Senior Manager Financial Planning - Information & Technology

At CN, every day brings new and exciting challenges. You can expect an interesting environment where you are part of making sure our business is running optimally and safely―helping keep the economy on track. We provide the kind of paid training and opportunities that long-term careers are built on and we recognize hard workers who strive to make a difference. You will be able to thrive in our close-knit, safety-focused culture working together as ONE TEAM. The careers we offer are meaningful because the work we do matters.

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Job Summary

The Senior Manager Financial Planning - Information & Technology acts as a trusted business advisor and contributor to the success of the function's deliverables. This position provides financial insights to build a better business, proactively driving value through informed and insightful decision-making, fostering a culture of cost consciousness, control, simplification and continuous improvement.

The position has the primary day-to-day responsibility for planning, implementing, managing and controlling all related financial activities within the Information & Technology portfolio. Critical outcomes include supporting the leadership teams with key financial insights and operational analytics.

The position plays a key role in developing, monitoring and evaluating the implementation of corporate strategy with the Senior Leaders and their respective leadership teams with emphasis on bottom-line performance and investments.

Main Responsibilities

Management Reporting and Financial Management Processes

·Ensure management reporting and financial management processes are dynamic and relevant to business and drive business performance

·Provide the Senior Leaders and their respective leadership teams with guidance and advice on their operational expenditures, trends and metrics

·Identify gaps and provide recommendations to strategically enhance financial performance and business opportunities, and provide a full range of financial solutions

·Ensure dashboards key performance indicators (KPI's) are dynamic, appropriate and that management actions results from analysis through translating management information into recommendations

·Recommend regional benchmarks for measuring the financial operating performance

·KPI's are to be meaningful to the customer and drive change as a result

·Actively pursue opportunities to deliver cost savings and efficiency gains

·Effectively deploy capital to maximize returns for CN

·Direct the development and analysis of business cases for the function's special capital investment proposals.

·Provide appropriate oversight on capital spend versus project advancement

·Oversee the budget section for Opex and Capex

Budgeting and Planning Process

·Manage budgeting and planning processes while ensuring they are dynamic and aligned with business needs

·Take hands-on lead position of developing, implementing and maintaining comprehensive financial forecasting systems

·Direct and translate the corporate business plan into operating expense budgets and capital plan investments

·Ensure buy-in by key stakeholders on budgets by making them understand the assumptions and key elements used to establish the budget

·Direct and validate the preparation and distribution of weekly, monthly, quarterly reports on expenditures and key performance metrics, including various analysis as required

·Monitor, analyze and explain monthly operating results against budget

·Manage the preparation and distribution of financial reports

·Manage the preparation of financial outlooks and financial forecasts

·Manage changes and transfers within the Operating and Capital budgets

·Advise and inform the senior management teams on the merits and risks associated with the Outlooks and keep Financial Planning abreast of the changes to the Year End Outlook

·Drill down on unexpected variances to provide explanations to key stakeholders and establish courses or corrective actions through discussions with Information & Technology senior management

Continue to Improve Processes, Controls and Day-to-Day Support

·Ensure that effective controls are in place to ensure compliance with Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX) and Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) including monitoring and reporting

·Proactively review and implement new processes triggered by new accounting pronouncements, new systems or other

·Provide recommendation and procedural improvements for financial audit issues and controls

·Direct and sign-off - balance sheet account reconciliations

·Manage accrued liabilities in compliance with corporate accounting rules

·Ensure the integrity of financial transactions created by the department

·Respond to questions, provide day-to-day support to Information & Technology staff pertaining to financial systems, and provide them with basic financial insights in order for them to perform adequately the administrative portion of their duties

Talent Development -

·Lead, coach and develop a team of professionals in finance

·Partner and engage with Regional Business Administrators to mentor and educate regional management on business and expense processes and controls

·Accelerate the depth and, in some cases, execute succession plans and advance key employee development plans

·Ensure the professional well-being of all members in the team (learn, grow and prosper)

Working Conditions

The work is carried out primarily in an office environment. The employee must be able work autonomously, as well as manage priorities and a high level of stress on a daily basis.

Requirements

Experience

Financial Leadership or Operational Role

·Minimum 10 years of experience in progressively responsible financial leadership or operational roles

Education/Certification/Designation

·Bachelor's Degree in Accounting, Commerce, or Business

·Master's Degree in Business Administration (MBA) or working towards*

·Charted Professional Accountant (CPA) or working towards*

*Any designation for these above would be considered as an asset

Competencies

·Know the business and stay current with industry trends to elevate expertise and work

·Apply analytical thinking to make recommendations that pursue sustainable performance

·Inspire others with impactful communications and adapt well to its audience

·Initiate, influence and drive organizational changes to enable business transformation

·Innovate to create value, without compromising on safety

·Collaborate with key internal stakeholders to enable higher productivity

·Show initiative and empower others to raise our collective game

·Share timely information within and across functions to get things done effectively

·Develop and empower self and others to ensure CN's success through continuous feedback and coaching

Technical Skills/Knowledge

·Deep knowledge of Railway Operations business processes and metrics

·Knowledge of finance, accounting, budgeting and cost control principles including GAAP)

·Extensive knowledge of CN's financial and accounting reporting system

·Strong computer skills: Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Access, MS-SQL), relevant SAP systems and Essbase

·Capacity to synthesize large amounts of data into meaningful insight

About CN

CN is a world-class transportation leader and trade-enabler. Essential to the economy, to the customers, and to the communities it serves, CN safely transports more than 300 million tons of natural resources, manufactured products, and finished goods throughout North America every year. As the only railroad connecting Canada's Eastern and Western coasts with the Southern tip of the U.S. through a 19,500 mile rail network, CN and its affiliates have been contributing to community prosperity and sustainable trade since 1919. CN is committed to programs supporting social responsibility and environmental stewardship. At CN, we work as ONE TEAM, focused on safety, sustainability and our customers, providing operational and supply chain excellence to deliver results

At CN, we are dedicated to building North America's safest, most inclusive and sustainable railroad, which includes reflecting the communities in which we operate. Research shows that candidates from underrepresented groups often don't apply unless they feel they fit the job posting at 100%. Even if you don't see yourself in every job requirement listed in a posting, we still encourage you to apply. If you require an accommodation for the recruitment process (including alternate formats of materials, accessible meeting rooms or other accommodations), please reach out to our team at cnrecruitment@cn.ca.

As an equal employment opportunity employer, all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, and other protected status as required by applicable law. We thank all applicants for their interest, however, only candidates under consideration will be contacted. Please monitor your email on a regular basis, as communication is primarily made through email.