Job Type & Duration: Full-time, Permanent
Shift Information: Monday to Friday, 35 hours per week
Affiliation: Non-represented
Number of Positions Open: 1
Posting Period: September 3 -17/26
POSITION DESCRIPTION
The Director of Finance is a senior finance leader responsible for the integrity, stewardship, and governance of ESA’s financial operations and financial reporting. This role ensures accurate and timely accounting, compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements, effective cash and balance sheet management, and robust internal controls. They will be responsible for all day-to-day finance operations, including functional responsibility over general accounting, accounts payable, accounts receivable, pension administration, treasury, investments.
The Director of Finance is responsible for audit readiness by ensuring robust policies, systems, and procedures are in place, and by supporting the external audit process as required.
In addition, the Director of Finance will partner with the CFO, senior leadership, and staff to improve progam or process integration to enhance efficiently and effectiveness in achieving program objectives, In relation to any system or process changes, the Director of Finance will collaborate with respective business areas to positively impact design and operational effectiveness in support of business objectives as well as financial and management reporting objectives.
ROLE DESCRIPTION
Financial Accounting and Reporting
- Provide financial and accounting leadership for ESA’s Finance function and business areas. Oversee all accounts, ledgers, and reporting systems and changes thereto, ensuring continued compliance with appropriate GAAP standards and regulatory requirements.
- Design and maintain internal controls and safeguards related to revenue (billings and receipts) and expenditures.
- Oversee the preparation and integrity of monthly, quarterly and annual financial reports in accordance with GAAP.
- Lead the month end and year end close processes, ensuring timeliness, completeness, and accuracy.
- Lead the annual ESA external financial statement audit, including planning, fieldwork and reporting while keeping the CFO apprised of any issues on a timely basis.
- Develop, maintain, and enforce accounting policies, procedures and documentation, maintaining an appropriate audit trail for the external auditors.
- Monitor and assess potential changes in NFPO accounting standards and or gaps in ESA’s accounting policies and provide data driven, clear guidance and recommendations to the CFO.
- Prepare materials for Board/A&IC briefings as part of regular quarterly meetings and/or as required.
Internal Controls, Compliance and Audit
- Design, implement, and maintain a strong internal control framework over financial reporting.
- Ensure compliance with statutory, regulatory, tax, and reporting requirements.
- Act as the primary liaison with external auditors, regulators, and other external stakeholders on accounting and control matters.
- Lead the preparation of audit schedules and support external audit activities through to successful completion.
- Identify, assess, and mitigate financial reporting and operational financial risks.
Accounts payable and Accounts Receivable
- Provide strategic and operational oversight of the accounts payable and accounts receivable functions.
- Ensure efficient, accurate, and timely processing of vendor payments and customer billings and collections.
- Establish and monitor key controls over disbursements, collections, credit management, and reconciliations.
- Oversee the management of aged receivables and support resolution of complex or escalated issues.
- Continuously improve processes to enhance efficiency, accuracy, and compliance.
- Collaborate with cross-functional business areas on review of manual journal entries.
Treasury, Cash Management & Banking
- Oversee daily cash management, bank relationships, and banking structures.
- Ensure appropriate controls over cash receipts, disbursements, and account reconciliations.
- Monitor liquidity and working capital from an operational and control perspective, in alignment with CFO direction.
- Authorize banking arrangements and ensure compliance with signing authorities and delegated limits outlined in the Organizational Authority Registrar.
Investments Oversight (Outsourced Chief Investment Officer Governance)
- Provide financial governance and oversight of ESA’s investment activities managed by an outsourced Chief Investment Officer (OCIO), in accordance with approved investment policies, mandates, and governance frameworks.
- Act as the secondary finance liaison with the OCIO to ensure the accuracy, completeness, and timeliness of investment‑related financial information and reporting. The CFO is the primary point of contact for investment-related activities.
- Review and assess investment valuations, and accounting treatments prepared under the OCIO’s management for compliance with applicable accounting standards and investment policies.
- Monitor adherence to internal controls related to investment transactions, custody, valuation, and financial disclosures, including controls executed by the OCIO and third‑party service providers.
- Coordinate with the OCIO, custodians, external managers, actuaries (where applicable), and auditors to support audit activities and regulatory reporting related to investments.
- Ensure appropriate investment disclosures are prepared for financial statements
- Support the CFO and relevant board committee by conducting a detailed review of quarterly reports provided by the outsourced Chief Investment Officer (OCIO). This includes assessing the completeness, accuracy, and clarity of reporting related to portfolio performance, asset allocation, valuation methodologies, compliance with the Investment Policy Statement, and key risk exposures.
- Liaise with the OCIO to obtain clarifications, supplemental analysis, or follow‑up information as required to support informed oversight and governance discussions at the committee level.
Pension and Other Post Employment Benefits Accounting
- Oversee accounting, reporting, and compliance related to pension plans and post‑employment benefits.
- Liaise with external actuaries, pension administrators, and external auditors on valuation, disclosures, and funding matters.
- Ensure accurate recording of pension assets, liabilities, expenses, and associated disclosures.
- Support governance and oversight of pension plans in accordance with applicable legislation and policies.
Payroll
- Provide strategic leadership and oversight over ESA’s payroll function, with operational payroll processing executed by senior payroll professionals.
- Set strategic direction, governance standards, and control expectations for payroll operations to ensure accuracy, compliance, and consistency.
- Establish and maintain ESA’s payroll policy.
- Ensure robust internal controls are designed, implemented, and operating effectively over payroll processing, payroll changes, reconciliations, and access management to ESA’s payroll system.
- Oversee payroll accounting and financial integrity, including review of payroll reconciliations and confirmation of accurate recording of payroll‑related expenses, liabilities, and accruals.
- Review and challenge escalated payroll issues, exceptions, or control matters, approving resolution approaches and escalating material risks to the CFO as appropriate.
- Sponsor continuous improvement initiatives related to payroll systems, processes, controls, and reporting to enhance efficiency, risk management, and employee experience.
People Management:
- Lead, mentor, and develop a high performing finance team.
- Set clear performance expectations and foster a culture of accountability, accuracy, and continuous improvement and customer service to cross-functional business units
Other
- Effectively represent the Finance team as a Senior Management Team Member on board committees or internal committees as required.
QUALIFICATIONS
- Strong oral and written communication skills.
- At least 10-12 years of progressive experience in accounting and finance.
- Demonstrated experience in financial reporting, internal controls, accounts payable, accounts receivable, investments and pension accounting.
- Experience supervising a team of finance professionals.
- Experience with non-government not for profit accounting and a solid knowledge and
understanding of GAAP and accounting for pensions.
- Analytic, organization, and problem-solving skills for strategic data interpretation.
- Strong emotional intelligence and self-awareness is essential.
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills required to effectively communicate complex
issues to senior leadership.
- The ability to translate complex financial concepts to individuals at all levels including finance and non-finance managers.
- Requires demonstrated listening and negotiating skills and the ability to work effectively with people inside and outside the organization to achieve the required results.
REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS
Reports to: Chief Financial Officer
Direct Reports: 3 Direct Reports
11 Indirect Reports
Occ code: 544015
Notes(s):
- PLEASE NOTE THAT THE CLOSING DATE IS FIRM.
- ESA Applicants – please ensure you have submitted your vacancy application form prior to applying
ESA may use automated or AI-assisted tools to support certain aspects of the recruitment and selection process.
The salary range for this position is subject to change and will be determined in accordance with the applicable collective agreement or, where no collective agreement applies, based on the successful candidate’s skills, experience, and internal equity.
We are committed to removing barriers that candidates may experience in our recruitment process. Please email [email protected] with any accommodation requests, or if there is anything we can do to enable your inclusive participation in the process.
