Accounting Officer

The Alberta Public Service (APS) is taking a One Finance approach to the delivery of financial services. Financial services include the delivery of financial planning, reporting, and operations, as well as ongoing engagement with policy and program areas to provide strategic decision-making support. There are three top leadership priorities that support this One Finance approach: proactively supporting our talent across the finance community; providing collaborative and responsive services to our business partners; and actively engaging in continuous improvement of the way we support each other and do business within our teams and across the entire finance community.

Role Responsibilities



The Ministry of Seniors, Community and Social Services is looking for an Accounting Officer.

Reporting to the Manager, Financial Compliance, the Accounting Officer responsibilities includes the review of daily transactions entered in financial systems for accounts payable, payroll, procurement card, grants, contracts and expense claims. The position ensures systems and processes are in place to achieve financial accountability.

Job Responsibilities:

Support the processing of payment transactions throughout various program areas in the Ministry, as required.
Maintain knowledge of ministry legacy systems and provincial information and payment systems: Family Support for Children with Disabilities Information System (FSCDIS), Consolidated Services System (CSS), Contract Management Administration System (CMAS), Recoveries System, Electronic Payments System (EPS), 1GX, Concur, etc.
Provide Seniors, Community & Social Services staff with sufficient information to enable them to efficiently and accurately process payment transactions.
Identify training requirements, develop and deliver training sessions to processors on the payment component of financial systems, including 1GX, Concur, EPS, Recoveries, etc.
Ensure that payment transactions are reviewed for compliance with relevant procedures, policies, regulations, and the Financial Administration Act, and are approved for payment on a timely basis.
Conduct regular compliance reviews to identify non-compliance and transaction types that pose high risk to the Ministry. This involves reviewing manual and electronic systems that result in expenditures, documenting the processes and verification steps and assessing adequacy of the financial controls against Best Practices.
Work with the team of Accounting Officers throughout the Ministry to ensure that program area needs are addressed. Provide advice and consultation services to all areas and levels of the Ministry.


APS Competencies


Competencies are behaviors that are essential to reach our goals in serving Albertans. We encourage you to have an in depth understanding of the competencies that are required for this opportunity and to be prepared to demonstrate them during the recruitment process.

This link will assist you with understanding competencies:

Drive for Results – The Financial Analyst provides forecasts and financial reviews which are required to be appropriate and accurate while remaining cognizant of the various regulations, standards and frameworks.


Agility – The Financial Analyst will need to be able to adapt to shifting priorities and deadlines particularly regarding budget approvals and payments. The role is largely process-driven and opportunities to improve efficiencies is always encouraged.


Creative Problem Solving – The Financial Analyst assesses reporting data received summarizing this data into a presentable format for review and in support of decision-making regarding efficiencies of housing programs. Creative Problem Solving is required to prioritize key data points and identifying methods to appropriately present information.


Systems Thinking – The Financial Analyst provides program data which is used to support internal decision making regarding annual operating budgets as well as support the ASHC's responsibility regarding federal reporting. In addition, program data is relied upon to monitor the uptake and effectiveness of program policies and decisions.


Develop Networks – The Financial Analyst will work alongside a wide range of stakeholders both internal and external. Internal stakeholders include unit team, housing operations branch, and staff in other branches (Policy Planning and Analytics, Financial Support Services, and Housing Business Supports). External stakeholders include housing providers and their staff.
Qualifications


Required:

University graduation in Accounting, Business, Economics, Commerce or Management or other related field plus three years of related experience as described below:


Equivalency

Related diploma in Accounting, Business, Economics, Commerce or Management or other related field plus five years directly related experience.
Accounting designation and one-year additional related experience.


Assets:

Professional accounting designation - Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) is preferred.
Experience and knowledge of government financial policies, procedures, guidelines, directives and the Financial Administration Act.
Knowledge of Seniors, Community & Social Services programs, policies and procedures.
Experience and knowledge of accounting and auditing principles and techniques.
Proficiency in government and departmental financial computer systems, such as Family Support for Children with Disabilities Information System (FSCDIS), Consolidated Services System (CSS), Contract Management Administration System (CMAS), Recoveries System, Electronic Payments System (EPS), 1GX, Concur, etc.