Associate Director Corporate Accounting and Reporting

Job Description

Job Summary

Reporting to the Director, Financial Management and Planning/Deputy Treasurer, the Associate Director Corporate Accounting Services and Reporting is responsible for providing leadership, strategic planning, direction and the effective delivery of centralized accounting operations and corporate financial reporting for the Region and our shared services partners, including Regional Agencies, Boards and Commissions.

Education

• Post-secondary degree in Accounting, Commerce, Business Administration or related field.
• Completion of the Municipal Finance and Accounting Program is preferred.
• Minimum 7 years of progressively senior level financial management experience including complex financial systems, accounting, policy development, management reporting systems, business process development and financial performance indicators.
• Professional Accounting designation (CPA).
• Experience with auditing, Public Sector Accounting Standards (PSAS) and consolidation is preferred.
• Experience working in a municipal environment is preferred.
• Experience working as part of a management team is preferred.
• Experience engaging with Committees, Council, or Board of Directors is preferred.
• Experience environment managing in a unionized setting is preferred.

Responsibilities

Provides leadership, direction and strategic planning in the effective execution of centralized accounting operations, in a complex reporting environment for the Region and its shared services partners (25% of time)

• Prepares, implements, and monitors annual plan for Financial Systems and Operations, establishing goals and objectives and ensuring alignment with the FMP and Corporate strategic plans.
• Assesses and implements methodologies to automate business processes to drive operational efficiencies and effectiveness, leveraging technology.
• Lead projects, business process reviews and continuous improvement initiatives, to improve client satisfaction, achieve business goals and enhance service delivery.
• Manages the development of corporate accounting, receivable and payable and banking policies, in conjunction with other FMP invested parties and operating Departments.
• Manages the development and implementation of accounts receivable, accounts payable, banking business, and any other applicable process improvements.
• Ensures the financial processes of the Region adhere to general accounting principles (CPA Canada Handbook public sector standards).
• Recommends new and revised FMP policies, standards and procedures.
• Participates as a team member with other professional staff on financial and analytical studies towards policy formulation.

Provides leadership, direction and strategic planning in the effective execution of the Corporate Reporting function (25% of time)

• Oversees departmental and corporate reporting and forecasting including preparation of timely and accurate monthly, quarterly and annual financial results and related journal entries to comply with Council, Ministry and Legislative requirements. Oversee the planning, co-ordination and compilation of all corporate and program financial audits, performance metrics and government reporting (e.g. Canada Community-Building Fund, HST).
• Oversees preparation of financial statements and note disclosures including analyzing and presenting them to the Director and Audit Committee and ABC's as required.
• Lead the assessment, interpretation, and implementation of new or revised accounting standards and regulatory requirements as well as associated processes and policy implications.
• Plan, coordinate and act as primary liaison with external auditors for preparation of annual financial statements. Address any areas of significant concern identified by the external auditors, regarding the financial year-end audit and internal controls.
• Drives improved performance in the business through development, use and promotion of enhanced financial reporting and measurement tools.
• Reviews, interprets and prepares financial analyses and written/oral reports related to written correspondence, business activities and initiatives, Committee and Council reports, financial policies/procedures and various legislation and regulations.
• Ensures effective processes, policies and practices are in place and support legislative, public sector accounting standards, regulatory standards and requirements, monitoring compliance and addressing issues.
• Benchmark, analyze, report on and make recommendations for the improvement of financial processes and reporting that consider business needs.
• Evaluates and implements external audit recommendations on internal controls and provides feedback to management and Audit Committee on results.
• Participates as a team member with other professional staff on financial and business impacts of policy formulation

Develop and maintain effective partnerships with all Regional departments, shared services partners, external agencies/boards/commissions (ABC's), and tiers of government to ensure accounting services and corporate reporting services requirements are effectively managed (20% of time).

• Develops and maintains effective working relationships and communications with departments, ABC's, area municipalities, the province and shared service partners to build consensus, resolve issues and complaints and ensure business needs are addressed.
• Attends Committee and Council, CLT and Department SLT meetings as required, providing support and recommendations on corporate financial reporting.

Develops and manages relationships with external partners and vendors.

• Participates as a team member with other professional staff on financial and analytical studies towards policy formulation.
• Participates in, or chairs committee meetings, task forces, work groups and special projects
• Develops customer service strategies to respond to internal and external needs, in consultation with the Communications team as appropriate.
• Prepares reports, briefing notes, presentations, statistics and analysis for Senior Management.
• Delivers presentations to Senior Management and a variety of other internal and external audiences

Manages people resource planning for the division or operating unit, determining ideal organizational structures, identifying desirable role and skill mix requirements and ensuring ongoing work quality and deliverability of results (20% of time).

• Enables results with the organization's human capital strategy to foster employee engagement.
• Directs and provides leadership for the activities and coaching of direct reports, providing work direction, setting priorities, assigning tasks/projects, determining methods and procedures to be used, resolving problems, ensuring results are achieved, and managing staff recruitment, performance, and skill development activities
• Ensures alignment and coordination of activity and quality of output between teams under their direction
• Ensures focus is service excellence, communication/transparency, innovation, and data integrity and work flow integration.
• Ensures staff has the information and resources to make successful plans and decisions.
• Ensures all people related issues, including recruitment, grievances and labour relations issues, are aligned to HR and Corporate standards and practices.
• Helps to break down barriers to employee success, ensuring collaboration and cooperation with other teams within their division and department
• Ensures Occupational Health & Safety policies, programs and practices are implemented and maintained. This includes workplace inspections, monitoring, accident reporting and investigations, and ensuring any observed hazards or lapses in the functioning of OH&S processes, and other OH&S concerns are responded to promptly.
• Ensures all individuals under supervision have been informed of hazards and instructed on the necessary risk control and emergency response measures

Develops, manages and administers annual and multi-year Capital and Operating budgets for the division, ensuring support of Council's objectives, financial transparency and accountability, budget adherence, identifying and explaining variances, and financial reporting is effectively managed in compliance with corporate financial policies. Authorize, and administer the acquisition of goods and services for the operating unit and direct reports in accordance with the procurement policy and procedures. (10% of time)

Special Requirements

• In accordance with the Corporate Criminal Record Check Policy, the position requires the incumbent to undergo a Criminal Records Check and submit a Canadian Police Clearance Certificate.
• May be required to support emergency operations under the incident management structure, at the direction of the Emergency Operations Centre Director.
• Regional staff strive to enable the strategic priorities of council and the organization through the completion of their work. Staff carry out their work by demonstrating the corporate values.

This position currently falls within our hybrid model, allowing the employee to typically work a minimum of 50% of your time at your regular work location and the other 50% of time at home.

HOW TO APPLY

Uncover the wonder of the Niagara Region and join a team dedicated to meeting tomorrow's challenges TODAY

We thank all candidates for their interest however, only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

We confirm that we do not use AI in screening of applicants, and this position is an existing vacancy.

To view the full job description and requirements, visit our Careers page -
Job Opening# 44541

Let us know why you would be an excellent team member by submitting your online application
no later than
March 8, 2026
, before midnight
by visiting our 'Careers' page