Senior Lead, Financial Planning & Analysis

The Ontario Clean Water Agency (OCWA) believes in Our Communities, Our Environment and Our People. As a trusted partner to municipalities, First Nations communities, businesses, governments and institutions across Ontario, we provide our clients with total solutions in water and wastewater. We are dedicated to working closely with our clients to help them build healthy sustainable communities and organizations and provide safe and reliable drinking water to thousands of Ontarians each day.
The Finance Division is seeking a results-oriented individual with strong financial acumen and leadership skills to provide strategic financial and business planning advice. This is a fast-paced, high-profile environment and the Senior Lead plays a critical role in coordinating the agency's in-year Financial Planning and forecasting and multi-year strategic directions while fostering collaboration within an integrated team.
As part of a division that provides corporate services to agency colleagues and central agency partners with a diverse portfolio of mandates and priorities, this will be an exciting role for an individual seeking to showcase inclusive leadership, financial expertise, and strategic thinking skills.

OPS Commitment to Diversity, Inclusion, Accessibility, and Anti-Racism:

We are committed to build a workforce that reflects the communities we serve and to promote a diverse, anti-racist, inclusive, accessible, merit-based, respectful and equitable workplace.
We invite all interested individuals to apply and encourage applications from people with disabilities, Indigenous, Black, and racialized individuals, as well as people from a diversity of ethnic and cultural origins, sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions.
Visit the OPS Anti-Racism Policy and the OPS Diversity and Inclusion Blueprint pages to learn more about the OPS commitment to advance racial equity, accessibility, diversity, and inclusion in the public service.
We offer employment accommodation across the recruitment process and all aspects of employment consistent with the requirements of Ontario's Human Rights Code. Refer to the "How to apply" section if you require a disability-related accommodation.

What can I expect to do in this role?

In this role you will:

• Provide strategic leadership, senior-level expertise and specialized advice on the agency's multi-year financial management strategies and business planning.
  
• Create and refine accounting and financial reporting processes and tools to achieve in-year and multi-year fiscal plans and budget targets in support of the achievement of agency mandate/priorities.
  
• Provide financial and strategic analysis and support to agency divisions on priority initiatives and develop briefing material to support decisions by senior management.
  
• Build and manage complex, effective and positive partnerships with a wide-range of internal and external partners and stakeholders.
  
• Work closely with the Director, Financial Planning & Analysis to lead and coordinate the efforts of the team, including assigning and monitoring work, providing day-to-day oversight, coaching and mentoring.

How do I qualify?

What we are looking for:

Leadership and project management expertise:

• you have leadership skills and project management experience to lead complex projects, innovative approaches to issues, develop and implement financial/business policies/processes that support accurate financial information and develop risk management strategies to ensure appropriate governance and oversight structures for clients
  
• you can lead, advise and train on the accounting, controls and assurance, financial and management reporting functions
  
• you can ensure compliance with agency requirements and standards, and have knowledge and experience with change management
  
• you can identify, assess and resolve financial risks and problems related to complex agency/cross-divisional initiatives

Analytical and problem-solving skills:

• you use your specialized financial and accounting expertise to evaluate issues and advise senior management on best course of action to ensure accurate financial reporting
  
• you can lead risk and control analyses on agency program using quantitative analysis (e.g. business process design, risk control matrix, financial modeling and data visualization)
  
• you can identify strategic and emerging issues/risks and opportunities and resolve issues which impact senior level decision-making

Business and financial knowledge:

• you have comprehensive knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), Public Sector Accounting Board accounting standards, consolidation theory and practice, financial and accounting theories and practices
  
• you have extensive knowledge and experience of financial analysis, organizational planning, quantitative/qualitative performance analysis and forecasting methods and techniques
  
• you have knowledge of fiscal management theory, funding model/business processes, financial trending analysis, risk management principles and practices, evidence decision-making, logic models and performance measurement

Communication and interpersonal skills:

• you have demonstrated oral and written communication skills to prepare project material, briefing notes and consultation/discussion papers/ submissions, etc.
  
• you understand the impact of messages on others and carefully craft messages by taking the listener's perspective into consideration
  
• you have demonstrated political acuity, persuasion and influencing skills to make recommendations and guide decision making and actions by senior management
  
• you have demonstrated negotiation, mediation and relationship management skills to work closely and lead consultations with stakeholders

Computer skills:

• you have extensive experience using computer systems, software and networks for information and data management to translate business requirements into data systems, design and implement financial models and spreadsheets, prepare presentation materials incorporating data visualization techniques, conduct search and research, access, retrieve and manipulate information and data from Internet and Intranet.

What's in it for you?

• Flexible learning and development opportunities.
  
• Opportunities for career advancement and specialization with the largest provider of water and wastewater services in Ontario.
  
• Work with the partner of choice for more communities than any other water and wastewater service organization in Ontario for over 30 years.
  
• Work with an organization committed to innovation and advanced technology.
  
• A defined benefit pension plan; Comprehensive Health Plan; Life and Disability Insurance.
  
• Maternity and parental leave top-up benefits including for adoptive parents.