Director, Finance Operations

About Us

At the Department of Opportunities and Social Development (OSD), we are a large and diverse department providing a broad portfolio of programs and services including Child and Family Wellbeing (CFW), Income Assistance (IA), Supportive Housing and Homelessness, and the Disability Support Program (DSP).

Through our services, we advocate and help vulnerable Nova Scotians be independent, self-reliant, and secure.  We work collaboratively across the province with a strong, dedicated network of supports and staff to achieve desired and shared outcomes for all.

About Our Opportunity

Financial leadership in OSD has a direct connection to the programs, services and external providers that support Nova Scotians. As Director of Finance, you will lead a complex, province-wide financial operation and help ensure that leaders have the accurate information, practical advice and effective controls needed to make responsible decisions.

This is an opportunity to combine professional accounting expertise with broader leadership. You will guide financial operations, strengthen planning and risk management, support sound decision-making, and lead a sizeable team through competing priorities and organizational change. Your success will depend not only on technical knowledge, but also on your judgement, communication, relationship-building, and ability to help others deliver results.

Primary Accountabilities

In this role, you have the opportunity to lead a substantial finance function, advise senior decision-makers and improve the systems and practices that support programs and services across Nova Scotia. A few of your key responsibilities are to:

• Provide strategic and operational financial advice to the Executive Director and senior leaders, translating complex financial and non-financial information into clear options, risks and recommendations.
• Lead the delivery and continuous improvement of financial operations that support departmental programs, regional teams and external service providers.
• Provide leadership for budgeting, forecasting, financial analysis and the management of cost pressures, helping leaders make informed choices about resources and program delivery.
• Strengthen financial accountability through effective internal controls, risk management, transparent reporting and compliance with applicable accounting standards and government financial policies.
• Lead, support and develop a geographically distributed finance team. Set clear direction, build management capability, encourage collaboration and create the conditions for people to take ownership of their work.
• Provide clear direction and leadership to managers and staff by establishing priorities, clarifying accountabilities, delegating effectively and supporting consistent delivery across the finance function.
• Build the capability and resilience of the finance team through workforce planning, coaching, performance management and succession development.
• Exercise sound professional judgment and critical thinking in interpreting and applying provincial government financial policies and applicable accounting standards within complex and diverse contexts, considering both financial and non-financial information.
• Build productive relationships across OSD and with central agencies, internal audit, legal partners, service providers and other stakeholders. Address difficult issues with diplomacy while maintaining professional standards and public accountability.
• Lead practical improvements to financial processes, systems and service delivery. Sequence change thoughtfully so that essential operations remain stable and responsive.
• Represent the department on relevant cross-government initiatives, committees and working groups, and communicate financial issues clearly to both financial and non-financial audiences.
  
  

Qualifications and Experience

You are a designated Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) with progressively responsible experience leading financial operations and people in a complex organization. Your experience demonstrates that you can:

• lead managers and professional staff in a complex work environment, including setting expectations, delegating responsibility, developing capability and addressing performance concerns.
• assess workforce and organizational needs, strengthen team capacity and guide employees through operational or organizational change while maintaining service delivery.
• prepare and deliver briefings or presentations for executive-level audiences, including providing credible financial advice and explaining complex issues
• support budgeting, forecasting, financial analysis and the management of significant or competing financial pressures;
• establish or strengthen internal controls, accountability and risk-management practices;
• build effective relationships and resolve difficult issues with sound judgement, discretion and diplomacy; and
• organize work, adapt to changing priorities and deliver accurate advice within tight timeframes.

You bring a practical understanding of professional accounting standards and the ability to apply financial policy in a complex operating environment. You also understand that strong financial management requires attention to program and service outcomes, not only financial results.

The following experience would be considered an asset:

• audit, assurance or control-review work;
• public-sector, human-services, not-for-profit or other complex service-delivery finance;
• financial relationships with funded organizations, service providers, grants or contribution agreements;
• Public Sector Accounting Standards and government financial policy

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

Equivalency

We recognize equivalent combinations of training, education, and experience, providing opportunities for individuals with diverse backgrounds to contribute their skills and expertise. Applicants relying on education and experience equivalencies must demonstrate such equivalencies in their application. 

Benefits

Based on the employment status, 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

Your typical work week is 35 hours with 7-hour days. The role includes regular travel to regional offices and other work sites across Nova Scotia.

Additional Information

An offer of employment is conditional upon satisfactory completion of all applicable background checks and confirmation of credentials, including: Education Verification and Criminal Background Check. 

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