Financial Analyst (Housing)

Job Number: 4467 
Job Type: Full-Time
Vacancy Reason: Backfill
Location: 150 Frederick St - Regional Admin Headquarters 
Number of Positions: 1 
Division: Corporate Services 
Hours of Work: 35
Union:  Management/Management Support 
Grade: Management/Management Support Grade 06 
Salary Range: $93,347.80 - $116,680.20 per year
About Us!
The Region of Waterloo is a thriving, diverse community committed to fostering opportunities for current and future generations.  Waterloo Region is part of the Dish with One Spoon wampum, a treaty guiding our commitment to:

• Taking only what we need
• Leaving some for others 
• Keeping the dish clean

This agreement underpins our vision, mission, and core value, and reinforces our dedication to meaningful reconciliation and equity.
Waterloo Region is home to over 674,000 residents and expected to grow to nearly one million by 2051.  Guided by our 2023-2027 Strategic Plan, “Growing with Care,” we prioritize homes for all, climate aligned growth, equitable services and opportunities and a resilient and future ready organization. Our mission is to provide essential services that enhance the quality of life for all residents, while our core value emphasizes caring for people and the land we share. Join us and be part of a team dedicated to making a meaningful difference in our community.

The Role

Provides/supervises the provision of budgeting, accounting, and financial analysis services and support for client and associated agencies. Provides financial analysis and reports to senior staff, Council, and Committee. 

Duties/Responsibilities

• Supervises a Financial Coordinator (Housing) and an Accounting Specialist (Housing). Provides training to clients and housing providers who use accounting and/or budgeting systems, and on related policies/procedures. 
• Prepares base operating and capital budgets for client review/approval. Prepares initial budgets; reviews and makes changes per client/corporate/Federal and Provincial government decisions. Provides input into budget issue papers, including projecting financial impacts.  
• Analyzes, interprets, and communicates financial information, including developing forecasts, summaries, cost benefit analysis, fees and charges, and continuity schedules. Participates in planning, coordinating, and organizing the preparation and approval of the budget.
• Analyzes capital financing plans for clients, including debentures, development charges, reserve funds, and other types of financing. Participates in updating capital budgets based on Council approvals. Determines year-end carry forward budget amounts and financing requirements for capital projects. 
• Administers reserve and reserve funds to ensure adequate funds are available to finance capital projects. Develops long term strategies, scenarios, and projections to fund capital budgets. 
• Monitors actual expenditures and revenues monthly against approved budgets and implements financial control procedures. Works with clients for forecasting and planning purposes; identifies possible variances; investigates and develops strategies to mitigate variances; and reports to senior management and Council as appropriate. Ensures budget reports are available for clients, as requested. Advises program area based on trends and detailed projections.  
• Administers/oversees the administration of financial accounts for clients, ensuring accurate financial reporting. Undertakes required analysis.  
• Reviews and reconciles information to assist in the preparation of yearly financial statements, including trial balances, financial information returns, and financial statement notes. Records tangible capital asset accounting information in general ledger. 
• Prepares detailed financial analyses to determine the impact of program changes as a result of policy/legislative changes; and makes financial policy recommendations to senior management.  
• Provides financial information, analyses, recommendations, and advice to clients, senior management, and Council, through standing committee and procurement report development and  review, and as part of project teams with senior management, area municipalities, and other stakeholders (e.g., Province).  
• Prepares budget submissions and financial reports/claims to federal/provincial government for client programs receiving funding/subsidy, ensuring compliance with requirements. Reviews agreements to ensure compliance with terms/agreements. 
  Prepares financial information for external audits, as part of provincial/federal funding agreements. 
• Analyzes housing providers financial matters (e.g., capital budgeting, operating budgeting, financial statements).
• Participates in Municipal Benchmarking Association Canada meetings.

Additional Duties/Responsibilities

• Coordinates the review/evaluation of annual housing subsidy allocations, financial statements and reports submitted by housing providers. Ensures timely cash flow for approved capital requests from housing providers. Prepares year-end reconciliations of operating and capital programs for external audit purposes and liaises with housing provider audit firms, as required.  Oversees the subsidy payment process for Housing, ensuring payments are properly authorized. Determines need for and scope, and coordinates financial sections of operational reviews/audits to ensure compliance with agreements and provincial legislation. Works with housing providers to promote compliance with requirements. 
• Oversees financial module of Integrated Housing System.  
  Reviews operational, capital, financing, and reporting for housing providers in difficulty and recommends actions for compliance with agreements. Reviews deficit reduction plan and requests for additional funding from providers and provides financial advice and comments. Advises on refinancing and sale requests from affordable housing providers. 
• Conducts financial analysis of housing building condition assessments for housing providers, to ensure financial sustainability. 
• Participates on special project teams, as required.
• Participates as a financial representative on the management negotiating team for collective agreements to analyze financial impacts of proposals. 
• Exchanges information with staff from area municipalities, federal/provincial government, and other municipalities. Responds to inquiries from external auditors. 
• Authorizes purchases/cheque requisitions up to an approved limit. Reviews expenditures over $10,000 for compliance before payment. Reviews and makes recommendations on system needs. 
• Backs up Manager as required.
• Performs related duties as required.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge and skills in budgeting, management control systems, planning and accounting principles normally acquired through a Bachelor's degree in Business, Economics, Mathematics, Commerce, or related discipline, plus progressively responsible experience in the application of principles and techniques relating to cost/benefit analysis, present values, statistical analysis, and forecasting. 
• Must have a professional accounting designation (CPA).
• Knowledge of and ability to comply with policies, procedures, generally accepted accounting principles, related legislation (e.g., financial management, purchasing, municipal, development charges, public sector accounting board), and collective agreements.
• Analytical, problem solving, and continuous improvement skills to plan and develop objectives; conduct analyses; provide input into new guidelines and procedures for financial issues without precedent; make recommendations and decisions on financial issues; use initiative to resolve problems and achieve objectives; and resolve unusual or complex issues without precedent in consultation with senior management.
• Leadership skills to supervise, train, motivate and support staff.
• Human relations, and communication skills to communicate complex and politically sensitive information to senior management and clients; obtain and promote client cooperation  when exercising financial control over assigned budget areas; assist clients in adapting to legislation and regulations; conduct presentations and training to clients on financial systems; respond to questions/concerns regarding financial and budgetary concerns and special projects; and participate as an effective team member.
• Ability to read and interpret Council/Committee reports, legislation, guidelines, technical proposals, policies, by-laws, and legal/funding agreements. Ability to write letters and reports to management, Council, and external contacts regarding financial updates and budget information; and draft/provide input into by-laws and legal agreements as required.
• Computer skills with ability to use software such as Microsoft Office, and financial information systems. Ability to develop financial models.
• Must provide an acceptable criminal record and judicial matters police check for bondability. 
• Ability to travel within (and occasionally outside) Waterloo Region. 
• Ability to support and demonstrate the Region’s values.

Region of Waterloo is committed to building a workforce through fair, equitable, and accessible hiring practices that allow us to hire qualified staff who reflect the diversity of the community we serve and to promote a respectful, inclusive, and equitable workplace.
We invite all interested individuals to apply and actively encourage applications from members of groups with historical and/or current barriers to equity, including, but not limited to:

• First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples, and all other Indigenous peoples;
• members of groups that commonly experience discrimination due to race, ancestry, religion and/or spiritual beliefs, or place of origin;
• persons with visible and/or invisible (physical and/or mental) disabilities;
• persons who identify as women; and persons of marginalized sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions

For questions or to request accommodations during your recruitment, onboarding or employment, please contact talentmanagement@regionofwaterloo.ca, or by calling our Service First Contact Centre at phone number (519) 575-4400.
Use of Artificial Intelligence in the Hiring Process: Region of Waterloo may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to enhance efficiency during the recruitment process. However, applications will also be reviewed by a member of our Talent Acquisition team to ensure a fair and thorough assessment. AI does not make final hiring decisions.  
Please note: candidates will be provided an update on their application.  Please check your spam or junk folder occasionally as some candidates have noticed our emails in those folders (Gmail and Hotmail in particular).