Director, Audit & Enforcement

About Us

At Service Nova Scotia, we impact every citizen, business and municipality in Nova Scotia. Our mandate is to design and deliver programs and services to meet the needs of our clients and the public good through a culture of excellence.  Service Nova Scotia’s vision is to be a recognized leader in service and public protection that delivers trusted, accessible, modern programs, and contributes to Nova Scotia as a safe and desirable place to live, work and do business. To learn more about our department, please click on the following link:  Department of Service Nova Scotia - Government of Nova Scotia 

About Our Opportunity

Reporting to the Executive Director for the Alcohol, Gaming, Fuel & Tobacco Division of Service Nova Scotia, the Director of Audit & Enforcement is accountable for leading the division’s audit, compliance, inspection, investigation and enforcement programs.  The Audit & Enforcement team is entrusted to ensure compliance with the Revenue Act and related regulations, with an emphasis on government commodity related taxes for fuel, tobacco, vaping products, tangible property sales and related refunds, rebates and exemptions.

The Director fosters a dynamic and innovative working environment that reflects a commitment to employee engagement, program modernization and continuous improvement.  They lead a team which includes two managers, and approximately two dozen staff performing in roles including program administration officers, auditors, fuel & tobacco officers and administrative support who are committed to making it easier for citizens and businesses to comply with legislation while maximizing revenues rightfully due to the Province of Nova Scotia.

Primary Accountabilities

• Oversees a blend of inspection, audit, compliance and investigative endeavours, including criminal investigations, ensuring that hundreds of millions of dollars in provincial revenues are properly remitted.
• Ensures these endeavours operate efficiently and effectively, and within quality assurance, service, program and professional accounting standards.
• As a senior government advisor, influences legislative modernization, regulatory strategy, and enforcement policy, while ensuring alignment between enforcement operations and broader government priorities.  
• Provides expert legislative, regulatory, and enforcement advice to the Executive Director, Associate Deputy Minister, Deputy Minister and Minister of the Department, and to senior officials in the Office of L’nu Affairs and the Departments of Finance, Health and Environment.
• Manages and maintains relationships within the department, other departments and levels of government, industry partners and taxpayer associations
• Ensures appropriate risk-based legislative, policy and enforcement approaches are undertaken in the public good which are responsive to evolving interests.
• Manages significant financial and human resources and sustains a team committed to taxpayer client service excellence and innovation by setting and evaluating staff performance targets, promoting diversity and a healthy workplace, maintaining internal communication, promoting both teamwork and individual development, accurately forecasting budget requirements, adhering to procurement guidelines and monitoring revenues and expenditures.

Qualifications and Experience

To be considered for this opportunity, you possess an undergraduate degree with a minimum of 7 years of leadership, management and enforcement experience, or an equivalent combination of related training and experience. Budget planning, managing staff and attendance management are all required experience. You also have experience planning and implementing strategies while engaging and motivating a diverse team.

To be successful in this opportunity, you have significant experience interpreting and applying a variety of legislation.  In addition, you have experience in the preparation, execution and review of judicial authorizations combined with experience in evidence and exhibit control.

You are an effective, collaborative leader with a vision and commitment to continuous improvement and innovation. Your leadership and interpersonal skills inspire, motivate and foster trust, respect, fairness and confidence among team members. 

You have excellent interpersonal, communication, and organizational skills with the ability to establish priorities. You also have strong team-building skills, as well as experience developing and training staff. You have strong community awareness, with effective partnering and relationship building to communicate with internal and external stakeholders, including diverse communities. 

While managing multiple projects simultaneously, you provide clear direction to your team. You also effectively balance priorities amongst different programs and program owners. Furthermore, you exercise strong judgement, have excellent decision-making skills, and provide sound strategic advice.  Your change management skills will allow you to effectively lead initiatives within the department. 

Experience in a related regulatory environment, criminal investigations experience as a police officer and or designation as a CPA would be assets.

Knowledge of the Criminal Code of Canada, Revenue Act, Tobacco Access Act and Petroleum Products Pricing Act and associated regulations is also an asset.

We will assess the above qualifications and capabilities using one or more of the following tools: written examination, standardized tests, oral presentations, interview(s), and reference checks.

Benefits

Based on the employment status and union agreement, the Government of Nova Scotia offers its employees a wide range of benefits such as a Defined Benefit Pension Plan, Health, Dental, Life Insurance, General illness, Short and Long Term Disability, Vacation and Employee and Family Assistance Programs.  For information on all our Benefit program offerings, click here: Benefits for government employees.

Working Conditions

• The incumbent is usually located in a comfortable office environment. 
• Occasional field visits and occasional work outside of normal business hours including evenings and weekends as required.
• During surveillance operations and/or execution of search warrants or seizures without warrants the Director is expected to be available to their compliance staff at all times.

Additional Information

This is a term, full-time position based in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia with a projected end date of September 22, 2027. 

What We Offer

• Career development where you have access to career guidance, tools, resources, and ongoing training for every stage of your career
• Engaging workplace: our employees feel valued, respected, connected, and tuned in, we have forward-thinking policies and strategies
• Countless career paths
• A Dynamic, client-focused office environment where service excellence and teamwork are our focus