Executive Director Finance And Administration

Description:

As the Executive Director, Finance and Administration, serving the Department of Community Services, you will be responsible for strategic leadership in developing and managing the budgetary planning process; the integration of the budgetary and departmental business planning process; expenditure control; accounting for revenue, operating and capital costs in accordance with departmental and governmental policies, regulations and procedures. The Department of Community Services (DCS) is a large and diverse department providing a broad portfolio of programs and services including Child and Family Wellbeing (CFW), Employment Support Services (ESS), Income Assistance (IA), Homelessness and Supportive Housing, and Disability Support Program (DSP).

Through its services, DCS advocates and helps vulnerable Nova Scotians be independent, self-reliant, and secure, and works collaboratively across the province with a strong dedicated network of supports and staff, to achieve desired and shared outcomes for all.

You will also provide advice and assistance to Deputy Minister(s) on strategies to assist departments in meeting their objectives in the broader context of the government’s objective of fiscal sustainability. This regularly requires the provision of executive leadership involving complex financial issues to assist in the development of government policies and programs. You will also engage and work with external partners including an extensive network of independent service providers (non-profit and for-profit) delivering services directly to clients and to communities.

Primary Accountabilities

Some of the key responsibilities in this role include:

• Providing leadership and expertise to the department/agency by directing a comprehensive operational and capital budget process that integrates business planning and financial planning and ensures department/agency budgets are aligned with corporate priorities;
• Providing sound financial advice, leadership, and support to assist government in meeting its fiscal objectives through effective analysis, decisions and recommendations that have a measurable impact on the achievement of corporate and departmental goals and objectives;
• Providing support and professional advice to ensure programs and services effectively meet the desired client and system outcomes across all department programs;
• Supporting the most effective and economical methods of program delivery from a financial and administrative perspective by applying the latest technology and approaches and in some cases supporting the design of new solutions where none currently exist;
• Identifying, evaluating and ensuring compliance with internal controls over financial management and reporting through the development of risk management strategies, appropriately designed financial controls and accuracy and integrity of the financial information presented to executive management, which is critical for safeguarding government assets and effective decision making;
• Assist the department in working with key partners including communication of results and issues with related entities, support to the Minister(s) in the Committee/Subcommittee on Supply, and support to the Deputy Minister in the Committee of Public Accounts and in Standing Committees.