Job Specification

Purpose :

- To provide advice, analytical expertise and financial services on business and financial planning and analysis; budget co-ordination; expenditure management; financial policy development and co-ordination; and financial tracking and reporting.

Key Responsibilities :

Business and Fiscal Planning
- Prepares development of estimates, budget allocations and expenditure monitoring to support the development of the province's annual budget and economic statements.
- Provides Ministry budget allocation support, financial tracking and reporting, to support alignment of ministry allocations with the ministries business and strategic plan.
- Provides input and analytical support to the Ministry's annual budgeting and estimates process (e.g. program review/multi-year business planning), submissions, Printed Estimates, Estimates Briefing Books and Estimates Defence), and other reporting requirements.
- Prepares a variety of regular and ad hoc reports to support senior management decision making processes and central agency requirements; determines and researches appropriate data/information sources required; and prepares spreadsheets, summaries, briefings and presentation materials to support fiscal/financial recommendations.
- Identifies business/fiscal planning risks to the Ministry's plans and estimates the impact and forecasts the likelihood of risk occurring.

In-Year Financial Management Analysis
- Conducts in-depth financial analysis to support resource management and expenditure management
- Provides support and analysis in the development of business plans and proposals (e.g. Treasury/ Management Board submissions and report backs) for ministry initiatives, and prepares issue notes and requests for new/revised funding.
- Provides support and analysis of divisional and ministry financial forecasts with divisional partners; reviews and analyzes forecasts provided by Divisions and performs forecasting activities.
- Liaises regularly with Ministry program areas and central agencies regarding financial status, decision support and reporting requirements, to support the ministry forecasting process throughout the financial planning cycle.
- Provides input and analytical support to the Ministry's in-year financial analysis and reporting processes (e.g. monthly and quarterly reports), and meets other in-year reporting requirements for Senior Management and Central Agencies
- Conducts ongoing monitoring of identified business and fiscal planning risks and relevant data in support of the annual budget/multi-year business planning process and in-year reporting.
- Performs in-year re-allocations, involving re-alignment of budgets to approved increases/ decreases and re-allocations.
- Conducts expense monitoring, including comparing actuals and forecasted update to business plan (budget), and conducting reconciliation and variance analysis in order to ensure adherence to business plan commitments.

Program/Policy Analysis, Advice and Training
- Provides support and analysis in the development of recommendations to respond to identified business/ fiscal risks and development of mitigation plans for input to ministry's multi-year business planning, quarterly reports, and strategic plans.
- Provides financial advice, guidance and customer service to clients on policies, requirements, procedures and issues, the implementation of approved fiscal/budget processes and the preparation of budgets.
- Provides information to management to support effective decision-making in relation to financial and program planning and policy development.
- Provides analysis and information on the impact of various alternative program design scenarios on the budget and business plan, and identifies business risks.
- Prepares input for briefing notes/presentations in response to financial information requests from senior management and ministry officials.
- Provides financial services, analysis and report preparation to support financial and business planning, and ministry management.
- Plans and estimates the impact and likelihood of risk occurring in support of the budget/business planning and Treasury Board (TB) submission processes.
- Develops and/or participates in training on business and financial planning topics in employee orientation and management update forums, and other opportunities.

Knowledge / Skill :

Knowledge of and skills in:
- Government financial management principles, policies and processes, financial management frameworks; understanding of financial documents and knowledge of program analysis in order to facilitate financial reporting and ensure accountability, accuracy, and integrity of the Ministry's financial information, evaluate financial forecasts/budgets and performance, assess the cost efficiency of operational activities, and collaborate with Ministry
senior managers and program/project managers on fiscal matters for effective business planning.
- Budget allocation/tracking processes, expenditure forecasting, cost-benefit analysis, variance/risk analysis to provide advice to senior managers, program managers and Ministry program staff to ensure that all Ministry and central agency business planning and monitoring requirements are met.
- Ministry organization, programs, priorities, administrative and financial structures and budget and financial management processes in order to ensure effective financial management in business planning, preparation of central agency submissions and provision of advice to senior management.
- Planning, development, analysis, control and monitoring of financial information and functions of financial systems to ensure accuracy/integrity of financial information provided for business planning.
- Performance measurement and reporting to participate in analysis, interpretation and communication of performance data.
- Organization and coordination skills in order to plan/prioritize activities, provide direction to staff, and coordinate the integration of information from multiple sources.
- Communications skills to prepare and present briefing notes, in-year submissions, business cases, financial reports/data to senior management and central agencies, and to explain financial analysis, discrepancies or other areas of concern to non-technical audiences.
- Computer applications for data capture and analysis including spreadsheets, word processing, presentation software and specific job-related software, and other related financial management systems.
- Time management and project management techniques to participate on project teams when required, gather data and report findings within established timelines.
- Risk assessment and management principles to identify financial risks to the ministry, assess impacts, and develop mitigation recommendations.

Interpersonal / Influencing Skill :

- Collaboration skills to work with other senior staff in gathering information, addressing complex issues (e.g. developing Ministry estimates, developing effective information and reporting processes) and to influence program staff to provide required financial information (e.g., expenditure forecasts) to meet planning and reporting requirements and deadlines.
- Presentation and influencing skills to provide business planning guidance to senior management and staff; and to present data and options for solution of issues to senior management and achieve approval of submissions.
- Consultation and client relationship skills to develop and maintain working relationships with ministry managers and central agency staff.
- Negotiation and persuasion skills to convince stakeholders to accept an alternative option to an issue.
- Ability to deal tactfully with stakeholders regarding varying issues.

Analyzing / Problem Solving Skill :

Analyzing and problem solving skills to:
- Interpret and assess financial information requests and formulate and provide timely effective recommendations to senior management.
- Interpret and apply financial directives and policies in support of business planning, budget development/ management and financial forecasting, reporting and analysis requirements
- Analyze financial issues/problems, variance reports and funding shortfalls and formulating and recommend solutions.
- Analyze proposed policy changes, new initiatives and fiscal problems, examine cross-program implications, identify financial risks, and recommend business plan/financial solutions for review by management.
- Evaluate financial performance, assess cost efficiency and fiscal/financial risk potential of Ministry corporate/program options/activities, and advise on resolving accounting financial issues for effective business planning and financial management.
- Analyze corporate/program trends, identify current and potential issues, and recommend business plan modifications; including conducting qualitative and quantitative data analysis to ensure data accuracy and integrity.

Decision Making / Responsibility :

Responsible for:
- Supporting the development of the business plans and budgets with program managers to ensure their plans promote the achievement of program objectives.
- Analyzing and interpreting complex financial information and program objectives to support the development of effective and manageable business plans and budgets; monitoring expenditures to ensure appropriations are managed effectively; and recommending re-appropriations where program areas exceed allocations.
- Developing options and recommendations for business plan adjustments in response to financial/business process issues.
Has latitude to plan and oversee a variety of Ministry activities/processes and provide advice in support of the fiscal planning and budget management of the ministry.
Decisions and recommendations are guided by broad framework of central agency and ministry financial policies, directives and guidelines.

Contacts / Stakeholder :

- Program staff and senior management to brief on financial planning strategies/management problems and issues for business planning and plan management; discuss, explain and recommend options to resolve problems, and provide planning/budgeting expertise.
- Central Agency staff to discuss business planning/budgeting requirements, status, forecasting and reporting.

Guidance / Supervision :

- Provides advice and technical guidance to management and staff to support ministry budget and business plan development, expenditure forecasts, expenditure management/control, in-year reporting, and presentations on the financial planning process.

Demands / Pressures :

Work Demands :

- Regular conflicting work demands and priorities to perform various financial activities
- Frequent tight timeframes to respond to requests from Minister's Office, central agencies, planning processes, monthly and quarterly forecasts.

Mental / Sensory :

- Frequent requirement to concentrate when analyzing diverse financial data and consolidated submissions.

Conditions / Environment :

Work is performed in a typical office environment.