Accounting Officer

ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION

We are Canada's national association of international development and humanitarian organizations. Cooperation Canada brings together and advocates for Canada's international development and humanitarian organizations by convening sector leaders, influencing policy, and building capacity. Together, we work with partners both inside and outside Canada to build a world that is fair, safe, and sustainable for all. Learn more about Cooperation Canada at    

ABOUT THE POSITION

Working closely with the Director of Finance and Operations, the Accounting Officer plays a central role in supporting Cooperation Canada's day-to-day financial operations and overall organizational health. This position is responsible for delivering accurate, timely, and compliant accounting, payroll, and financial reporting services across the full financial management cycle.

As part of a small and collaborative Finance and Operations team, the Accounting Officer manages core accounting functions including accounts payable and receivable, reconciliations, payroll processing, and project financial tracking. The role supports the organization's grant-funded work by contributing to budgeting, financial monitoring, and donor reporting, and by applying institutional donor requirements consistently and rigorously.

The Accounting Officer also contributes to the organization's financial planning processes, including forecasting, collective agreement implementation, audits, and strategic and annual planning. In doing so, they help strengthen internal controls, improve systems and processes, and support staff across the organization in understanding and applying financial policies and procedures.

This role is well-suited to a detail-oriented and service-minded accounting professional who is motivated by contributing to a mission-driven organization and who values collaboration, continuous improvement, and equity-centered ways of working.

ABOUT YOU

You are a skilled and reliable accounting professional who takes pride in accuracy, organization, and follow-through. You have a solid understanding of accounting principles and enjoy applying them in a non-profit, mission-driven environment where financial stewardship directly supports meaningful social impact.

You are comfortable managing multiple priorities and working across different functions, from day-to-day transactions to supporting audits, payroll, and project financial reporting. You bring hands-on experience with accounting systems (such as QuickBooks Online) and are confident using spreadsheets and other digital tools to analyze, reconcile, and present financial information.

You are approachable, collaborative, and service-oriented, and you enjoy supporting colleagues by answering questions, explaining financial processes, and helping others succeed in their roles. You have a strong eye for detail, but you can also step back to identify opportunities to improve systems, strengthen controls, and make processes more efficient and user-friendly.

You are motivated to grow your skills in areas such as project finance, grant management, and working within a unionized environment. You value equity, diversity, inclusion, and justice, and you are committed to contributing to a respectful, inclusive, and accountable workplace culture.

If you bring French language skills (or an interest in strengthening them) you will be a strong asset in working with staff, members, and partners across the organization.

This job posting is for a current vacancy

JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Financial Accounting (50%)

• Manage all entries into the organization's accounting program (QuickBooks Online)
• Manage Accounts Payable, including responding to vendor inquiries;
• Manage Accounts Receivable including follow-up on unpaid invoices with members and responding to members' questions as well as preparing job posting invoices;
• Perform bank and credit card reconciliations;
• Manage corporate credit cards following Cooperation Canada internal control guidance;
• Prepare bank deposits;
• Prepare the HST returns as required;
• Prepare payment requisitions for invoices, credit cards, and staff reimbursement;
• Calculate and enter depreciation entries and adjustments;
• Assist with the implementation of the collective agreement's financial clauses;
• Prepare financial forecasting data, including assessment of salary trends and inflation, to inform collective agreement bargaining;
• Other duties as assigned by supervisor or manager

Payroll (20%)

• Process the bi-weekly payroll, verifying payroll change requests and updates to staff information as directed by Director, Finance & Operations.
• Prepare Records of Employment (ROE), and other government legislated documentation as required.
• Prepare and complete year-end processing including reconciliation, filing and preparation of T4s
• Set up and provide instruction to staff regarding online paystub portal (Wagepoint) and responding to payroll inquiries in a timely manner.
• Calculate termination payment and retro payment calculations, and application of annual and ad-hoc payroll increases.
• Prepare payroll reports to support MSPP and RRSP administration and payments.
• Provide necessary payroll information for budgeting and financial reporting.

Financial Reporting (20%)

• Prepare project financials across the project management cycle, including budgeting, financial monitoring and analysis, as well as reporting.
• Assist the Director, Finance and Operations developing budgets for grant submissions with the program teams
• Prepare Budget vs Actuals regularly (monthly/quarterly) for the project expenses.
• Liaise with the budget holders for coordination and monitoring of the project budgets.
• Support the Director, Finance and Operations around project financial reporting, as needed.
• Contribute to the organizational strategic and annual planning process and help on the implementation within finance team.
• Assist the Director, Finance and Operations, with preparation of any other financial reports requested by the Deputy CEO, CEO or the Board of Directors.

Audits (5%)

• Assist with annual Audit preparation, including completing year-end working paper packages for the auditors.
• Assist the Director of Finance and Operations, with preparations for project audits.

Others (5%)

• Promotes and embodies an organizational culture that advances equity, diversity, inclusion and justice (EDIJ), reduces power abuse and inequalities and fosters trust and safety.
• Perform other duties as identified as priorities by the Director of Finance and Operations.
• Support annual and quarterly planning processes.
• Participate in the implementation of key events of Cooperation Canada (such as the organization's major bi-annual event, as needed).

REQUIRED SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE, AND ABILITIES

Essential

• Post-Secondary education in a relevant discipline, such as accounting, finance or business or equivalent experience;
• Demonstrated accounting experience mandatory, ideally in a non-profit environment (not mandatory);
• Demonstrated planning and execution skills in a multi-tasking environment;
• Working knowledge of QuickBooks Online;
• Knowledge of financial analysis tools, administrative processes and procedures;
• Excellent computer literacy including Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Excellent customer service and relationship management skills;
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills;
• Demonstrated capacity to work independently and in a team environment;
• Strong problem-solving skills;

Good to haves

• Working knowledge within a unionized environment
• French language skills
• Experience managing grants and contributions from institutional donors in a non-profit context
• Knowledge of international development and humanitarian issues

Anti-racism, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Justice (AEDIJ) Commitments in Recruitment and Selection Approach 

At Cooperation Canada, we are committed to advancing anti-racism, equity, diversity, inclusion and justice (AEDIJ) in every aspect of our work, including how we attract, select and welcome new team members. Our recruitment and selection practices reflect our values of care, fairness and transparency.  

As a signatory to the Anti-Racist Cooperation Framework and the Leaders' Pledge on Preventing Sexual Exploitation and Abuse, we actively work to eliminate systemic barriers, build equitable processes and ensure a respectful and inclusive candidate experience. 

Fair and Inclusive Processes 

We strive to remove bias at every stage of recruitment, from job posting design and outreach to testing and interviews. All hiring panels are diverse, structured and guided by consistent evaluation criteria to ensure decisions are based on merit and alignment with our values. 

Artificial Intelligence 

At Cooperation Canada, we are committed to fair, transparent and human-centered recruitment and selection practices. We do not use artificial intelligence (AI) in any stage of our recruitment or selection processes currently.
All decisions are made by trained human personnel. 

Accessibility and Accommodation 

We are committed to providing a barrier-free recruitment process. Candidates are invited to request accommodations at any point in the process, and we adapt our methods to meet diverse needs and abilities, such as sending interview questions in advance or providing flexible interview scheduling.  

Our application process is designed to be accessible through a Human Resources Information System (HRIS), allowing candidates to submit various forms of skills demonstrations, including portfolio examples or other materials. 

Transparent and Respectful Candidate Experience 

We value people's time and ensure clear communication throughout the process. Candidates are informed of expectations, timelines and next steps, and we compensate shortlisted candidates for their time in written exercises (up to 2 hours) or interviews (up to 3 hours) whenever applicable.  

Recruitment is a reciprocal process, allowing candidates to ask questions and assess their own fit. 

Role-Related Exercises and Interviews 

Selected candidates may participate in role-related exercises to demonstrate relevant skills by completing tasks reflecting the responsibilities of the role.  

Structured interviews include a series of questions and follow-up questions, allowing the candidate to draw from lived experience, skills, and knowledge relevant to the role in their answers. They also include time for candidates to ask questions.  

Reference checks follow the interview stage before final selection and are conducted confidentially. Only references provided by candidates are contacted. 

Representation and Belonging 

We proactively seek diverse perspectives by encouraging applications from equity-deserving groups, including Indigenous Peoples, racialized persons, persons with disabilities, members of 2SLGBTQIA+ communities and others who are underrepresented in our sector.  

Self-identification in the cover letter is encouraged but not required. Our goal is to foster a workplace where every employee feels seen, valued and supported to thrive. 

Learning and Accountability 

We continuously review our recruitment tools and practices through an AEDIJ lens, engage staff in ongoing learning about bias and inclusive hiring and consult with our staff and partners to ensure fairness and alignment with our organizational commitments. 

Our Commitment in Action 

Our AEDIJ Strategy, specifically its People and Culture pillar, guides our efforts to be a caring employer that fosters a sense of belonging among diverse staff. Every recruitment decision is an opportunity to live this commitment, building a team that reflects the richness of our communities and the values we stand for.