RECENT OR POTENTIAL GRADS: Controller

Controller

Halifax, NS

Reference HL-14797

Our client is a well-established charity organization based in Halifax, Nova Scotia. They take leadership on critical environmental issues from biodiversity protection to climate change to environmental justice. They are grounded in community and are a strong voice and watchdog for our environment. They work to catalyze change through policy advocacy, community development, and building awareness. They are a busy, vibrant organization that was started in 1971. They strive to promote a diverse and inclusive organizational culture that emphasizes strong values, collaboration, quality work, and real impact. They value their members, volunteers, staff, and partners. We are pleased to be partnered with them to bring a Controller to their team.

Reporting to the Director of Operations and Development, the Controller plays a key role in effective decision making by providing accurate, timely budget and financial reporting materials and will provide supervision to the finance team. We are looking for someone with keen analytic and problem-solving skills who can strategically interpret financial information providing critical and reliable insight. This will be a key role for the organization. The Controller will be responsible for providing support to members of the finance team, various program leads and will be a trusted advisor to senior leaders. In this role strong communication skills and the ability to articulate key information is needed.

Key responsibilities in this role, among others, will be:

• Taking the lead in the coordination and development of the annual budget process for action teams, fundraising, and operations; review budgets and compare to actual results being able to identify, explain, and correct variances as appropriate.
• Oversee the accurate collection, consolidation and tracking of actual spending against budgets, all incoming/outgoing financial transactions for operations, projects, grants, invoicing and all month-end activities, including authorization of payroll and review of data captured in SAGE.
• Consistently analyze financial data and present financial reports in an accurate and timely manner; clearly communicate monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements; monitor progress, variances from budget and keep directors informed of financial status.
• Continuously collaborate with Director of Operations and Development to assess the financial efficacy of operations, establish, implement and maintain robust financial systems to ensure sound short-term and long-term business decisions and controls to safeguard the organization’s assets.
• Develop and implement the financial policies, systems and procedures and monitor compliance with existing financial policies, procedures and documentation ensuring verification processes are adhered to and authorized signatures obtained, revising as necessary.
• Assess the effectiveness of current accounting operations and internal control systems, including software and supporting database, offering recommendations for improvement to procedures, operating systems, budgets, and other financial control functions and implement changes.
• Coordinate and prepare internal and external financial statements.
• Liaise with auditors to close year-end; prepare working documents for auditors and draft financial statements.

The ideal candidate will have:

• Solid background in accounting, with preferably 5+ years’ experience.
• Experience developing and managing budgets and administering foundation and government grants.
• Excellent knowledge of GAAP and ASNPO and a CPA or comparable professional accounting designation would be an asset.
• Thorough knowledge of audit procedures, risk management, and preparation of financial statements, including year-end.
• Leadership and mentoring skills to empower the finance team to enhance their skills and better integrate finance, HR, and IT functions.
• Ability to effectively communicate technical information to different audiences.
• Demonstrated collaborative skills working with diverse groups.
• Technology savvy experience with advanced knowledge of accounting, contact management databases, Microsoft 365 specifically advanced Excel skills, and an understanding of IT systems and database requirements.
• Experience working with Sage 50, ADP payroll system would be considered an asset.

Our client is committed to employment equity and encourages applications from individuals in traditionally marginalized groups such as, but not limited to: African Nova Scotian and other racialized people, Indigenous people, lesbian, bisexual, gay, transgender and queer people, and persons with disabilities. We encourage applicants to self-identify in their resume if they are a member of a marginalized community. Diversity is a stated value of our client. Moreover, diversity in their community is a strength that they seek to cultivate. It is the responsibility of every employee of our client to foster a culture that embraces and promotes diversity.

Our client is a respected organization with passion for that they do. If you are an accounting professional with a great technical skill set, thrives in an environment that allows you to be involved in a variety of tasks, and if you want to join a team that champions environmental causes, reach out to us for more details.

For more information about this exciting opportunity please contact Heather Labucki, Partner, or Sara Morey, Consultant, at smorey@kbrs.ca. If you require accommodation to participate in the recruitment process, please let Sara Morey know.

Meridia Recruitment Solutions connects leading organizations with top talent by building strong relationships and creating ideal matches with candidates because we are only successful when you are. We appreciate your interest in this opportunity.

To learn more about Meridia Recruitment Solutions, our job opportunities, and career advice we invite you to explore our site and subscribe for career alerts.