Manager Finance

Woodlands County’s Administration Office is located within the town of Whitecourt approximately 150 kilometers northwest of Edmonton, Alberta. The official 2021 Census lists the County population just over 4,550. The County is sprawled across 7,668 square kilometers, the County surrounds the Town of Whitecourt, and includes the Hamlets of Blue Ridge, Goose Lake and Fort Assiniboine.

Woodlands County’s economy is supported by forestry, aggregate, oil and gas, agriculture, tourism and indoor and outdoor recreation. Collectively the communities within the County offer access to many services and amenities including hospitals, airport, primary, secondary, and access to post-secondary education, secondary medical and pharmaceutical services, fire protection, policing, seniors and supportive living care and housing, community organizations, shopping and a multitude of recreation facilities, green spaces, sports fields, arenas, curling rinks, parks, lakes, and rivers.

The County is legislated under the Alberta Municipal Government Act and is governed by a Council comprised of seven (7) Councilors from which a Reeve and Deputy Reeve are appointed.

Mission Statement:

We are a diverse and welcoming rural community that strives to provide exceptional opportunities for our families, businesses, and industries for the benefit of current and future generations.

Core values:

Identity
Proudly rural. As part of rural Alberta, we are proud to supply resources that sustain the quality of life for the region, province, country, and beyond.

Integrity
Being accountable, being committed, and accepting ownership for one’s decisions, actions, and behavior.

Collaborative
We promote the quality of life of our residents by building and maintaining strong relationships with alliances and work to benefit the region as a whole.

Transparent
We want input from the public and to conduct ourselves in an open, honest, and respectful manner.

Diversity
We respect the unique needs of the different geographic and demographic sectors of our community and work hard to understand them.

Natural Resources
We recognize and respect the beauty of the Woodlands region.

Sustainability
Meeting our own needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own.

Reporting to the Director Corporate Services, the Manager Finance is part of the management team leading staff on critical work including the County-wide financial planning, reporting, analysis, rate forecasting, annual budgeting, year-end audit, strategic business case analysis, internal business partnership and financial advisory support.

The Manager Finance will also support the long-term financial planning, asset valuation, reserve forecasts, financing strategies, and emergency management support. This critical work will support the Director in establishing adequate County reserves and maintaining financial accountability, while delivering on the strategic priorities and core services. The incumbent will oversee the day-to-day financial and accounting operations, and provide leadership, mentorship, and coaching to the direct reports.

This role is predominantly office centered but will require some travel to Fort Assiniboine and Whitecourt.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Overseeing all accounting and financial reporting functions, reviewing work, and providing guidance on analysis, reconciliations, and system issues, and ensuring compliance with related policies, standards, and requirements.
• Provide relevant and value-added long range financial planning, analysis, and reporting to senior management. This role is responsible for all aspects of the Five-Year Financial planning annual budgeting, quarterly reporting, variance analysis, ad hoc financial/business analysis, funding analysis, and financial modeling.
• Acts as the Business Partnership support for the organization to implement, develop and provide financial analysis on giving data driven insights to aid decision making & strategic priority setting.
• Provides expertise for the development and maintenance of the County’s financial systems. Assists in designing, testing, and implementing changes and enhancements to financial systems and related processes and developing system related reports.
• General maintenance and set up of all budget system users.
• Oversees and coordinates all activities required for year-end audit, including analysis, review and preparation of audit working paper, making decisions on accounting treatment of complex transactions, preparation of annual financial statements and associated schedules, and liaising with external auditors.
• Oversees and coordinates ongoing accounting functions, including accounts payable, accounts receivable, general ledger accounting, bank reconciliations, fixed asset accounting, account analysis, sales taxes, internal/external reporting, managing audits, and maintaining internal control systems.
• Creation and periodic update of policies relating to financial controls – reserves, revenue sources, expenditure controls, appropriate use of long-term debt, and budget practices.
• This position is required to serve as an active member on the County Emergency Response team.
• Perform other related duties as requested by the Director of Corporate Services related to job duties and special projects.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or Diploma in Accounting, Business, Public or Business Administration or related disciplines with additional relevant courses and training.
• 5 – 7 years of experience working in Municipal Government is desirable. Combinations of municipal, private, and not-for-profit, along with experience and knowledge of Public Sector Accounting Standards will be considered.
• Ability to work with a team that requires timely decisions, provide direction on complex and emerging issues, and efficiently provide information and general assistance to internal staff and public.
• Ability to work independently when required and lead with initiative.
• Outstanding interpersonal, communication and presentation skills to work with Council, staff, community groups, leaders, the public, and all orders of government.
• Knowledge of software applications, including MS Office, Bellamy and GIS related.
• Possess a Valid Class 5 Driver’s License.
• Maturity
• Fiscally astute
• Detailed
• Ethical
• Supportive
• Intuitive
• Process orientated
• Well organized
• Thorough
• Open-minded
• Politically astute
• Business minded
• Customer centric
• Safety conscience
• Respectful

Woodlands County is committed to equity, diversity and inclusion and welcomes applications from all qualified individuals.

Compensation

The compensation range for the Manager Finance will be commensurate upon the candidate’s skills and experience. Further details on benefits will be discussed at the interview stage.

Confidentiality

In compliance and consistent with the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (“PIPEDA”), HumanEdge shall respect the privacy and confidentiality of all personal information provided directly or indirectly verbally, electronically or in print throughout the process of candidate engagement in our search assignments.

To apply send cover letter and resume in confidence to: