Executive Director, Government Accounting

at  Province of Nova Scotia

Department: Finance and Treasury Board
Location: HALIFAX
Type of Employment: Permanent
Union Status: Exclusion - Non Union - NSPG
Closing Date: 12-Feb-25 (Applications are accepted until 11:59 PM Atlantic Time)

ABOUT US

At the Department of Finance and Treasury Board, we work to preserve the financial capacity of the Province’s programs and services by providing the Government of Nova Scotia advice on fiscal sustainability. We strive to provide financial leadership, analysis, and policy development to ensure government priorities are well coordinated and fiscally responsible. As stewards of the Province’s financial affairs, we deliver a wide range of corporate fiscal management services, including the preparation of the provincial budget, financial accounting and reporting, forecasting, borrowing, lending, financial advisory, taxation and gaming, pension and financial institution regulation, and labour relations.

PRIMARY ACCOUNTABILITIES

• Oversee the provision of sound financial accounting opinions and reporting advice.
• Ensure the integrity of the Province’s general ledger and subsidiary financial information systems and the production of sound financial reporting.
• Oversee fiscal year-end processes for the Province of Nova Scotia, including preparation of all volumes of the Public Accounts.
• Support Capital Markets Administration functions to maintain complete and accurate accounting and reporting for debt issuances, investments, and bank reconciliations.
• Oversee and guide the Province’s compliance functions in the following areas:
• Annual Internal Controls over Financial Reporting (ICFR) program
• SAP Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) system, including Access Control and Process Control
• Tracking Auditor General Recommendations (TAGR) process

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

The ideal candidate will have a university degree in a relevant discipline (e.g., Commerce, Finance, or Business Administration), along with a professional accounting designation (CPA), plus several years of progressive leadership experience, with a minimum of 5 years in a professional/financial management role.
An acceptable equivalent combination of education, training and experience may be considered.

In addition to the above, the following skills and experience are required:

• Proven ability to exercise sound judgement and set priorities.
• Demonstrated knowledge of specific accounting, operational, and financial issues.
• Experience in interpreting public sector accounting standards as well as other industry best practices for financial statement preparation, capital market compliance, internal controls over financial reporting, and payment card industry standards.
• Exceptional communication skills (written and verbal) and ability to build and maintain relationships. Strong attention to detail, with a demonstrated history of providing expert advice and accurate information.
• Strong time management, research, and analytical skills to work with multiple departments with conflicting objectives to provide practical options and solutions.
• Sound knowledge of SAP, or comparable large Enterprise Resource Planning Application (ERP), and experience with system migration projects.

We will assess the above qualifications and competencies using one or more of the following tools: written examination, standardized tests, oral presentations, interview(s), and reference checks.

Please refer the Job description for details