Director of Finance

Purpose of Position

As Director of Finance, Facilities, and IT, this position will play a pivotal role in managing critical functions within the organization.  Your primary responsibility involves direct management of the Finance Department, Facilities Operations, and Information and Technology (IT). Additionally, this position will be responsible for overseeing the Manager of Training Operations.  

In this key position, the incumbent’s accountability spans a wide range of financial activities, including financial planning, budgeting, monitoring, analysis, reporting, and advisory functions. This extends to supporting Centre management, the Board of Directors, and auditors, ensuring strict compliance with polices, procedure, guidelines, and directives.

Working closely with the CEO, this position will help to prioritize and drive projects that align with annual objectives.  This includes a focus on delivering superior customer service and ensuring adherence to all accounting policies and regulations. 

Furthermore, this role extends to managing the Training Operations Manager and providing leadership across three departments at the Centre.  This involves maintaining accountability for departmental budgets and objectives, ensuring all operations and activities comply with Centre policies and provincial legislation and directives.  This position will also be instrumental in ensuring the on-time delivery of relevant initiatives and departmental projects, contributing significantly to the overall success and compliance of the organization.

Key Responsibilities

Under the direction and leadership of the CEO, the Director of F&O will:

This position oversees the training operations, IT, and administrative functions for the Centre.  Training Operations includes oversight of the Manager of Training Operations, who is responsible for all logistical and operational aspects of training.  IT includes oversight of the Centre’s IT Specialist and any contracted IT supports.  Administration includes oversight of shipping, receiving, mail, office supplies, front desk customer service, public tours and room occupancy agreements.

Coordinates and provides recommendations for facility operations, equipment leases and facility rental agreements and billings. Manages the maintenance and operation of the Centre’s fleet of vehicles. Communicates with the building owner and property maintenance providers to coordinate lease payments, work orders and building and property projects.  As necessary, communicates with building services management and personnel and outside vendors regarding Centre business. 

Supports and coordinates treasury functions including review and approval of HST adjustments, corporate travel credit card and purchase card systems, GIC investments and administrates the Centre’s online banking functions.

Additional duties may be assigned at the discretion of the Chief Executive Office.

Knowledge, Education and Training

This position requires a minimum university degree in a specialized field such as accounting, business or related field and a CPA, CA, CMA or CGA designation. Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Office applications and the ability to develop high-level reports and spreadsheets within these applications. Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Teams. Requires a valid class G driver’s license and a good driving record.

Extensive experience with financial reporting software systems, in particular QuickBooks. Proficiency in French (written and oral) would be an asset.

Solid experience using Microsoft Office products including Word, Excel, Outlook, Power Point, and Teams. Knowledge of QuickBooks and PowerBI would also be an asset. Some travel may be required (10-15%).

Experience

A minimum of seven years experience in an accounting and financial management role, with at least five in management and/or management consulting capacity. Knowledge and experience in finance, accounting, project management, and operations is required. The incumbent requires strong managerial, organizational, communication, and planning skills to research, plan, and execute key strategic initiatives:

An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.

Decision-making

The incumbent will make recommendations to the CEO for annual business plan metrics and goals. The incumbent will participate, with the CEO, in strategic planning workshops, including the cascading down of goals into short term projects in support of the annual business plan.

Decisions within this position affect major Centre functions (budget, banking, facility operations). Objectives will be defined, and frequent operating decisions must be made as the situation can change on a regular basis. This position will prepare and analyze data to be presented, along with recommendations, to the CEO, management, and Board (e.g. investments, training revenue margins). This position will also analyze data prepared by others (e.g. payroll registers, auditor reports) which will affect required decisions and actions.

Ingenuity and Creativity

Ingenuity and creativity are applied in originating new or improved programs. Will lead efforts to refine established programs and services and assist with the development of new processes and procedures (e.g., new ways of working at the Centre expands outside Ontario). Identify, present, and develop new opportunities to advance Centre objectives, business models, funding avenues, partnerships and other opportunities in conjunction with internal and external interests.

Impact of Action

This position is responsible for decisions that could result in legal action and significant medium- to long-term effects on the Centre’s reputation and operations as the incumbent, and their departments, is responsible for sensitive customer (e.g., customer profiles) and employee data (e.g., payroll and pensions).  Errors in judgment or data handling could result in legal action against the Centre. The incumbent will work with a high degree of independence and, when limits of authority are exceeded, this position would consult with the CEO in advance. This position is also responsible for preventing operational inefficiencies (e.g. providing clear operational direction to training operations) and preventing any reduction in quality of customer service or Centre reputation. Must ensure professionalism and organization is maintained within the departments to meet financial, operational, and Centre objectives.

Financial Responsibility

This position develops, monitors and is directly accountable for the Finance and Administration Department budget, the Training Operations budget, and the IT Budget, adjusting actions according to limits. Has signing authority and spending ability within set limits and following all accounting and procurement procedures and policies. This position also develops budgets, financial controls and financial management strategies involving all departments within the Centre to ensure financial stability. Provides advice and guidance and ensures compliance with government directives. This position may invest funds of the Centre under direction of the CEO.

Responsibility for Leadership

This position has functional control of the Finance & Administration and IT departments and oversees work and budget priorities for Training Operations.  This includes assigning tasks, monitoring and ensuring workflow is maintained. This position is also responsible for overseeing and investigating process efficiencies in these functional areas.  This position completes performance reviews of department staff, providing functional advice on a regular basis.  This position regularly provides guidance to the CEO, management, and staff by interpreting financial data.

This position is a member of the Centre’s management team, attends management meetings and collaborates with Centre management on development of Centre-wide policies and procedures. This position reports directly to the CEO.

Responsibility for Customer Relationships
This position is mostly internally focused but will be responsible for any escalations of customer issues from the Training Operations Department.  Will collaborate with the CEO and management team to foster expanded relationships with various interest holders as required. Acts as the expert in Finance and will address any internal finance questions directly with staff, the Board, and Auditors.

Communication

This position will be responsible for communications with external auditors, Centre managers and staff across the Centre, most often at the senior level. The purpose of contact would be to give, obtain, exchange, or discuss finance and operations information or decisions. Well-developed communication skills, tact and discretion are required for considerable explanation, clarification and interpretation of data in the exchange of sensitive and highly complex information.

Mental Effort

Considerable concentration is required for monthly, quarterly, and annual reporting.  Often there is choice of action (e.g. choice of movement or switching tasks). Errors in judgement, decisions or actions could have a significant effect on the entire Centre. Errors could result in substantial financial costs and would require intervention at the CEO level to deal with repercussions, which could include loss of customers or public trust, loss of Board trust, and/or substantial financial loss.

Physical Effort, Disruption and Working Conditions

The position requires constant periods of sitting to perform desk-based computer tasks. The position regularly requires reading, writing and/or analyzing of data, reports, etc.  

The position works primarily in standard office conditions with occasional exposure to one or two disagreeable elements, such as the stressors involved when working in emotionally charged situations requiring resolution. The position has a requirement to provide high quality work within set deadlines. Minimal disruption to lifestyle due to travel and work outside of normal working hours and on-call nature of managing facilities (e.g. after hours building issues).

Responsibility for Confidential Information

This position consistently works with confidential information. Sound judgement is required, particularly when dealing with difficult and sensitive issues These include but are not limited to handling confidential management information on government, fiscal, operational or IT matters.

All employees are required, under the Oath or Affirmation of Office, to not disclose or give to any person any information or document that comes to their knowledge or possession in the course of employment.

The Walkerton Clean Water Centre values diversity. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and welcome applicants from diverse backgrounds. If a job applicant requires an accommodation during the application or selection process, we will work with the applicant to meet the accommodation needs.