Shape how Ontario's public finances are governed, reported, and trusted.The Treasury Board Secretariat's Office of the Controller is seeking a senior finance expert to provide strategic direction in controllership, financial reporting, accounting policy, and risk and internal controls. Working at the centre of government, you will lead key initiatives such as Public Accounts, implementation of new accounting standards, and ministry-wide financial reporting, while serving as a trusted liaison with partners like the Office of the Provincial Controller and the Office of the Auditor General of Ontario.
This role is ideal for an experienced CPA who wants to apply deep technical expertise while influencing government decision-making and strengthening ministry-wide financial practices. You will work closely with senior leaders, support modernization efforts, build controllership capacity across the ministry, and contribute directly to the transparency, accountability, and integrity of Ontario's public service.
About the job
As an integral part of the
Office of the Controller, you will:
• lead ministry-wide financial reporting, assurance, and compliance initiatives, ensuring effective controllership oversight
• design and evaluate internal control, assurance, and governance frameworks to support reliable financial reporting, compliance, and effective program delivery
• serve as a senior advisor on complex accounting and controllership matters, advising executives on program design, policy development, Cabinet/Treasury Board submissions, and financial impacts
• lead in-year and year-end reporting processes, analysis, and reporting, ensuring audit readiness and integration into the Provincial Consolidated Financial Statements (Public Accounts)
• act as the primary liaison with Internal Audit and the Auditor General, coordinating audits, issue resolution, and assurance and compliance reporting to senior leadership and central agencies
What you bring to the team
Mandatory requirements
You must hold a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) or Canadian Public Finance Accreditation (CPFA) and be able to provide proof prior to receiving a job offer
Financial and accounting expertise
You have demonstrated knowledge of:
• Public Sector Accounting Board (PSAB) accounting standards, Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), consolidation theory, and Public Accounts requirements, including experience working with complex and non-routine transactions
• internal control and assurance frameworks (e.g., Committee of Sponsoring Organization), including risk assessment, compliance, attestations, and oversight to support reliable financial reporting and audit readiness
You have demonstrated experience:
• using large-scale financial systems (e.g., IFIS, Oracle) to develop reports and meet financial reporting and consolidation requirements
• overseeing consolidation, reconciliations, adjusting entries, and preparing/reviewing audit-quality financial statements
• interpreting and applying organizational policies and directives, and can provide recommendations on implementation policies
Leadership and delivery skills
You can:
• provide technical leadership, coaching, mentoring, and performance oversight to staff and cross-functional teams
• ensure delivery of accurate, timely, and reliable financial statements, assurance reports, and executive products under sustained pressure
• lead multiple, high-risk, cross-ministry initiatives with competing priorities, tight timelines, and significant stakeholder impact
• exercises sound judgment on high-value, high-impact issues involving financial risk, compliance, operational feasibility, and political context
Communication and relationship skills
You can:
• translate complex accounting and risk issues into clear, concise, decision-ready advice for senior executives, Cabinet, and Treasury Board
• use credibility, evidence, and strategic framing to influence senior leaders, central agencies, auditors, and stakeholders
• effectively manage relationships with internal and external auditors, including negotiation of findings and management responses
• build trust-based relationships across ministries, agencies, and external partners to align financial, risk, and reporting outcomes
• recognize political, reputational, and timing implications; adapt messaging and advise accordingly
Analytical and problem-solving skills
You can:
• analyze complex financial data, audit findings, and performance information to identify risks, trends, and material issues
• assess financial and accounting impacts of program and funding design to ensure transparency and accurate financial reporting
• diagnose complex accounting, financial, and control problems and develop practical, defensible recommendations
• identify and assess the impacts of emerging accounting standards, policy changes, and programs on ministry and provincial financial statements and senior management decision-making
• resolve issues with incomplete information, limited precedents, and significant fiscal, operational, or reputational consequences
Don't meet every qualification?
If you are excited about this position and meet most, but not all, of the listed qualifications, please still consider applying. We recognize that no one person might have every qualification in this job ad, and you just might be the right candidate!
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: