Accounting Specialist

**Our Story**:
Committed to fostering opportunities for current and future generations, the Region of Waterloo is an inclusive, thriving, and sustainable region of connected rural and urban communities with global reach. Our mission is to serve, engage and inspire, by delivering quality services to a diverse population of 630,000+, while creating a healthy, collaborative environment of learning, respect, and innovation.

This is a place where employees are valued and recognized for their talents and contributions to our success. Our employees take pride in making a difference in people's lives through the work that we do. We are looking for people like you to help make it happen.

**The Role**:
Participates in accounting and yearend financial reviews. Assists in systems review of financial modules (general ledger, accounts payable, assets) and implementation, and prepares reports and submissions for Regional, Provincial, and Federal requirements.

**Responsibilities also include**:
Participates in monthly corporate accounting and yearend financial reviews and prepares reports and submissions for Regional, Provincial, and Federal requirements.

Posts financial data into the financial system and reconciles, investigates, and resolves discrepancies.

Assists in the preparation of operating/capital budgets for client program areas.

Reconciles corporate asset accounts monthly.

Assists in the preparation of the monthly HST return.

Assists in activities related to the year end, including preparing year end reports, responding to auditor inquiries, and preparing the annual financial statements.

**Duties/Responsibilities**:
Posts financial data from corporate systems into the financial system (Oracle). Reconciles data against summary reports and investigates and resolves discrepancies. Compiles monthly payroll accrual information and submits to supervisor for review as required.

Assists in the preparation of operating/capital budgets for client program areas, including budget analyses, documents, summaries, and projections. Assists the Financial Analyst in the preparation of base operating budgets and proposed capital plans for review/approval by client. Prepares, reviews, and revises budget documents per client input/corporate direction.

Assists in the development of analytical information for client review and budget presentations (e.g., future budget impacts, summaries, continuity schedules, reserve fund projections).

Assists in the preparation of calculations/reconciliations of interdepartmental charges/corporate allocations, annual corporate program budget analysis, documents, and summaries. Enters adjustments into the budget system, as required.

Reconciles corporate asset accounts monthly. Reviews control accounts (assets and liabilities), follows up on incorrect codes, and resolves system and accounting issues to ensure financial accounts are maintained and accurate.

Generates reports required to monitor actual expenditures/revenues against Council-approved budgets. Assists Financial Analyst in working with clients to periodically forecast operating expenditures/revenues and identify possible variances.

Assists in the coordination of activities related to the year-end audit. Prepares year end reports for external auditors/supervisor (e.g., trial balances). Responds to auditor inquiries/redirects to other staff, as required. Updates and maintains reports used for year end and working papers.

Reviews, accrues, and reconciles financial information to assist in the preparation of yearly financial statements (e.g., trial balances, financial information returns/statements, explanatory notes). Prepares annual journal vouchers to close out projects, as appropriate.

Schedules the monthly close of subsystems (e.g., accounts receivable, accounts payable, inventory, purchasing, general ledger), and closes asset module of the financial system. Assists supervisor to transfer capital project revenue and expenses in the financial system to the next business year.

Assists IT to implement fixes/updates/upgrades in financial systems (e.g., script testing, patching). Participates on project teams for systems development/enhancement. Updates policy/procedure manuals for system users.

Maintains a database of Regional financial statements and information (e.g., audited financial statements, financial information returns).

Participates on special projects to investigate and recommend efficiencies (e.g., lean six sigma). Reviews and documents workflows (e.g., posting in the general ledger).

Calculates and applies the Region’s monthly tax refund to out-of-province financial transactions, including purchases and invoices. Calculates and submits tax payments owing to the government, according to criteria and within timelines to avoid penalty and interest.

Prepares and submits various reports to Statistics Canada.

Prepares and submits tax returns (approximately $25 million annually).

Performs related duties as assign