Manager Program Financial Support

**Division**:
Financial Management & Planning

**Temporary Duration**:
Approximate Duration: 18 months

**About Us**:
Serving a diverse urban and rural population of more than 475,000, Niagara Region is focused on building a strong and prosperous Niagara. Working collaboratively with 12 local area municipalities and numerous community partners, the Region delivers a range of high quality programs and services to support and advance the well-being of individuals, families and communities within its boundaries. Nestled between the great lakes of Erie and Ontario, the Niagara peninsula features some of Canada’s most fertile agricultural land, the majesty of Niagara Falls and communities that are rich in both history and recreational and cultural opportunities. Niagara boasts dynamic modern cities, Canada’s most developed wine industry, a temperate climate, extraordinary theatre, and some of Ontario’s most breathtaking countryside. An international destination with easy access to its binational U.S. neighbour New York State, Niagara attracts over 14 million visitors annually, as well as a steady stream of new residents and businesses.

Please note that the Niagara Region requires that all newly hired employees are to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of being hired and provide proof of full vaccination, or provide proof of a bona fide medical or Human Rights Code exemption on a form issued from and approved by Niagara Region.

**Job Summary**:
Reporting to the AD, Reporting and Analysis, the Manager, Program Financial Support is responsible for providing overall financial support to departments in reporting of operating and capital budget results, variance and financial analysis, forecasting, program specific reporting, procurement, and budgeting support, ensuring alignment with business goals, corporate strategy and policy.

**Education**:

- Post-secondary degree in accounting or finance.

**Knowledge**:

- Minimum 7 years of experience in accounting, financial reporting, budgeting, procurement and/or process review.
- Minimum 5 years of progressive management experience.
- Experience with Public Sector Accounting (PSA) and not-for-profit accounting standards is preferred.
- Previous experience engaging with Committees, Council, or a Board is preferred.
- Professional accounting designation (CPA/CA).
- Knowledge of external regulations, such as the Municipal Act, the CICA/PSAB Handbook, and all other regulations impacting the accounting and reporting of municipalities.
- Completion of the municipal accounting and finance program is preferred.
- Audit designation is preferred.

**Responsibilities**:
**_ Provides program specific reporting, procurement, and budgeting support to departments, ensuring alignment with overall vision and work plans._**:

- Provides guidance to finance process and policy owners to ensure standards are effectively balancing the business needs with overall control objectives
- Provides program support in navigating how to integrate program specific requirements with Budget & Forecasting, Reporting and Procurement activities.
- Ensures consistent tools, processes, and practices are in place across different business units resulting in standardized outputs and minimized financial risk.
- Ensures procedures are in place to monitor compliance with general accepted accounting principles and corporate directives.
- Develops overall plans to ensure continuous improvements and transfer of skills and expertise to ensure appropriate level of financial acumen within the business group.
- Coordinates overall financial management and planning calendars with budgets, reporting, accounting and procurement functions.
- Ensures financial communications are delivered consistently across all business units.
- Acts as first point of contact for program management and project managers for issue with customer service provided.
- Educates program management and project managers on overall responsibilities of finance.
- Develops strategies to effectively and efficiently integrate finance consultants outputs with program financial support tasks.
- Consolidates different reporting and analysis work to provide summary detail to senior management and Council as required.

**_ Develops, manages, and administers annual and multi-year Capital and Operating budgets for the operating unit ensuring support of Council’s objectives, financial transparency and accountability, monitoring budget adherence, identifying and explaining variances, and financial reporting is effectively managed in compliance with corporate financial policies. Ensure goods and services are acquired in accordance with the procurement policy. Authorize, and administer the acquisition of goods and services for the operating unit and direct reports in accordance with the procurement policy and procedures._**:
**_ Manages people resource planning for the operating unit, determining ideal organizational structures, identifying