CITY OF COLWOOD
JOB DESCRIPTION
TITLE: MANAGER OF FINANCE
DEPARTMENT: FINANCE
POSITION TYPE: EXEMPT POSITION
LAST UPDATED: NOVEMBER 2018
NATURE AND SCOPE OF WORK
Under the direction and supervision of the Director of Finance; the Manager of Finance contributes to
the overall leadership of the City of Colwood as a member of the municipal leadership team and is
responsible for a variety of complex duties including preparing annual financial statements and annual
municipal financial reports, coordinating the annual audit process, managing general accounting
operations, payroll services, customer service and purchasing. The Manager of Finance is responsible for
the selection, training, and performance management of the Finance Department staff.
KEY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
In addition to those duties prescribed by Statute, Bylaw or resolution of Council, the powers, duties and
responsibilities of the Manager of Finance are:
Management
- Directly manages 5 – 10 office staff including the Senior Accounting Supervisor,
Purchaser/Accounting Technician, Accounting Clerk, Payroll and Benefits Co‐ordinator, Front
Counter Support Clerk and casual admin staffing pool.
- Responsible for performance management of staff, including evaluating suitability, coaching,
discipline up to and including suspension and termination in consultation with Senior Leadership.
- Responsible for selecting, hiring and training staff, including supporting staff in their development
and achievement of annual goals and objectives. Identifies staff development needs and implements
strategies to address.
- Ensures actions are taken to maintain a productive team environment
- Establish organization structure for program delivery
- Accountable for safe work practices through their practice of due diligence and their understanding of the
role of WorkSafe BC and the statutory and regulatory requirements as they relate to their area of
responsibility. Promotes safety through their active participation in all aspects of OSH programs including
regular inspections, safety meetings, investigations and safety events.
- Act as the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Finance/Administration Section Chief in the case of an
EOC Activation.
- Acts as the Director of Finance in the absence of the incumbent.
Accounting & Audit, including but not limited to:
- Prepare the draft annual financial statements, financial statement notes, supporting schedules and
working papers; Lead annual audit (external auditors).
- Prepare annual municipal financial reports such as LGDE & SOFI
- Ensure application of relevant internal controls
pg. 1 MANAGER OF FINANCE | Approved Nov 2018
CITY OF COLWOOD
JOB DESCRIPTION
- Maintain City’s accounting software and general ledger. Implement upgrades and improvements as
required.
- Ensure all general ledger accounts are analyzed and reconciled accurately
- Oversee maintenance of debt records
Asset Management, including but not limited to:
- Forecast sustainable infrastructure replacement amounts
- Provide policy advice on implementation of asset management principles
- Oversee asset inventory and act as super‐user for corporate asset management software
- Prepare asset management related financial reports
Treasury
- Assists Director of Finance in developing and implementing an investment strategy
- Monitors cash flow needs, prepares cash flow projections, analyzes and recommends investments,
Initiates fund transfers as necessary.
- Liaise with financial institutions representatives and monitors corporate adherence to investment
policy
Budget, including but not limited to:
- Maintain integrity of City’s budget software. Oversee preparation of current year budget reports.
Provide support and advice to municipal departments on five year financial plan
- Plan annual budget process in consultation with City departments. Monitor compliance with five year
plan
- Present City’s consolidated five year financial plan & quarterly reports to Council in collaboration with
the Director of Finance. Respond to public inquires related to budget.
Purchasing, Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, Payroll, Risk Management & Property Taxation:
- Oversee the City’s purchasing function including the issuance of purchase orders & RFP’s as per the
City’s purchasing bylaw and purchasing treaty obligations.
- Oversee the City’s Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable and cash handling.
- Manage the City’s Risk Management claims process including providing advice for policy and process
improvements. Administer City’s insurance policy and ensures compliance.
- Acts as the City’s Collector as specified by the Community Charter, Local Government Act and any
other enactment as delegated by the Director of Finance
- Calculates & levy’s the City’s property taxation rates, parcel tax levies for annual tax rate bylaw(s),
calculates sewer levy for annual sewer utility bylaw(s), oversees school tax and other taxation
requisitions.
- Oversees BCAA assessment supplementary adjustments, home owner processing and reporting
- Oversees claims for Federal and Provincial payment in lieu of tax revenue
- Oversees the City’s payroll and benefits program, ensuring accuracy and compliance.
pg. 2 MANAGER OF FINANCE | Approved Nov 2018
CITY OF COLWOOD
JOB DESCRIPTION
MINIMUM TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED
- Completion of Grade 12, or equivalent.
- Completed degree or diploma in related business program with intermediate financial accounting courses.
- Professional Accounting designation (CPA)
- Minimum five years of related experience including supervisory experience
REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES
- Strong project management, organizational and time management skills. Display a high degree of
integrity and professionalism
- Ability to work under general direction with minimal supervision, and use sound independent
judgement in adapting and applying procedures to address and resolve unusual or problem
situations.
- Demonstrate understanding and successful application of the following competencies:
o Adaptability: Willingness to be flexible in a changing environment.
o Relationship Building: Establishes and maintains respectful and cooperative working
relationships.
o Effective Communication: Communicates effectively, orally and written, with others.
o Problem Solving: Recognizes and acts to resolve problems.
o Organization: Organizes the work so that others will understand it and will be able to achieve
the City’s goals.
o Collaboration: Uses a consultative approach to initiate and foster a spirit of cooperation to
achieve corporate goals.
o Customer Focus: Provides excellent service to both internal and external customers.
o Personal insight and rapport: Demonstrates the City’s values, awareness of strengths and
weaknesses, seeks feedback, fulfills commitments, and demonstrates the courage to do what
is right.
- Advanced computer skills, including the use of MS Office suite and municipal financial systems
REQUIRED LICENCES, CERTIFICATIONS AND REGISTRATIONS
- Valid Class 5 BC driver license.
- Satisfactory Criminal Record Check.
pg. 3 MANAGER OF FINANCE | Approved Nov 2018