Job Summary

This position is responsible for planning, directing, coordinating, integrating and delivering senior financial business support functions within the Utilities and Environment Division. 

Duties & Responsibilities

• Leads a financial team responsible to provide expert business support and partnerships with the following City of Saskatoon Departments: Saskatoon Light & Power, Saskatoon Water, Water & Waste Operations, Sustainability, and Facilities Management.
• Leads and coordinates the budgeting process and participates in business and strategic planning for Division.
• Supports organizational change initiatives and associated process improvement.
• Establishes and maintains strategic relationships with assigned portfolios to assist and support the achievement of corporate initiatives.  
• Oversees day-to-day finance functions such as time and attendance processing, accounts payable and accounts receivable.
• Research, implement and train on financial controls.
• Ensures the accuracy, completeness, and accessibility of financial information.  Leads the analysis and reporting of this data to assess trends, performance, and sustainability of various initiatives or programs along with exploring potential scenarios to guide future decisions.
• Ensures information used to assess the viability of initiatives is relevant, appropriate, plausible, complete and accurate.
• Coordinates the financial aspects of Annual Performance Reports for all business areas within the Department.
• Provides professional advice to the Departments relating to financial planning and accountability, report writing, and business planning.
• Monitors the long-term financial status of all reserves and provides oversight in this regard to the General Manager and Department Directors.
• Oversees and analyzes all depreciation and asset evaluation processes within the Departments, including the Tangible Capital Asset reporting requirements.
• Ensures Departmental financial strategies and policies are aligned with corporate strategies and policies.
• Provides outcome-based direction in the preparation of all Divisional operating and capital budgets.  Reviews, researches, and proposes options for the financing of capital and operating programs.
• Develops and manages all communications strategies relating to Divisional financial programs including marketing, customer or utility rates, and customer service/interface functions within the Departments.
• Oversees all accounting and cash handling procedures for the Departments.  Coordinates periodic audits and inspections to verify procedures are being strictly adhered to.
• Oversees and manages senior level funding initiatives that pertain to the Departments. Monitors Departmental requirements and ensures that information such as schedules, cash flow, and funding are in place and all corporate stakeholders are fully informed of their status and obligations.
• Prepares and presents reports to Committee and Council.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Degree in a related discipline plus the possession of a recognized professional accounting designation; i.e. CPA, CA, CMA, CGA.
• Seven to nine years’ progressively responsible related experience in accounting, budgeting, financial analysis, business administration, rate and fee modelling and design, including five years experience supervising and coordinating staff.
• Thorough knowledge of the principles and practices of management and organizational planning.
• Thorough knowledge of the budget process, as well as accounting principles and practices.
• Knowledge of the principles of financial management information and internal control systems.
• Ability to provide leadership and consultation through problem-solving, consensus, stakeholder involvement and dialogue.
• Demonstrated ability and willingness to be accountable for personal performance and the performance of staff.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with civic staff and officials, representatives of other agencies, and the public.
• Demonstrated ability to direct and support staff in achieving desired results.
• Ability to express ideas and concepts by communicating effectively, both orally and in writing.