Bilingual Financial Specialist - Halifax, Canada - First Nations Financial Management Board

Description

Position Overview

Reporting to the Senior Financial Officer, the Financial Specialist, FMS Support Services is responsible for supporting selected First Nation clients across Canada through remote accounting and on-going training.

Accountabilities

• Develop relationships with assigned clients that have an approved Financial Administration Law (FAL) to promote, build trust and secure buy-in to implement their FAL and ultimately prepare for FMS certification;
• In collaboration with the First Nation client conduct the FMS Support Services needs assessment and identify opportunities for remote accounting and training opportunities;
• To complete any other tasks as requested by FMS Support Services management team;
• Support First Nation FAL clients to achieve FMS certification. "Support" in this context means facilitating, empowering, motivating, educating, and may take the form of:

Remote Accounting Services

• In collaboration with the First Nation client and the FMS Support Services Senior Financial Officer, develop a remote accounting service schedule based on the priorities identified in the FMS Support Services readiness assessment
• Assist First Nation clients with remote accounting support (or in person) as identified in the FMS Support Services readiness assessment. This may take the form of:
  • Processes claims and vouchers for payment, enters invoices, matches invoices with purchase orders, and checks all claims for accuracy;
  • Verifies account codes and signatures for proper assignment of budgetary expenditures;
  • Acts as first line contact with vendors regarding billing problems;
  • Administers & maintains the contingency account/cash advance system including control & reconciliation of the contingency by distributing and receiving money;
  • Liaises with managers/employees on expenditures by ensuring that they comply with policies and regulations and ensuring that funds are available;
  • Processes payment of invoices within specified time frames;
  • Processes payment of accounts by verifying that all contract terms and conditions have been met and determining the right financial coding to avoid financial loss and payment duplication;
  • Liaises with suppliers to give and obtain information necessary to ensure the accuracy of accounts/financial transactions and to rectify any irregularities;
  • Organizes filing of all appropriate documents; stores, updates and retrieves financial data;
  • Prepares monthly submissions for accounting and monthly remittances;
  • Prepares general ledger and journal entries and trial balance;
  • Manages accounts receivable and payable;
  • Opens and closes books for auditors;
  • Prepares financial statements and bank reconciliations;
  • Invoice's clients and answers inquiries;
  • Assesses fixed assets and depreciation;
  • Prepares costing and budgeting as requested.
  • Assisting with any other financial management initiatives as identified by the FMS Support Services Senior Financial Officer.

Training and Capacity Development

• In collaboration with the FMS Support Services Senior Financial Officer develop a training plan based on the information provided in the initial needs assessment;
• Deliver training and capacity development that may take the form of:
  • Journal Entries;
  • Budgeting;
  • Bank Reconciliations;
  • Processing Accounts Payable & Accounts Receivable;
  • Monthly & Quarterly Reporting pursuant to GAAP and PSAB;
  • Any other training as identified by the FMS Support Services management team.

Qualifications

• A Degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, or another business-related field;
• A CPA designation or progress towards a CPA designation considered an asset;
• Must have a minimum of 5 years' experience in:
  • Providing financial services, preferably within an Indigenous, government, or not for profit environment;
  • Planning, monitoring, and reporting activities (eg. Budgeting, variance reporting, financial statement preparation, etc);
  • Managing aspects of funding agreements (grant/proposal writing; policy writing; facilitation of deliverables; monitoring/reporting);
  • Managing and operating within internal controls relevant to all aspects of a financial management system;
• Demonstrated experience working with information and data management systems;
• Experience with Sage 300 an asset;
• Experience with budget, accounting, and reporting systems;
• Must have experience working with Microsoft Office Suite;
• Strong working knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles;
• Experience working with Federal Government organizations and representatives an asset;
• Must have an understanding, awareness and appreciation of indigenous culture and history;
• Willing to participate in ongoing education and training for the role including indigenous studies;
• Must be fluent in English (spoken and written) and French (spoken and written). Fluency in an Indigenous language is considered an asset;

Equivalent or relevant education and/or experience may be considered.

Working Conditions

• This position ca be based in Ottawa, ON, Montreal QC or Remote Nova Scotia/Halifax
• Remote or hybrid work arrangements may be considered;
  
• Requires regional and national travel.

What We Offer

• Salary and annual bonus eligibility;
• Flexible 37.5-hour work week
• Employer paid extended benefits;
• Matching group RPP contributions;
• Annual vacation allowance and generous paid stat & non-stat days;
• Work-life balance;
  
• Professional development & career growth opportunities.