Senior Financial Analyst

Job Information

Overall Purpose

Reporting to the Manager of Financial Planning, the Senior Financial Analyst provides analytical resources to OPS including:

• Provides subject matter expertise (SME) in the development and preparation of the Ottawa Police Service (OPS) capital and operating budgets through regular communication with Section Management of assigned portfolio.
• Prepare reports outlining financial implications to the Senior Management Committee (SMC), Executive Command and the Police Services Board. 
• Coordinates the year-end finalization process by analyzing general ledger accounts and by providing guidance to all levels of OPS.
• Provides SME and guidance, and training to new Section Managers and Senior Officers on the Finance and Administration Procedures Manual, changes in collective agreements and other financial related material impacting financial management of the section ensuring OPS practices are compliant with current procedures, policies and accounting and financial reporting standards, and City of Ottawa reporting requirements. 
• Analyzes and forecasts the financial impact of operational and strategic decisions. 
• Continuously monitors operating and capital financial transactions for accuracy.
• Manages the budgeted FTE, organizational and position activity of the organization.  
   

Major Responsibilities

Provides subject matter expertise (SME) in the development and preparation of the Ottawa Police Service (OPS) capital and operating budgets through regular communication with Section Management of assigned portfolio.

• Undertakes analytical work on financial trends; completes the development of the three (3) year operating budget and fifteen (15) year capital budget forecast; disseminates the budget targets and guidelines to Section Management of assigned portfolio.
• Prepares the salary and benefit working papers (detailed breakdown of compensation information) by balancing and verifying the complement numbers and developing assumptions and analyzing the impact of salary and benefit rate increases. 
• Operates as a systems and business architect for financial module of SAP, OSL, and File Maker Pro in the development and maintenance of the necessary systems to support the formulation, presentation and administration of the budget. 
• Meets with Section Management of assigned portfolios to provide guidance on the development of their budget estimates; summarizes budget submissions for discussion with Senior Officers; documents requests agreed to be brought forward for Executive review. 
• Presents the budget pressures to the CFO and CAO; recommends solutions to arrive at budget target; draft presentation decks for SLT review of pressures and solutions.
• Key contributor to the completion of the budget report, budget book and presentation material for the Board in partnership with other Senior Financial Analysts, the Manager and the CFO, and communicates the results of budget approval and impact to the respective budget managers and senior officers. 
• Works with Section Managers throughout the year, within a changing environment, to ensure budget envelopes are respected. 

Prepare reports outlining financial implications to the Senior Management Committee (SMC), Executive Command and the Police Services Board: 

• Executes forecasting analysis for inclusion in the calculation of the surplus / deficit for the quarterly operating and capital reports to the Board.
• Assembles monthly overtime, financial and other ad hoc reports for presentation to the Senior Management Committee (SMC)
• Prepares the financial implications section of various PSB reports as required.
• Performs financial analysis including net present value (NPV) and return on investment (ROI) calculations for business cases and project plans being presented to the Executive.   
• Computes various cost / benefit scenarios for the Board with regards to the proposals exchanged during collective agreement negotiations. 
   

Major Responsibilities (continued)

Coordinates the year-end finalization process by analyzing general ledger accounts and provide guidance to all of OPS:

• Generates forecasts of the yearend financials in partnership with other Senior Financial Analysts, the Manager to determine if the OPS will be in a surplus or deficit position.  
• Converses regularly with Section Management of assigned portfolios to ensure all outstanding year end transactions are captured in the correct fiscal year and that all assets purchased have been capitalized.  
• Maintains awareness of the impacts of supporting sub-systems of the financial system application (SAP).
• Prepares the analysis of other funded (annual leave, overtime, stat holiday) and unfunded liability (sick leave) accounts.
• Assign work to Senior Finance Clerks as required and provides direction on reprioritization of workloads to ensure year-end deadlines are adhered to.  
• Ensures Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) are being followed with the treatment of year end transactions and prepares the necessary accrual or adjustment entries. 
• Responds to enquiries from City Finance staff and the external auditors on year-end issues.

Provides SME, guidance, and training to new Section Managers and Senior Officers on the Finance and Administration Procedures Manual, changes in collective agreements and other financial related material impacting financial management of the section ensuring OPS practices are compliant with current procedures, policies and accounting and financial reporting standards, and City of Ottawa reporting requirements:

• Trains various levels of staff including managers, senior officers and directors on financial, budgetary and procedural matters in either an individual or group setting, including preparation of training materials.
• Identifies and recommends process improvements / changes to the FAP Manual. 
• Directs and resolves different interpretations brought forward regarding all financial policies, procedures and other material. 
• Provides leadership to other financial planning staff related to changes in financial operating practices.    
• Analyzes and forecasts the financial impact of operational and strategic decisions:
• Maintains awareness of the organization’s changing goals and priorities which result in financial pressures during the year and contributes to discussions with other Senior Financial Analysts, the Manager, the CFO, and others, including the provision of recommendations in how to achieve organizational goals within the current budget framework. 
• Participates on various steering and advisory committees, and acts as subject matter expert, ensuring financial impacts of decisions under consideration are brought to the forefront. 
• Monitors economic, legislative changes and other financial trends to ensure OPS is on track within current financial framework.
• Utilizes professional judgement in the interpretation of and adherence to the Finance and Administration Procedures Manual across the organization.  
   

Major Responsibilities (continued)

Continuously monitors operating and capital financial transactions for accuracy:

• Analyzes the monthly financial statements generated by the City financial system; identifies incorrect budget and general ledger account entries and prepares necessary corrective journal entries. 
• Tracks capital project costs and provides decision-making and procedural support to capital project managers.
• Oversees a gross operating budget of approximately $390M dollars and provides monthly progress reports to senior officers / managers for their respective budgets. 
• Reviews and approves operational and capital financial transactions related to the procurement of goods and services that are over $50K.  

Manages the budgeted FTE, organizational and position activity of the organization: 

• Communicates regularly with the Workforce Management Unit for reconciliation of position management information.  
• Provides budget approval for staffing actions.  

Performs a quality assurance function through ensuring the data integrity of various sub-systems of the City’s financial system such as OSL (time and attendance), M5 (fleet maintenance) and TCAR (asset management).
Prepares federal, provincial and OPS statistical reports, as well as grant funding applications and grant reporting packages.
Acts as the Financial Officer for planned and unplanned major events, including auditing / tracking of expenses and contracts for the event up to and including presenting reports to external auditors in order to obtain cost recovery.
Establishes and maintains positive client relationships with budget managers and staff throughout the organization and with external partners.
 

Statement of Required Qualifications

Education 

• A minimum of a four (4) year undergraduate degree in commerce, business administration or public administration.
• Experience and formal training combined may substitute for stipulated education requirements.

Experience

• Minimum three (3) to five (5) years experience in financial planning and management at a departmental or corporate level. 

Language

• English – fluency in oral, reading, and writing.
   

Certifications and Licences

• Completed Accounting Designation CPA (Chartered Professional Accountant) or one of the three legacy designations (CMA, CGA or CA). 

In service Training

The following mandatory training and education is provided to all civilian Supervisors of the OPS:

• Supervisor Health & Safety 
• Respectful Workplace 
• Harassment & Violence in the Workplace.
• Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA).
• Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI).
   

Job Knowledge

Working knowledge of:

• The Organization’s Mission, Vision and Values.
• Generally accepted accounting principles; financial analytical tools such as net present values, discounted cash flows, internal rates of return, lease vs. buy analysis; automated budget systems; automated general ledger systems; office suite software, especially word processing, spreadsheet and presentation software; police and municipal financial and legislative environments.
• Understanding of the importance of client centered service
• Understanding the rationale behind OPS policies and procedures and the impact on the day-to-day work or delivery of service.
   

OPS Competencies

Hours of Work

Effort and Working Conditions

• Work is performed in a standard office environment with minimal adverse working conditions; no public access.
• A high degree of mental concentration is required on a continous basis.
   

Desired Qualifications

• Oral, reading, and writing fluency in French or other languages.