Assistant Director and Senior Accounting Operations Direction adjoint(e) et conseiller(ère) principal aux opérations

Job Title:

Assistant Director and Senior Accounting Operations Advisor

Competition Number:

Administrative unit:

Financial Services

Immediate Supervisor:

Director, Financial Services

Job Type:

Indeterminate (non-unionized)

Work Schedule:

35 hours per week (4-day work week)

Vacancy:

1

Salary Scale :

Level 10 ($ to $ )

In this document, the masculine pronoun is used without discrimination and only for conciseness.

Saint Paul University (1848) is the founding college of the University of Ottawa, with which it has maintained an affiliation since 1965. Bilingual and on a human scale, it has more than 1,000 students; it offers programs in social communications, counselling and psychotherapy, canon law, public ethics, conflict studies, social innovation, leadership, ecology and equity, and theology.

Why choose Saint Paul University?

Working at Saint Paul University means working in an environment where collaboration, proximity and the opportunity to have a concrete impact are important. The University offers its staff an environment that promotes professional development, work-life balance which includes a four-day work week, as part of a regular 35-hour week for administrative staff, vacation, a pension plan and a group benefits program. Staff also benefit, subject to applicable conditions, from a tuition fee exemption for most programs offered by Saint Paul University and the University of Ottawa, promoting learning and professional development throughout their careers.

We are looking for people who want to share their expertise at the service of an organization on a human scale, while actively contributing to the development of their colleagues, the evolution of the University and the continuous improvement of our practices. At Saint Paul University, your expertise is recognized, your contribution is visible and your work will have a concrete impact.

Summary of duties

Reporting to the Financial Resources Director, the incumbent plays a key role in the management of the University's accounting and financial operations. They plan, coordinate and actively participate in the day-to-day activities of the department, as well as supervise the team's work and ensures the quality, accuracy and integrity of accounting operations and compliance within set deadlines.

As a senior resource person in accounting and financial matters, they also provide technical leadership to the team. They support staff members in the resolution of complex accounting issues, ensure the transfer of knowledge and actively contribute to the development of their skills and professional autonomy.

The incumbent also supports the Director in financial management, budget planning, preparation of financial statements, financial control and continuous improvement projects. They participate in the development of decision-making tools, financial analysis and the improvement of controls and processes.

They act as an advisory resource for managers on matters within their areas of expertise, particularly in the areas of accounting practices, administrative policies and procedures, and legislative and regulatory requirements. They also contribute to the development, implementation and harmonization of the University's financial practices, processes and systems. These responsibilities take up and reinforce the advisory role already provided for in the current description.

Key Functions

Team management, coaching and development

• Supervise and coordinate the day-to-day activities of Financial Services staff.
• Collaborate with the Director to establish operational priorities, distribute work and monitor timelines and results.
• Act as the first point of contact for technical questions in accounting and finance.
• Provide team members with the necessary advice to solve complex problems.
• Coach, train and mentor team members to strengthen their technical, accounting and financial knowledge and skills.
• Identify the technical development needs of the team and promote knowledge transfer.
• Review work processes and provide feedback to improve the accuracy, efficiency and autonomy of team members.
• Establish and promote high standards of quality, rigour and financial control.
• Foster a work environment based on collaboration, learning and professional development.

Accounting, banking and financial operations

• Supervise and monitor accounting, banking and financial operations.
• Review and validate financial transactions and ensuring that they are properly recorded.
• Oversee bank and financial reconciliations.
• Review accounting entries, adjustments, accruals and closing activities.
• Identify accounting discrepancies, errors or anomalies, determine their causes and ensure the implementation of appropriate corrective measures.
• Ensure the integrity of the general ledger and the quality of financial information.
• Authorise banking transactions in accordance with the applicable delegations of authority.
• Compile, analyze, interpret and report financial data to the director of the department
• Ensure that the University's accounting practices and controls remain appropriate and well documented.

Budgetary operations and financial analysis

• Support the director in budget planning, preparation, analysis and control.
• Develop and improve budget tracking tools, reports and mechanisms.
• Review and validate budgets submitted by the different departments.
• Advise managers on the management and monitoring of their budgets.
• Analyze variances between actual results, budgets and forecasts and recommends appropriate actions.
• Track endowments, deferred revenues, scholarships, grants, donations, and other restricted funds.
• Analyze the distribution of salary expenses and identify discrepancies.
• Prepare various financial and salary analyses necessary for decision-making.
• May conduct salary cost analyses in support of management and labour relations activities.

Student Accounts and Accounts Receivable

• Review and validate financial transactions from student records management systems.
• Ensure the consistency of accounting information between the different financial and administrative systems.
• Perform or supervise reconciliations of accounts receivable.
• Follow-up on amounts owed and recommend appropriate collection actions.
• Ensure the consistent application of controls and procedures related to student financial transactions.

Director assistance and support

• Act as a liaison for objectives set by supervisor or senior management.
• Inform the Director of Financial resources of problems found in operations and propose and/or recommend solutions.
• Assist the Director as needed in the management of various special or institutional projects.
• Ensure compliance with the various levels of government by filling out forms and producing reports as needed (e.g., research grant, T3010, T1235, F300, Statistics Canada NPO status, etc.)
• Assist the Director in the preparation of worksheet, reports and dashboards as well as financial statements and notes.
• Assist the Director in managing the audit process and in responding to questions and requests for information from auditors.
• Participate in the communication of financial information among managers.
• Prepares or revises required financial and regulatory returns, reports, and forms.
• Ensure that the quality of customer service is consistent among all members of the department;
• Perform any other task requested by their supervisor in their field of activity;
• Replace the Director as needed in case of absence and ensure team stability.

Improvement of financial processes and systems

• Participate in the development, review, implementation, documentation and harmonization of accounting and financial policies, procedures and processes.
• Review existing practices and recommend improvements to increase efficiency, reliability and strengthen controls.
• In collaboration with the various internal and external partners, participate in the implementation or improvement of systems that have an impact on financial and budgetary operations.
• Participate in the development and validation of financial processes related to the systems used by the University, including UO Campus, Workforce Now, Raiser's Edge, Orion, and accounting systems.
• Contribute to the automation and improvement of financial reporting tools.

Education, Experience, Knowledge and Abilities

• Education and professional designation:
  • University degree in accounting, or business administration, with a specialization in accounting, or a directly related discipline.
  • CPA designation considered a strong asset.
  • An exceptional combination of specialized accounting education and extensive professional experience may be considered when it clearly demonstrates an equivalent mastery of the required accounting skills.
  • Continuing education or professional development in accounting, internal control, financial analysis, auditing or financial management is an asset.
• Experience
  • A minimum of seven (7) years of progressive and relevant experience in accounting and financial management . click apply for full job details