Financial Business Partner

Position Summary

The Financial Business Partner works in an advisory capacity to senior management and is responsible for specific department and branch portfolios to provide strategic support in budget development, accounting, collective bargaining proposal costing and financial management information services to support the operations of all divisions and work groups in the corporation. This position is also responsible to develop and manage financial modelling and consistent financial management reporting, including variance and capital carry forward processes for client departments.

Financial Business Partner will lead work units that are the interface for budget and accounting services between operating departments and corporate financial and budget systems and processes. This includes the provision of budget and accounting support, including entries into the corporate financial systems and organizing and communicating financial and statistical information, reporting and financial analysis to staff of client departments.

This role provides senior financial advisory support to client Directors and Executive Directors related to regular and strategic financial management to support partner departmental and divisional goals and objectives.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Provide support to clients with respect to financial analysis and planning needs in order to support the client group's objectives. This includes guidance and advice on financial matters such as financial and accounting policies and procedures, taxation issues and internal/management controls.
• Provides strategic support by participating in business planning with operating areas to help identify and analyze opportunities for service changes (including impact on staffing level) and provide recommendations in order to support financial sustainability while considering long and short-range planning, budgeting and policy development.
• Capital accounting and monitoring processes for the client departments and divisions.
• Assist operating areas with development of operating and capital budget business cases. Complete research and analyze industry best practice to develop recommendations based on long term financial impacts and any precedents which may be set all the while taking into account environmental scan of municipal, provincial and federal economic outlook.
• Financial modelling work including in-depth financial analysis to provide recommendations to improve financial performance and develop strategy and lead reserve management to support proposed changes to operating areas in alignment with the Long-Range Financial Plan.
• Provide support to the City's Management Bargaining Committee for collective bargaining by costing proposals.
• Work with operating areas to establish and implement a centrally governed cost accounting methodology that will ensure the City accounts for costs in a way that is consistent across the organization, simple to administer and provides meaningful information to management of the City and residents.
• Development of regular and ad hoc financial management reporting, and the performance of financial analysis to serve the needs of the clients.
• Develops, recommends, coordinates and implements policies and procedures associated with the provision of accounting and budget support for the assigned portfolio.
• Provides support for the monitoring and maintenance of agreements with external agencies and ensures criteria for external funding are met and accounted for.

Stakeholder Relationship Management

• Builds strong working relationships with operating areas to be a trusted partner regarding strategic issues. Work with the operating areas to gain a better understanding of their operations and respectfully challenge the information and approaches to provide support to meet the corporate goals in the most fiscally responsible and cost-efficient manner.
• Build strong relationships within an assigned client portfolio and also within the Financial Services team providing a critical conduit between the two in order to meet operational and organizational financial goals and ensuring consistent approaches across the organization.
• Support clients in managing their business while at the same time support the organizational financial requirements. This is achieved through strong relationships with members of the client team as well as within the Financial Analysis & Support branch and Financial Services as a whole.
• Support clients by creating and maintaining financial models to guide decision making and ensure long term sustainability.
• Participates in special studies and/or assignments, which may involve conducting research, analysis and providing recommendations.
• Meets with clients and other stakeholders to resolve issues related to accounting and the corporate budget system in order to resolve issues and satisfy all requirements.
• This position must build and maintain relationships of trust both internally and externally.

Knowledge

• Knowledge of the City's accounting and budgeting process, computerized financial systems and procedures, corporate and departmental financial policies and procedures.
• Knowledge of accounting principles, particularly standards published by the Public-Sector Accounting Board applicable to municipal government Knowledge of the departmental operations for which accounting, and budget services are being provided.
• Knowledge of financial modeling Specialized knowledge in municipal principles of accounting and the extrapolation and reporting of information and the knowledge to translate this into customer service outcomes.
• Specialized knowledge in data management and security and processes, principles of accounting, costing (e.g. programs, services, events, collective bargaining, etc.) and information systems.
• Knowledge to determine options and assess and recommend the best course of action when balancing internal and external customer needs such as the City's internal and external reporting requirements.
• Knowledge and understanding of relationships between and across a number of processes, activities, and business departments, and must effectively manage those interrelationships while providing operational budgeting and financial services.

People Leadership and Development

• Lead smaller work units that are the interface for budget and accounting services between operating departments and corporate financial and budget systems and processes.
• Lead operating areas in financial model preparation and maintenance.
• Provides day-to-day supervision with a focus on provision of guidance, direction and development.
• Responsible for providing input and recommendations on Branch/Unit specific workforce planning.
• Leadership accountabilities includes performance management in conjunction with the Branch Manager.
• The position works closely with peers to ensure consistency and equity in leadership and development of staff within each of the teams.
• The position is expected to provide occasional on-the-job-training to others and requires the skills to build an environment of service excellence, best practices, and professionalism.

The Good Stuff

• Competitive salary
• Schedule Days Off (SDOs) 12 paid days per annum
• Robust benefit package that consists of a defined benefit pension, healthcare/flex spending account, long-term disability benefits, health, dental and life insurance, annual vacation, sick and lieu days
• Supported educational programs as a means to enhance employee knowledge and skills through our Educational Assistance Program. Options for Long-term learning programs to provide opportunities for employees to work towards a designation, degree, etc.,
• Receive 50% off admission to City leisure facilities
• An inclusive and diverse work culture

The City of Regina is transforming, and you have an opportunity to influence its journey! Financial Services is building a team of Finance minded, customer focused people who are motivated to contribute to a high functioning team. Our team is diverse, dynamic, and fun. We value our employees and their work-life balance. We cultivate and nurture a collaborative team culture where employees can grow and thrive together.