Finance Manager

WHO WE ARE

OSHKI-WENJACK’s mission is building and empowering First Nations Futures.

VISION STATEMENT

OSHKI-WENJACK is strengthening nations through First Nations Education.

POSITION SUMMARY

Reporting to the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), the Finance Manager provides leadership and oversight of the Institute’s finance and accounting functions, including the leadership, supervision, and development of the Finance team. The position is responsible for financial management, budgeting and forecasting, financial reporting, internal controls, financial policies and systems, funding agreement financial compliance, and the integrity and reliability of the Institute’s financial information. The Finance Manager provides timely financial analysis, advice, and recommendations to the CAO and management to support operational planning, resource allocation, risk management, and informed decision-making. The position works collaboratively with Managers, and other budget holders to promote sound financial management, accountability, and responsible stewardship of the Institute’s financial resources.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Financial Management, Budgeting and Planning

• Lead and coordinate the Institute’s annual budgeting process in collaboration with the CAO, Managers, and other budget holders.

• Review, monitor, and manage organizational, departmental, program, project, and funding agreement budgets.

• Prepare and maintain financial forecasts and contribute to short- and long-term financial and operational planning.

• Monitor actual financial results against approved budgets, identify and investigate significant variances, and provide timely analysis and recommendations to management.

• Work collaboratively with Managers to support effective budget management and ensure they have appropriate financial information to manage their areas of responsibility.

• Provide financial analysis and advice regarding resource allocation, budget pressures, proposed budget changes, operational decisions, and new initiatives.

• Assess and communicate the financial implications and risks associated with operational plans, proposed initiatives, and organizational decisions.

• Support the CAO and management in maintaining the Institute’s overall financial sustainability and responsible stewardship of financial resources.

Financial Reporting and Accounting

• Ensure the Institute’s accounting records are accurate, complete, current, and maintained in accordance with Canadian Accounting Standards for Not-for-Profit Organizations (ASNPO).

• Ensure accurate, complete, and timely financial reporting to the CAO, management, Governing Council, funders, government agencies, and other stakeholders, as required.

• Ensure all required government remittances, regulatory filings, and financial compliance requirements are completed accurately and within established deadlines, including those related to the Institute’s charitable status.

• Prepare and/or review monthly, quarterly, annual, program, project, and funding-related financial reports.

• Oversee month-end and year-end accounting processes, including general ledger review, reconciliations, adjusting entries, accruals, deferred amounts, and other required accounting activities.

• Ensure bank accounts and other balance sheet accounts are reconciled to the general ledger accurately and on a timely basis.

• Oversee the accounting treatment and reporting of government and other funding, including restricted contributions, deferred contributions, capital funding, and program/project funding in accordance with applicable accounting standards.

• Ensure the integrity of the Institute’s chart of accounts and financial coding structure to support accurate accounting, budgeting, financial reporting, and funding accountability.

• Review financial information and identify significant financial trends, risks, pressures, anomalies, or other matters requiring management attention.

Funding Agreement Financial Management and Compliance

• Review and understand the financial terms, approved budgets, eligible expenditure requirements, reporting requirements, and other financial obligations contained within the Institute’s funding agreements.

• Monitor expenditures against approved funding agreement budgets and identify potential overspending, underspending, ineligible expenditures, funding pressures, or other financial compliance concerns.

• Ensure financial transactions associated with funded programs and projects are appropriately coded, supported, and reported.

• Prepare and/or review financial reports required under funding agreements and ensure financial reporting requirements and deadlines are met.

• Work collaboratively with Managers and other responsible employees to support appropriate use and financial management of funding.

• Identify financial risks or potential non-compliance with funding agreements and promptly bring significant matters to the attention of the CAO and appropriate management.

• Support funding agreement audits, financial reviews, reconciliations, and other funder requirements as necessary.

Internal Controls, Policies and Financial Systems

• Develop, implement, maintain, and continuously improve financial policies, procedures, processes, and internal controls.

• Ensure appropriate segregation of duties, authorization controls, documentation standards, reconciliations, and review processes are established and maintained.

• Oversee the Institute’s accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll, general ledger, banking, and other accounting processes.

• Ensure financial transactions are properly authorized, documented, coded, recorded, and supported in accordance with Institute policies and established financial controls.

• Monitor compliance with financial policies and procedures and address or escalate significant control deficiencies or instances of non-compliance.

• Maintain effective financial systems and processes that support accurate accounting, timely reporting, accountability, and operational efficiency.

• Identify opportunities to improve the efficiency, accuracy, security, and effectiveness of financial systems and processes.

• Support the development and implementation of organizational policies and procedures that have financial or internal-control implications.

Audit and Year-End Responsibilities

• Coordinate the Finance Department’s preparation for the Institute’s annual external audit.

• Ensure year-end accounting records, reconciliations, working papers, schedules, supporting documentation, and other information required by the external auditors are accurate, complete, and available on a timely basis.

• Act as a primary Finance contact for the external auditors and coordinate audit requests involving the Finance team.

• Assist with the preparation and review of annual financial statements and related financial information.

• Review audit findings and recommendations and, in consultation with the CAO, coordinate appropriate corrective actions and improvements to financial processes and internal controls.

• Support other financial audits, funding reviews, and compliance examinations as required.

Leadership and Supervision

• Provide leadership, direction, supervision, and ongoing support to Finance team employees.

• Establish work priorities, assign responsibilities, monitor workloads, and ensure Finance functions and reporting deadlines are effectively managed.

• Provide coaching, guidance, training, and professional development opportunities to Finance employees.

• Participate in the recruitment, selection, onboarding, performance management, and development of Finance employees in accordance with Institute policies and established authorities.

• Establish clear expectations and promote accountability for the accuracy, timeliness, quality, and integrity of work performed by the Finance team.

• Promote collaboration, professionalism, continuous improvement, knowledge sharing, and effective service delivery within the Finance team.

• Foster a respectful, culturally safe, supportive, and accountable working environment.

• Work collaboratively with other departments to strengthen financial literacy, budget management, and organizational accountability.

OTHER DUTIES AND ORGANIZATIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

• Take personal responsibility for increasing awareness and understanding of Oshki-Wenjack’s cultural teachings and incorporating those teachings and organizational practices into professional conduct, relationships, and work-related responsibilities.

• Respectfully engage Elders and Knowledge Holders, where appropriate, for teachings and guidance as they relate to the work and responsibilities of the position.

• Carry out responsibilities in a manner consistent with the philosophy, mandate, values, and objectives of Oshki-Wenjack.

• Adhere to the Institute’s policies, procedures, Code of Ethics, and standards of professional conduct.

• Promote respectful, positive, and professional relationships with employees, students, communities, funders, partners, and other stakeholders.

• Maintain confidentiality and exercise appropriate discretion in relation to financial, employee, organizational, and other sensitive information.

• Maintain regular and reliable attendance in accordance with Institute policies and position requirements.

• Perform other related duties as assigned that are consistent with the scope and responsibilities of the position.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY

Directly supervises approximately 2–5 Finance employees.

COMPETENCIES REQUIRED

Financial and Technical Knowledge

• Strong knowledge of Canadian Accounting Standards for Not-for-Profit Organizations (ASNPO) and their application to not-for-profit financial reporting.

• Strong knowledge of accounting for government and other funding, including restricted contributions, deferred contributions, capital assets, and program/project funding.

• Strong knowledge of financial management, budgeting, forecasting, financial analysis, and financial reporting.

• Knowledge and experience with government grants, contribution agreements, and other restricted funding, including financial reporting, eligible expenditure requirements, and financial compliance obligations.

• Strong knowledge of internal controls, financial policies and procedures, accounting systems, and financial risk management practices.

• Knowledge of external audit requirements and year-end financial statement preparation.

• Knowledge and understanding of Indigenous cultures, traditions, communities, and ways of working.

• Experience with Ellucian Colleague or a comparable financial/enterprise resource planning system is an asset.

• Strong proficiency with Microsoft Excel and other financial reporting and analysis tools.

Leadership and Professional Competencies

• Demonstrated leadership, supervisory, and team-development abilities.

• Strong financial analysis, critical-thinking, and problem-solving skills.

• Sound professional judgment and decision-making ability.

• High degree of accuracy and attention to detail.

• Ability to interpret complex financial information and communicate it clearly to individuals with varying levels of financial knowledge.

• Ability to provide constructive financial advice while maintaining effective working relationships with management and employees.

• Strong organizational, planning, and time-management skills.

• Ability to manage competing priorities and consistently meet financial, operational, audit, and funding deadlines.

• Strong interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills.

• Ability to develop collaborative working relationships across departments and organizational levels.

• Demonstrated discretion and ability to appropriately manage confidential and sensitive information.

• Commitment to accountability, ethical conduct, continuous improvement, and high-quality service.

• Ability to work effectively within an Indigenous organization and demonstrate respect for Indigenous cultures, values, knowledge, and ways of working.

QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS

Required

• University degree in Accounting, Commerce, Finance, Business Administration, or a related discipline with a significant accounting concentration.

• Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) designation in good standing or Candidate.

• Minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible financial management and accounting experience, including experience with budgeting, financial reporting, financial analysis, and year-end accounting processes.

• Demonstrated experience managing and monitoring multiple organizational, departmental, program, project, or funding agreement budgets.

• Demonstrated experience supervising, leading, and developing Finance or accounting employees.

• Demonstrated experience with financial policies, procedures, accounting systems, and internal controls.

• Experience preparing financial information and working with external auditors.

• Experience applying accounting standards in a not-for-profit or comparable environment.

• Strong proficiency with financial systems and Microsoft Excel.

Assets

• Experience working within an Indigenous organization, Indigenous Institute, post-secondary institution, not-for-profit organization, or broader public sector environment.

• Experience managing and reporting on government-funded programs, grants, and contribution agreements.

• Experience with Canadian Accounting Standards for Not-for-Profit Organizations (ASNPO) in a complex, multi-funded organization.

• Experience with Ellucian Colleague or a comparable enterprise financial system.

• Experience working with Indigenous communities, organizations, or funding environments.

HEALTH & SAFETY

All employees are required to carry out their duties in a manner that protects their own health and safety and that of others. Employees are responsible for reporting workplace hazards, incidents, and injuries and for cooperating with measures introduced by the Institute to maintain and improve workplace health and safety.

POSITION DETAILS

Job Type: Full-time, Permanent

Schedule:
Monday to Friday
8-hour day shift

In addition to competitive compensation and the opportunity to contribute to the work and mandate of Oshki-Wenjack, the Institute offers benefits that includes:

• Cultural activities and access to cultural supports;

• Employee development activities and professional development opportunities;

• Health and dental benefits;

• Pension plan;

• Vacation leave;

• Management leave;

• Winter holiday leave;

• Personal and Sick days;

Employment is subject to:

·      A criminal record check

·      Proof of qualifications

·      Must sign an Oath of Confidentiality

·      Must be willing to work a flexible 35-hour work week

·      Oshki-Wenjack is committed on implementing measures to protect its community members, staff, and other key groups from COVID-19. As a result, Oshki-Wenjack has implemented a mandatory vaccination policy. Exemptions will be made for those with a valid medical exemption; proof of the exemption will be required.

We are committed and dedicated in building a workforce that reflects the demographics that we serve. In alignment with our Mission and Mandate and in accordance with Ontario Human Rights code and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, preference will be given to candidates of Indigenous ancestry. Candidates are encouraged to self identify as being of Indigenous ancestry (First Nation, Metis, or Inuit).