Description:
The Financial Analyst – Societies is accountable for the provision of essential financial information and internal controls related to the Societies, Orientation and Student Refugee Program funds. The incumbent is also responsible for the integrity of financial processes and practices amongst all 10+ Societies to ensure conformity with GAAP (generally accepted accounting principles), and WUSA policies, guidelines and practices. Accountable to the Financial Officer, the Financial Analyst – Societies also works closely with the Financial Systems Specialist and Accountant.
Responsibilities:
Financial Management and Internal Control
- Maintains an overall picture of Society, Orientation and Student Refugee Program financial performance (10+ Societies and ~$1M annual revenues/budgets each)
- Provides leadership, co-ordination and management of Society financial statements, annual budgets, annual year-end reports and financial position
- Prepare monthly financial reports for each Society, analyzing results and discussing with Society representatives
- Review and monitor inventory tracking and recording systems to ensure accuracy, recommending improvements where appropriate
- Manage Societies’ capital asset accounting treatment and internal controls, including compliance and audit, classification of capital assets and application of depreciation schedules and their impact on financial planning and budgeting
- Ensure complete and accurate records are maintained by monitoring expenditures and commitments against budgets
- Identify gaps in internal controls, suggest and implement improvements, and establish new financial structures and processes to ensure that activity is properly managed and reported on, and appropriate stewardship of funds is maintained
- Accurate and appropriate assessment and recording of HST and rebates taken
- Ensure that all WUSA and Society financial/accounting obligations are completed on schedule and in compliance with the Societies Agreement
- Provide oversight and conduct periodic audits on all cash handling and point of sale procedures throughout all Societies to ensure fiscal accountability
- Review reimbursement requests to ensure accuracy, compliance, eligibility, appropriate account coding and inclusion of required supporting documentation
- Maintain productive working relationships with all WUSA Societies and provide guidance on processes that impact fiscal management, financial compliance and stewardship of assets
- Participate in and provide information for annual external audit, working directly with External Auditor as required
- Serves as a primary point of contact regarding all Society financial matters; anticipates, identifies and resolves discrepancies, communicating as required with all stakeholders
Financial Strategy and Long Term Planning
- Maintain an overall picture of each Society’s financial performance
- In collaboration with the Financial Officer, provide expert information management and financial analysis for Society budgets and accounts in support of current and long-range planning, taking into account implications of commitments such as temporary staff appointments, ongoing non-salary expenses, and special projects
- Facilitate the optimum use of Society funds by preparing regular status reports of financial position, both by identifying opportunities for expense control and reduction, and by identifying anomalies and opportunities to bridge funding gaps
- Prepare an annual report for each Society on financial stability, operational issues and compliance with regulatory and audit requirements
- Familiarity with Societies constitutions, bylaws and governing documents
- Work closely with each individual Society executives to provide guidance in areas of financial matters such as reviewing and monitoring budgets
- Communicate accounting information to clients, often with little or no accounting experience, in order to achieve accurate financial accounting and reporting, and resolve issues
- Participate in cross-functional projects providing appropriate accounting, business and technical expertise. This may include policy/procedure development, championing a new program, change management, providing training, etc. May be expected to assume responsibility for specific functional aspects of the project
- Demonstrate professional judgment in situations where clear direction is not available and/or interpretation of policies and procedures is required
- Ensure frequent and ongoing reconciliation of all accounts for accuracy and completeness