Municipal Finance Administrator

About Us

The Department of Finance and Treasury Board works to preserve the financial capacity of the Government of Nova Scotia for public programs and services by providing advice on fiscal sustainability for the Province. To deliver its mandate, the department is guided by its core functions of: budget and fiscal plan development; financial accounting; expenditure and financial management; financial advisory services; corporate strategic initiatives; revenue estimates and federal transfers; tax policy, administration, and credits; economic and demographic forecasting, policy analysis, and modelling; liability and treasury management; lending to municipalities, capital markets administration, and compliance; regulation of pensions and select financial institutions; oversight on gaming operations, policy oversight to specific agencies, boards, and commissions; and labour relations.

About Our Opportunity

The mission of the Internal Controls and Municipal Finance Division is to ensure the integrity of financial reporting by overseeing an effective system of internal controls. The Division also provides capital infrastructure financing to municipal clients at the lowest available cost, within acceptable risk parameters, and to provide financial management advice and assistance to clients.

Reporting to the Director, Internal Controls and Municipal Finance, the Administrator’s primary responsibility is to provide the accounting and treasury services required by the Internal Controls and Municipal Finance Division in a timely, accurate, and professional manner. The incumbent is also required to participate in the development of new products, services, and long-term financial planning models and provide excellence in customer service.
 

Responsibilities include all accounting functions including preparation of budgets and forecasts, recording and reconciliation of accounts, preparation of financial reports, identifying and addressing internal control weaknesses, coordination of year-end audit requirements, and responses to audit queries. Responsibilities for the treasury functions include forecasting loan requirements by unit, amount, and term, performing calculations required to prepare and verify amounts to be included in loan documents after debentures are priced, administering the short- term loan program, and monitoring of the Municipal Fund and cash flow requirements.
 

The Administrator is required to develop and foster working relationships with municipal CFOs to determine annual borrowing requirements, provide advice on financing options, and promote the division’s various municipal finance products and services. The Administrator oversees the Tracking of Auditor General Recommendations program, including coordinating departmental responses and managing the associated IT system.

Primary Accountabilities

Reporting to the Director, Internal Controls and Municipal Finance, the Administrator’s primary responsibility is to provide the accounting and treasury services required by the Internal Controls and Municipal Finance Division in a timely, accurate, and professional manner. The incumbent is also required to participate in the development of new products, services, and long-term financial planning models and provide excellence in customer service.
 

Responsibilities include all accounting functions including preparation of budgets and forecasts, recording and reconciliation of accounts, preparation of financial reports, identifying and addressing internal control weaknesses, coordination of year-end audit requirements, and responses to audit queries. Responsibilities for the treasury functions include forecasting loan requirements by unit, amount, and term, performing calculations required to prepare and verify amounts to be included in loan documents after debentures are priced, administering the short- term loan program, and monitoring of the Municipal Fund and cash flow requirements.
 

The Administrator is required to develop and foster working relationships with municipal CFOs to determine annual borrowing requirements, provide advice on financing options, and promote the division’s various municipal finance products and services.
 

The Administrator is tasked with overseeing the tracking of Auditor General recommendations and coordinating with various departments to ensure that responses are accurately recorded in the Tracking of Auditor General Recommendations information system. Additionally, the Administrator serves as the system administrator, a role that encompasses managing user access and providing periodic training to new users.

Qualifications and Experience

The successful candidate must possess a professional accounting designation (CPA) or equivalent and have two to four years’ related experience. The skills required for this position include: demonstrated strong technical accounting competence in applying the Canadian public sector accounting standards, knowledge and experience of accounting, researching, analyzing, and recommending solutions to technical accounting issues, preparation of financial reports, working knowledge of a variety of software applications including Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, and Internet applications, 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 always with sensitive and highly confidential information is also required. The candidate must also demonstrate attention to details, the utmost accuracy, and exceptional analytical, writing, and organizational skills.
 

A strong understanding of SAP, experience in auditing, as well as a working knowledge of the government’s financial reporting processes and requirements would be considered assets. Experience with municipal finance would also be considered an asset.
 

Candidates must clearly identify in their cover letter that they meet the qualifications listed above.

Equivalency

Applicants relying on education and experience equivalencies must demonstrate such equivalencies in their application.

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 ability to travel occasionally is required.

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