Controller

FIRST UNITED is a registered charity that has been serving Vancouver's Downtown Eastside community for 140 years. We offer responsive, low-barrier services to individuals who are low-income, underhoused or homeless. We pursue dignity, belonging, and justice to meet the daily needs of community members while engaging in systems change work to reduce homelessness and break cycles of poverty. We invite candidates who share in our values to apply even if your strengths align with most and not all of the requirements of this role.

Each job within the First United Church Community Ministry Society should promote our accomplishment of our vision, mission, and values.

WHAT WE OFFER: 

- Annual salary progression for all staff.

- Comprehensive and 100% employer-paid health benefits including extended health and dental plan for regular staff, spouses and dependents. 

- United Church of Canada defined benefit pension plan; employee contribution rate 6%, employer contribution rate 9%. 

- Life insurance, Long-term Disability, and AD&D benefits. 

- 15 days of paid annual vacation. 

- 13 statutory paid days off every year and 12 days of paid sick leave. 

- Professional designation reimbursement.

- An inclusive and supportive workplace culture.

POSITION OBJECTIVE:

The Controller plays a key role in strengthening our finance operations and supporting First United Church Community Ministry Society. This includes reconciliations, maintenance of adequate systems of accounting records, and ensuring accuracy of First United’s financial records, including compliance with Canadian generally accepted accounting principles.

This position also provides support to the Senior Director, Finance & Administration in financial analysis and reporting, including preparation of annual budgets and reports for funding partners. 

Work Site:

This position will work onsite at our office located at 320 East Hastings Street, Vancouver B.C.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

Accounts Management:

• Maintains and enforces a documented system of accounting policies & procedures. 

• Oversees the operations of the accounting department, including control systems, transaction-processing operations, policies and procedures.

Accounting Transactions:

• Ensure accounts payable are paid in a timely manner and that all reasonable discounts are taken; process cheque runs & prepare/process electronic payments and transfers.

• Assist the Payroll & Benefits Coordinator with payroll reporting problems or in correcting errors.

• Review bi-weekly payroll before finalization .

• Process bi-weekly payroll when Payroll & Benefits Coordinator is absent.

• Ensure that bank reconciliations are completed.

• Ensure reconciliations with Raiser’s Edge (fundraising software) are completed.

• Maintain the chart of accounts .

• Maintain orderly accounting filing systems.

• In partnership with the Senior Director, Finance & Administration, maintain a system of controls over accounting transactions.

• Make weekly bank deposits and enter bank deposit information from the Raiser’s Edge (fundraising) software as receipts in the QuickBooks accounting system. 

• Enter adjusting journal entries as needed.

Finance Reporting & Compliance:

• Review monthly financial statements.

• Preparation of monthly department financials.

• Preparation of financial reporting to institutional funders & for annual reports, as necessary.

• Support annual budgeting processes with Senior Director, Finance & Administration.

• Provide financial analysis as needed, under the direction of the Senior Director, Finance & Administration.

• Coordinate the provision of information to external auditors.

• Prepare quarterly and annual filing for WorkSafeBC premiums.

SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Expertise processing accounting transactions with QuickBooks Online accounting software.

• Accounts payable, accounts receivable and bank reconciliation experience.

• General accounting and financial reporting experience.

• Experience with payroll software and general understanding of requirements of processing payroll in a Canadian context.

• Expertise with Payworks and Raiser’s Edge are assets.

• Good command of English language both written and verbal.

• Ability to effectively interact with a variety of staff and members of the public in a diplomatic, professional and result-oriented manner.

• Excellent organizational skills and ability to prioritize one’s workload.

EDUCATION & EQUIVALENT EXPERIENCE:

• 3-5 years of progressively responsible experience in a finance/accounting department of a mid-sized organization ($3M+ operating budget).

  Bachelor’s degree in accounting, business, or equivalent skills and experience gained through work or community leadership

• CPA designation (completed or nearing completion) 

• Fund accounting for not-for-profit experience (2+ years)

SCOPE OF RESPONSIBILITY:

Supervisory responsibility:

None

Financial responsibility

Responsible for accounting for the revenues and expenses, including internal reporting. Oversees cash receipts and cash disbursements. Monitors the bank balances and cash flow requirements of the organization.

Latitude

The incumbent works fairly independently.  If clarification is , it is expected that the incumbent will request further direction from the Senior Director, Finance & Administration.

INTERNAL/EXTERNAL RELATIONSHIPS:

Regular communication is maintained with all levels of management and staff as accounting information is gathered, transactions are processed, and reports are produced.

• Management: seek input or exchange information about accounts payable, accounts receivable, budget or other accounting related matters.

• First United Church staff: to exchange information, advise or receive instruction on specific accounting tasks.

• Vendors, donors, payroll software, WorkSafeBC, BC Housing, CRA, and other external parties: regular communication to provide and obtain information, answer general inquiries, phone calls, emails, etc.

Wage Grid: Union Exempt Category 8

RECRUITMENT STEPS:

Our recruitment process involves multiple layers of screenings and calls. Successful applicants can expect to have a schedule phone screening call with our People & Culture department, followed by up to two in-person interviews with the hiring team at our office located at 320 E. Hastings street. 

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We are committed to becoming a more just, equitable, inclusive, and diverse workplace, which extends to how we hire. We are continually learning new and unlearning old practices while examining systemic causes of inequity, including colonialism.

We aim to be representative of the communities that we serve. We welcome everyone to apply, and we strongly encourage applications from members of communities that have been marginalized based on Indigeneity, race, colour, religion, nationality, social or ethnic origin, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression. In order to achieve a representative team, preference may be given to people who are members of one or more of these groups.

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