Department: Municipal Affairs
Location: HALIFAX
Type of Employment: Permanent
Union Status: NSGEU - NSPG
Closing Date: 21-Aug-25 (Applications are accepted until 11:59 PM Atlantic Time)
ABOUT US
The Department of Municipal Affairs (DMA) promotes responsible local government and supports safe, sustainable and welcoming communities. Through working with municipalities and other partners, DMA contributes to strong and diverse economies and a high quality of life.
DMA provides services and guidance to municipalities in many areas including land use planning, budget planning and finance, infrastructure development, policy, and program development.
PRIMARY ACCOUNTABILITIES
- Lead strategic research and analysis on accounting issues, financial reporting, emerging trends to inform the evolution of accountability frameworks, legislative changes, and program design.
- Conduct financial and operational analysis of local governments to identify risks, uncover key drivers, and provide strategic insights that shape program, policy and funding decisions.
- Provide expert guidance on PSAS, legislation and regulatory requirements, resolving complex accounting issues and improving the clarity and consistency of financial reporting.
- Drive continuous improvement by modernizing processes, streamlining reporting, and adopting emerging technologies – including advanced analytics, automation and data visualization – to improve efficiency, insights and improved decision-making.
- Design and deliver training for local governments – including webinars, workshops, and one-on-one sessions – to build financial reporting capacity, understanding of accounting standards, regulations, and programs, and promote best practices.
- Prepare high-impact materials such as briefing notes, presentations, reports, and cabinet submissions that translate complex financial issues into clear, actionable insights for senior decision makers.
- Develop and implement tools and procedures for collecting and managing financial and statistical data – using automation, dashboards and platforms like Power BI – to enhance data quality, accessibility, and analysis.
- Mentor and support Financial Analysts fostering skill development, collaboration and shared learning across the team.
- Oversee and evaluate operating programs for local governments, ensuring legislative compliance and using data driven insights and partner feedback to assess funding formula impacts. Recommend and implement enhancements.
QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE
We’re looking for candidates with a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or Finance with at least six years of related experience, or an equivalent combination of training and experience.
What you bring:
- Advanced financial and operational analysis expertise: You assess complex financial and operational data through the lens of PSAS, legislation and policy. You generate insights that inform strategic decisions and strengthen local government accountability.
- Exceptional written and verbal communication: You translate complex financial concepts into clear, compelling messages for diverse audiences – including senior leaders, elected officials and non-technical partners – supporting understanding, action and informed decision making.
- Strategic and systems thinking: You approach problems with a long-term view, connecting financial and operational realities to broader policy, legislative and program implications.
- Process improvement mindset: You seek opportunities to modernize systems and streamline reporting, leveraging automation, analytics, dashboards, and emerging technologies to drive efficiency and insight.
- Leadership and mentorship capabilities: You support and guide colleagues, share expertise, and contribute to a culture of continuous learning and improvement across the team.
- Exceptional organizational and project management skills: You effectively manage multiple priorities, lead complex files with minimal direction, and consistently deliver high quality results with tight deadlines.
- Technological fluency: You are highly proficient with Microsoft Excel and the Microsoft Office suite (Outlook, PowerPoint, Word, Teams) and are comfortable working with platforms like Power BI, automation platforms and data visualization or analysis tools.
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