Manager Finance

Woodlands County’s Administration Office is located within the town of Whitecourt approximately 150 kilometers northwest of Edmonton, Alberta. The official 2021 Census lists the County population just over 4,550. The County is sprawled across 7,668 square kilometers, surrounding the Town of Whitecourt, and includes the Hamlets of Blue Ridge, Goose Lake, and Fort Assiniboine.Woodlands County’s economy is supported by forestry, aggregate, oil and gas, agriculture, tourism, and indoor and outdoor recreation. Collectively, the communities within the County offer access to many services and amenities including hospitals, an airport, primary, secondary, and access to post-secondary education, secondary medical and pharmaceutical services, fire protection, policing, seniors and supportive living care and housing, community organizations, shopping, and a multitude of recreation facilities, green spaces, sports fields, arenas, curling rinks, parks, lakes, and rivers.The County is legislated under the Alberta Municipal Government Act and is governed by a Council comprised of seven (7) Councilors from which a Reeve and Deputy Reeve are appointed.Mission Statement:We are a diverse and welcoming rural community that strives to provide exceptional opportunities for our families, businesses, and industries for the benefit of current and future generations.Core values:Identity: Proudly rural. We supply resources that sustain the quality of life for the region, province, country, and beyond.Integrity: Being accountable, committed, and accepting ownership for one’s decisions, actions, and behavior.Collaborative: We promote the quality of life of our residents by building and maintaining strong relationships with alliances.Transparent: We want input from the public and conduct ourselves in an open, honest, and respectful manner.Diversity: We respect the unique needs of our community and work hard to understand them.Natural Resources: We recognize and respect the beauty of the Woodlands region.Sustainability: Meeting our own needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own.Reporting to the Director of Corporate Services, the Manager Finance is part of the management team leading staff on critical work including County-wide financial planning, reporting, analysis, rate forecasting, annual budgeting, year-end audit, strategic business case analysis, internal business partnership, and financial advisory support.The Manager Finance will support long-term financial planning, asset valuation, reserve forecasts, financing strategies, and emergency management support. This critical work will support the Director in establishing adequate County reserves and maintaining financial accountability while delivering on the strategic priorities and core services. The incumbent will oversee day-to-day financial and accounting operations and provide leadership, mentorship, and coaching to direct reports.This role is predominantly office-centered but will require some travel to Fort Assiniboine and Whitecourt.Roles and Responsibilities:Oversee all accounting and financial reporting functions, reviewing work, and providing guidance on analysis, reconciliations, and system issues, ensuring compliance with related policies, standards, and requirements.Provide relevant and value-added long-range financial planning, analysis, and reporting to senior management. Responsible for all aspects of the Five-Year Financial planning, annual budgeting, quarterly reporting, variance analysis, ad hoc financial/business analysis, funding analysis, and financial modeling.Act as the Business Partnership support for the organization to implement, develop and provide financial analysis on giving data-driven insights to aid decision-making and strategic priority setting.Provide expertise for the development and maintenance of the County’s financial systems. Assist in designing, testing, and implementing changes and enhancements to financial systems and related processes and developing system-related reports.General maintenance and set up of all budget system users.Oversee and coordinate all activities required for year-end audit, including analysis, review, and preparation of audit working papers, making decisions on accounting treatment of complex transactions, preparation of annual financial statements and associated schedules, and liaising with external auditors.Oversee and coordinate ongoing accounting functions, including accounts payable, accounts receivable, general ledger accounting, bank reconciliations, fixed asset accounting, account analysis, sales taxes, internal/external reporting, managing audits, and maintaining internal control systems.Create and periodically update policies relating to financial controls – reserves, revenue sources, expenditure controls, appropriate use of long-term debt, and budget practices.This position is required to serve as an active member on the County Emergency Response team.Perform other related duties as requested by the Director of Corporate Services related to job duties and special projects.Qualifications:Bachelor’s degree or Diploma in Accounting, Business, Public or Business Administration, or related disciplines with additional relevant courses and training.5 – 7 years of experience working in Municipal Government is desirable. Combinations of municipal, private, and not-for-profit experience, along with knowledge of Public Sector Accounting Standards will be considered.Ability to work with a team that requires timely decisions, provide direction on complex and emerging issues, and efficiently provide information and general assistance to internal staff and the public.Ability to work independently when required and lead with initiative.Outstanding interpersonal, communication, and presentation skills to work with Council, staff, community groups, leaders, the public, and all orders of government.Knowledge of software applications, including MS Office, Bellamy, and GIS related.Possess a Valid Class 5 Driver’s License.Maturity, fiscal astuteness, attention to detail, ethics, supportiveness, intuition, process orientation, organization, thoroughness, open-mindedness, political astuteness, business-mindedness, customer-centricity, safety consciousness, and respectfulness.Woodlands County is committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion and welcomes applications from all qualified individuals.Compensation:The compensation range for the Manager Finance will be commensurate with the candidate’s skills and experience. Further details on benefits will be discussed at the interview stage.Confidentiality:In compliance with the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (“PIPEDA”), HumanEdge shall respect the privacy and confidentiality of all personal information provided throughout the process of candidate engagement in our search assignments.To apply, send cover letter and resume in confidence to: #J-18808-Ljbffr