Financial Accountant

About Us

At the Department of Finance and Treasury Board, we work to preserve the fiscal capacity of government by providing financial leadership, analysis, and advice for ongoing fiscal sustainability of the Province. As stewards of the Province’s financial affairs, we deliver a wide range of corporate fiscal and management services, including the preparation of the provincial budget, forecast updates, and year-end financial statements, as well as review departmental submissions to Executive Council and its sub-committees to ensure government plans are coordinated and financial elements are thoroughly understood.

About Our Opportunity

The Department of Finance and Treasury Board is looking for a strong team member and communicator with very good relationship-building skills, who is interested in joining a professional team with a focus on technical financial accounting matters in the public sector and that will engage with departments, entities, and other professionals to facilitate solutions.
 

The overall purpose of the Financial Accountant is to provide expert accounting advice and consulting services on complex corporate accounting and financial issues to all organizations within the government reporting entity, as well as sound financial reporting in compliance with Canadian public sector accounting standards.
 

This position reports to the Director, Financial Accounting.

Primary Accountabilities

This position’s primary responsibility is the proper accounting for pension, retirement, and other employee benefits.  The Financial Accountant provides timely advice and financial support to senior management on a variety of complex pension accounting issues.  The Financial Accountant is also responsible for managing the division’s pension accounting files and is the main contact when dealing with the actuaries.

Responsibilities also include coordinating and preparing clear, accurate, and timely actuarial assumptions, scenario analyses, presentations, and other correspondence, researching, planning, and drafting accounting policy and related documents, and providing insightful accounting advice on an on-going basis.  Periodically, some work will be conducted with the other departments and controlled entities to provide technical accounting and analytical support, prepare year-end consolidations, and assist on special projects.

Other responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Researching, analyzing, recommending, and implementing Canadian public sector accounting standards to be used by the provincial government and its controlled entities.
• Providing technical financial accounting advice to senior management, departments, and entities. Preparing year-end consolidated and unconsolidated financial statements and related financial documents.
• Coordinating and preparing clear, accurate, and timely accounting opinions, facilitating presentations and training sessions, researching and drafting accounting policies, and providing insightful accounting advice on an on-going basis.
• Developing, implementing, and monitoring accounting policies based on sound research and recommendations to support the financial reporting objectives of the Province.
• Contributing to Canadian public sector accounting standards by preparing critical evaluations and formal responses on behalf of the Province.
• Consolidated financial statement preparation, including consolidation and segment reporting models, and control assessments.

Qualifications and Experience

The successful candidate must possess a professional accounting designation (CPA – CA, CGA, or CMA) or equivalent and have several years of related experience, at least some of which relates to accounting for pensions, retirement, and other employee benefits.  The skills required for this position include: demonstrated strong technical competence in applying the Canadian public sector accounting standards, knowledge and experience of accounting for pensions and other retirement benefits, researching, analyzing, and recommending solutions to other technical accounting issues, preparation of consolidated / unconsolidated financial statements and reports, working knowledge of SAP accounting software and other applications including Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, as well as current knowledge of the various other accounting frameworks. Strong analytical and excellent communication skills are essential.

The successful candidate must be able to work well in a team environment as well as work independently on complex assignments with minimal supervision. The ability to build collaborative working relationships within government, simultaneously manage multiple assignments with conflicting and urgent deadlines, and exercise discretion at all times with sensitive and highly confidential information is also required. The candidate must also demonstrate attention to detail, the utmost accuracy, and exceptional analytical, writing, and organizational skills.
 

A strong understanding of SAP and the asset accounting module, as well as a working knowledge of the government’s financial reporting processes and requirements would be considered assets.
 

The ability to travel occasionally may be required for training purposes.
 

We will assess the above qualifications and competencies using one or more of the following tools: written examinations, oral presentations, interviews, and reference checks.

Equivalency

An equivalent combination of training, education and experience will be considered. 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

Typical operating hours of the office are within 8:30 am to 5:00 pm, in-office Monday to Friday, however occasional pressures may require work outside typical hours.

Additional Information

This is a permanent full-time employment opportunity, located in Halifax, NS.

What We Offer

• Career development opportunities 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
• A dynamic, client-focused setting where service excellence and teamwork are our focus