executes project plans related to City-wide implementation of accounting standards, policies and processes that incorporate internal controls related to fiscal close, financial and sustainability reporting and other corporate projects and initiatives. Monitors project health, communicates anticipated and/or confirmed risks and recommends mitigating strategies to address project risks on a timely basis.
Conducts research and analysis in support of corporate accounting policy, including assessment and evaluation of accounting standards and related pronouncements, technical and general reports and review of applicable legislation and regulations.
Develops accounting papers and presents to senior executives such as Division Heads, Controller, Chief Financial Officer & Treasurer, Audit Committee, leaders across consolidated entities, external audit partners and accounting regulatory bodies (e.g. Public Sector Accounting Board).
Develops and analyzes quantitative models, statistical data, questionnaires and surveys to identify and evaluate City-wide trends, corporate performance metrics and indicators, as well as contributes to the development of universal compliance dashboards and education programs.
Reviews, assesses, analyzes and reports on changes to the PSAS, ETA, provincial and federal statutes, bills and regulations that impact the accounting for the City’s revenues and expenditures, policies or initiatives. Consults with other municipalities and/or orders of government to assess the impact of such changes.
Develops and implements corporate strategies to ensure accurate recognition of City capital expenditures and supports strategic financial decisions that have City-wide budgeting and financial implications, including changes to property taxes, debenture issuances, development charges, user fees and government grants. Supports the corporate procurement process by providing in-depth advice and financial analysis related to the City’s Requests for Proposals and bid submissions, making assessments and recommendations associated with the financial viability of bidding entries and representing the Division on associated procurement teams, as required, at Bid Committee.
Contributes to the development of the City’s consolidated financial statements, supplementary schedules and note disclosures, including analysis of financial information from multiple sources. Performs trending and deep analytics required for performance reporting and for the City’s annual financial report.
Supports the Manager and Senior Manager in the development of fiscal-end closing instructions and schedules, reporting packages and other required financial information for distribution to Divisions, as well as the City’s agencies and corporations.
Co-ordinates and facilitates the City’s external audit engagement, including management of external audit relationships, review and compilation of audit evidence to address areas of significant risk and communicates audit results to the Auditor General, Controller, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer and the Audit Committee.
Ensures that internal controls and accounting policies are designed, implemented and operating in compliance with City by-laws and policies, enterprise risk management models and financial reporting requirements.
Supports corporate projects in relation to financial reporting and taxation interests, undertaking special projects and assignments, as required.
Engages, directs and reviews the work of external consultants and other advisors.
Maintains an up-to-date understanding of relevant accounting standards (i.e. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, Canadian Auditing Standards, Public Sector Accounting Standards, International Financial Reporting Standards), Provincial statutes and regulations, City by-laws and Council directions and agreements.
Assists in the development of performance measures and benchmarks and monitors results with appropriate unit staff.
Supports internal and external assurance compliance effort as required.