Attention Chartered Professional Accountants (CPA) of Ontario Students! The Ontario Public Service (OPS) is seeking to add new talent to its already dynamic finance community of professionals, who proudly deliver financial analysis and services that enable the achievement of government priorities and business results. Bring your valued financial experience to these important roles and help us enable our clients to reach ministry goals and commitments through quality planning and financial services that add value, and are responsive and accurate.
The Ministry CPA Pre-approved Program Route (PPR), housed in a ministry corporate finance branch, enables CPA candidates to acquire practical experience, one of the key components needed for CPA designation eligibility. The program also provides an efficient, clear path for learning and mentorship.
The successful job candidate will be required to be registered with CPA Ontario and be eligible for enrolment in or be already enrolled in CPA Ontario's Professional Education Program (PEP). Over a period of 32 months, the CPA candidate will undertake tasks and projects designed to build the technical and enabling competencies required of an entry-level CPA. The candidate will be given responsibilities in financial reporting, management accounting, assurance and audit, and strategy and governance of increasing complexity and autonomy as aligned with CPA Canada's
Competency Map.
In addition to directly reporting to a manager/supervisor, the candidate, at a minimum, twice a year, will meet with their assigned CPA mentor who will provide guidance and assess the candidate's progress on building CPA enabling competencies.
At the conclusion of the 32-month contract position, the CPA candidate will have completed the practical experience requirements for CPA designation eligibility.
About the job
As the corporate accounting and reporting team, controllership is the key point of contact between ministry clients and central agencies. Every day will be a little different, but you can expect it to include activities like:
• providing advice, interpretation, and support of the ministry's internal control framework to ensure effective financial management systems and internal controls for the ministry
• providing a full range of controllership analysis and services, to meet both ministry-specific and corporate controllership requirements, including financial reporting and analysis, control assessments, financial delegations, and evaluation of accounting standard/directive/policy compliance
• providing technical guidance and support, centralized accounting, financial analysis and systems data reconciliation to support ministry financial reporting and consistency of ministry accounting/reporting activities
What you bring to the team
Mandatory requirements
The successful candidates for this position must be registered with CPA Ontario and be eligible for enrolment in, or be already enrolled in, CPA Ontario's Professional Education Program (PEP). You can determine if you are eligible for enrolment in CPA Ontario's graduate level Professional Education Program (PEP) by visiting
CPA Ontario's website and/or contacting
CPA Ontario.
Accounting and financial management knowledge and skills
You have knowledge of:
• internal control frameworks and financial management policies, processes, best practices and related systems, including capital accounting knowledge, internal control principles and practices, financial controls, and operations risk management
• public sector financial, accounting and audit theories, principles, practices and techniques, consolidation theory and practice, corporate accounting, financial management, reporting standards as established by the Public Sector Accounting Board (PSAB) and Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada, Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), and Committee of Sponsoring Organizations (COSO) internal control frameworks
• quality assurance methods, procedures and auditing
• generally accepted risk management frameworks, principles, practices, standards, methodologies and current trends
You have the ability to:
• acquire knowledge of Ministry programs, objectives, strategic business plans and directions
• interpret and apply relevant legislation (e.g. Financial Administration Act) and internal directives and policies
Communication, interpersonal and relationship management skills
You can:
• discuss and explain controllership requirements and issues, prepare accurate and concise reports, analyses and other materials
• provide accounting and financial management advisory services and present briefings and recommendations to management
• liaise with representatives and other ministries to build strong relationships, consider different viewpoints, find shared solutions, resolve issues, and take corrective action when needed
• advise, influence and promote effective controllership/financial management procedures/options to senior management
Analytical and problem-solving skills
You can:
• investigate, research, and assess internal control and financial management issues and processes, identify risks to operations, and ensure that the appropriate control measures are in place and being followed
• assess financial policies and procedures to determine best practices to meet specific ministry needs, and provide interpretations to management and staff
• review and assess business requirements to identify controllership requirements specific to the effective financial management of ministry programs
• conduct financial analysis of diverse account functions and financial management/reporting scope, and prepare/confirm the accuracy of financial statements
• analyze, interpret and assess financial reports and prepare consolidated financial statements
Technical skills
You:
• have proficiency with standard desktop software and tools (e.g. Microsoft Office, Excel, Word, PowerPoint, etc.) to participate in projects, and prepare reports and presentations
• understand how large-scale computer systems work and can use them to analyze data and produce reports
• can manage and monitor financial data and systems to make sure the information is accurate and reliable
How we support diversity, inclusion and accessibility
We are building an inclusive workforce that reflects the communities we serve. We encourage everyone interested in working with us to apply, including people with disabilities, Indigenous, Black and racialized individuals, as well as people from all ethnicities, cultures, sexual orientations, gender identities and gender expressions.
Our hiring process is accessible, consistent with Ontario's
Human Rights Code and the
Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005. We are working to prevent and remove barriers in our hiring processes and can offer
accommodation to address specific needs related to Code-protected grounds such as disability, family status and religion. For more information about accommodation during the hiring process please
contact us.Learn more about the work the OPS is doing to create an inclusive, anti-racist, accessible and diverse workplace:
What we offer
The Ontario Public Service is one of Ontario's largest employers. Employees work for a wide range of ministries, with offices in more than 70 cities across the province. We offer:
• a career that can grow across ministries and job functions
• flexible learning and developmental opportunities, including education and mentorship programs
• a comprehensive compensation and benefits package
• base salary that aligns to market trends with performance-based pay and scheduled salary progression
• tailored work arrangements, including opportunities like flex hours, self-funded leave and more
• a modern, friendly and accessible physical work environment