Job Description

Competition # : 37769

Department: Municipal Affairs and Housing

Location: HALIFAX

Type of Employment: Permanent

Union Status: NSGEU - NSPG

Closing Date: \xe2\x80\x8b3/9/2023\xe2\x80\x8b (Applications are accepted until 11:59 PM Atlantic Time)

About Us

The Department of Municipal Affairs and Housing provides programs, grants and funding to municipalities, villages, and community groups. The department provides services and guidance to municipalities, towns and villages in many areas including safety and security, budget planning and finance, and policy and program development. We also help municipalities across the province govern and provide municipal services in times of emergency and are responsible for the Emergency Management Office and the Office of the Fire Marshal.

About Our Opportunity

Reporting to the Manager of Municipal Finance, as a Financial Analyst, you are responsible for providing confidential research and analysis, advice and assistance on financial matters and accountabilities relating to local government in Nova Scotia, including viability and debt capacity analyses, along with administering operational programs and maintaining extensive knowledge of related legislation. You will assist with the development of policies and procedures with respect to financial accountability measures and accounting policies in consultation with departmental staff, other departments, municipalities and villages, and external agencies. You ensure municipal financial accountabilities are met in accordance with Financial Reporting and Accounting Manual (FRAM) regulations and Public Sector Accounting Principles. You will also recommend and implement changes to the Financial Reporting and Accounting Manual (FRAM) Regulation.

Primary Accountabilities

• Conducts confidential research, statistical analysis, and analytical reviews for all municipalities (including audited consolidated financial statements, Financial Information Returns, Statement of Estimates - Budget, Statement of Estimates - Assessment, Internal Control letters).
• Administers and delivers operating programs to municipalities and villages.
• Communicates regularly with senior municipal finance staff and municipal auditors to complete analytical reviews of financial information to resolve issues identified.
• Ensures audited financial statements of municipalities comply with the Public Sector Accounting Standards (PSAS) and legislated reporting requirements.
• Performs complex and detailed analysis and reports on municipal performance by preparing the Key Performance Indicators to assess the financial viability and health of all municipalities.
• Creates, maintains and manages the content of the online Municipal Reporting System (MRS).
• Creates and ensures E-forms accurately reflect the PSAS and FRAM reporting requirements.
• Provides support to municipal finance staff to resolve financial reporting issues.

Qualifications and Experience

This may be the right opportunity for you if you have a bachelor\'s degree with a focus in Accounting or Finance and five years of related experience or an equivalent combination of training and experience.

You must have the ability to critically examine financial statements, to offer advice on financial reporting to clients and auditors in the context of Public Sector Accounting Principles, legislation, and policy. You have strong analytical and interpretive skills, excellent time management proficiencies with an ability to manage competing priorities and concurrent projects. You have a high level of initiative, and an ability to work with minimal supervision. You develop practical solutions to technical and theoretical problems, and possess strong communication skills, including an ability to present complex financial information in a user friendly, easy to understand manner. You are highly proficient with the Microsoft Office suite and have a mastery of Excel.

While not required, it is considered an asset if you possess:

• A professional accounting designation (CPA) or enrollment in a recognized accounting program;
• An understanding of municipal finance, fund accounting and Public Sector Accounting Principles along with a knowledge of the Financial Reporting Accounting Manual (FRAM) regulations and the department\'s reporting requirements (e.g., Financial Information Return, Statement of Estimates); and
• Experience using database systems such as COGNOS.

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.

Equivalency

An equivalent combination of training, education and experience will be considered. Related equivalencies may include, but are not limited to:

• A related diploma and seven (7) years of related experience

Applicants relying on education and experience equivalencies must demonstrate such equivalencies in their application.

Benefits

Based on the employment status and union agreement, the Government of Nova Scotia offers its employees a wide range of benefits such as Health, Dental, Life Insurance, Pension, General Illness (Short and Long Term), Vacation and Employee and Family Assistance Programs. Click to learn more about our various benefits offerings and eligibility criteria.

Working Conditions

• Normal work week is 35 hours/week, 7 hours/day.
• May be required to work overtime on occasion.
• Typically located in a comfortable office environment.
• Much of the time is spent in a comfortable position with frequent opportunity to move about.
• Regularly reads and interprets multiple sources of information, regular requirement to type, read and work on a computer.
• May experience pressure with deadlines and need for accuracy.

What We Offer

• Career Development where you have access to career guidance, tools, resources, and ongoing training for every stage of your career.
• Engaging workplace. Our Employees feel valued, respected, connected, and tuned in. We have forward-thinking policies and strategies.
• Countless Career Paths.
• Department Specific Flexible working schedules.

Pay Grade: PR 13

Salary Range: $2,469.30 - $3,001.65 Bi-Weekly

Employment Equity Statement:

Our goal is to be a diverse workforce that is representative, at all job levels, of the citizens we serve. The Government of Nova Scotia has an Employment Equity Policy, and we welcome applications from Indigenous People, African Nova Scotians and Other Racially Visible Persons, Persons with Disabilities and Women in occupations or positions where they are under-represented. If you are a member of one of these equity groups, you are encouraged to self-identify on your electronic application.

This is a bargaining unit position initially restricted to current civil service employees represented by the Nova Scotia Government Employees Union (NSGEU). If applying from outside a government office, employees must apply correctly via this link:

Failure to apply correctly means that your application will not be given first consideration as a bargaining unit applicant, and will only be included if external applications are pursued.

External applicants and current casual employees will only be considered if there are no qualified civil service bargaining unit candidates. PLEASE NOTE: Candidates will not be considered for an interview if applications are incomplete or are missing information.

Offer of employment is conditional upon the completion of all applicable background checks and confirmation of credentials, the results of which must be satisfactory to the employer. We thank all applicants for the interest, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. All questions and concerns may be directed to Competitions@novascotia.ca.

Government of Nova Scotia