Job Description

Overview
Under the direction of the Manager, Project Accounting & Value Assurance, the Project Cost Specialist has a significant role in controlling and reporting on project costs through accurate monitoring, analysis, and collaboration with corporate project management offices. The role ensures the accuracy and integrity of project financial information in accordance to International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), providing insights and analysis that support informed management decision-making by stakeholders.
The Project Cost Specialist maintains and performs detailed critical review of project accounting records, preparing audit documentation, and information for the General Rate Application (GRA). This position serves as a subject matter expert in project financial governance, contributing to annual budgeting, variance analysis, and audit processes, and providing critical financial insight into corporate initiatives.
Responsibilities

• Lead oversight of project accounting, forecasting, and reporting to ensure accurate reflection of project performance and cost trends.
• Perform detailed financial and variance analysis, providing clear interpretation of results and recommendations for corrective action.
• Determine appropriate accounting treatment of project costs by assessing whether costs should be deferred or expensed in accordance with IFRS, ensuring compliance with relevant accounting standards.
• Evaluate project transactions to determine Retail Sales Tax (RST/PST) applicability in accordance with Manitoba Finance bulletins and corporate policy, ensuring appropriate tax treatment of project-related goods and services.
• Access and analyze sensitive Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) data, including information related to hiring plans, layoffs, terminations, and associated labor costing.
• Ensure accurate and timely reporting of project financials, including labor cost projections and actuals.
• Professionally, concisely, accurately explain the underlying causes of project cost trends and anomalies.
• Work collaboratively with the Project Management Offices (PMOs) and business owners to identify project cost-related reporting needs.
• Provide advice regarding finance management and forecasting.
• Assist in preparing annual departmental budgets.
• Perform detailed critical review of Project Cost Analyst and Accountant work prior to submission to the Manager
• Prepare regulatory filings, including GRA submissions and response to Public Utilities Board (PUB) information requests.

Qualifications
Education:

• Degree in Commerce, Accounting, Finance, or related discipline.
• Professional accounting designation (CPA) required.
• Completion of IFRS coursework or demonstrated IFRS proficiency required.

Experience:

• Six years of progressively responsible experience in project or corporate accounting, including budgeting, forecasting, and financial analysis.

Technical Knowledge and Skills:

• Highly proficient with Microsoft Excel (pivot tables, advanced formulas, Power Query/PowerPivot) and strong working knowledge of Word and Outlook.
• Demonstrated expertise in financial systems and business intelligence/reporting tools (e.g. Power BI).
• Advanced understanding of IFRS, deferral vs. expense accounting, and project cost tracking methodologies.
• Advanced knowledge of Retail Sales Tax (RST/PST) legislation and its application to project accounting, including assessment of taxable versus exempt services and materials.
• Advanced analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to interpret complex financial information.
• Advanced oral and written communication skills to clearly convey complex information in a concise and straightforward manner.

Conditions of Employment

• Applicants are required to provide a criminal record check and participate in testing as part of the recruitment process.
• Must maintain confidentiality and handle information in accordance with corporate and legislative requirements.
• May require occasional extended hours during audit, budget, or regulatory filing periods.

Employee Benefits
Health benefits
We offer a comprehensive health benefits program that includes:

• flexible health, dental and vision plans
• health spending account
• travel health coverage
• other extended health benefits such as ambulance, massage and physiotherapy

Financial security
In an effort to support financial security, we offer:

• registered pension plan
• group, dependent, and optional life insurance coverage
• critical illness insurance
• sick leave to cover short-term disability
• long-term disability

Wellness
We offer programs that focus on how to better achieve a balance between work and personal commitments, as well as maintain a healthy workplace culture. This includes:

• vacation entitlement
• flexible work arrangement for eligible positions
• maternity, parental and adoptive leaves
• bereavement and family responsibility leaves
• employee and family assistance program
• mental-health programming
• lunch-and-learn offerings
• discounted gym memberships and wellness account

Diversity and inclusion
Manitoba Public Insurance believes that diversity and inclusion strengthens us. We consider ourselves to be a barrier-free organization where individual values, beliefs and practices are respected and appreciated for the diversity they bring to our work life.
Employee recognition
It's important to recognize our employees for their contributions. Not only do we recognize employees as they achieve milestone years in their careers, we also have several outlets for leaders and peers to reward each other for work well done.
Professional development
We want our employees to grow, which is why we offer support in keeping their skills up-to-date. We offer in-house training, professional development and an educational assistance program.
Safety and health
In an effort to encourage a safe and healthy work environment, we offer various safety, health and workplace policies and programs along with technical expertise and assistance to support employee activities in safety and health.

Skills Required