Job Specification

Purpose :

To lead and manage ministry wide strategic business and financial planning activities, and the development and implementation of an accountability framework to support delivery of the ministry program mandate.

To provide corporate finance expertise and strategic advice to ministry executives and senior management on ministry business, capital planning and resource allocation options, risks, and issues management strategies.

To manage the Ministry's in-year resource requests and allocation and in-year budget management process including budget development, control, and administration and forecasting and provide options for the optimal utilization of financial resources.

Key Responsibilities :

1. Provides strategic leadership for the development and management of strategic business and financial planning and performance management frameworks, annual and multi-year strategic and business plans, risk assessment, and performance measurement. Plans/allocates section service accountabilities and project initiatives to subordinate managers; and monitors/ensures achievement of section goals and objectives.

2. Manages the financial analysis and determination of financial needs and funding requirements of program areas or transfer payment entities, and develops a fiscal accountability framework and systems to monitor financial statements and reporting, in line with the ministry strategic business plan. Coordinates in-year forecasting and expenditure management as well as submissions to central agencies, program expenditure tracking, and business case preparations, as required.


3. Leads development of guidelines and criteria, performance frameworks, operational policies, and financial review/evaluation processes, to assess and measure business planning effectiveness and accountability, identify financial needs and gaps, ensure consistency with ministry/ government standards and best practices, and alignment and integration with the ministry business plan and strategic program directions.

4. Provides advice and expertise to senior management/executives on strategic business planning decisions, and on identified stakeholder issues and related risk analyses impacting government program commitments. Develops and proposes business strategies, including program funding allocation recommendations, to mitigate any identified risk and manage identified critical and emerging issues.

5. Builds key relationships with ministry branches, and central agencies, and manages consultation processes related to business planning and review. Provides a range of advisory, consultation, training, and capacity building services to address financial matters in a collaborative manner.

6. Leads and represents the ministry in any negotiations related to contractual/funding arrangements, and related partnership agreements.

7. Oversees the preparation of financial planning submissions, and leads preparation of discussion papers, presentations, briefing notes, correspondence, and central agency and Cabinet submissions related to ministry business cases that are integral to achievement of the program and service delivery mandate.

8. Chairs, or serves on ministry, inter-ministry and inter-jurisdictional committees and working groups, to develop consensus on strategic business planning processes and to collaborate on financial issues management.

Managerial Responsibilities
1. Develops and oversees ministry strategic plans in the program area and provides advice and expertise to executive levels on issues impacting the OPS and ministry service deliverables.

2. Controls financial resources and reporting, develops the multi-year budget and resource plans. Leads business and financial, and results-based planning processes for Ministry programs/operations and services.


3. Builds organizational capacity through effective human resources development by authorizing recruitment activities, labour relations management, talent management, organizational design and succession planning.

4. Establishes and maintains strong working relationships with key partners and stakeholders to ensure timely and accurate information flow and identification of issues; presents and advocates the ministry's position at various forums.

5. Responsible for the overall compliance with legislative statutes, collective agreements, government and ministry policies, directives, guidelines and commitments related to programs and services.

Factors :

Knowledge :

Ministry strategic corporate directions, multi-year business and results based planning processes, and ministry service delivery models, to lead and manage a significant ministry program area, to determine program objectives and resource requirements and to ensure alignment of programs and projects with corporate strategic goals.

Government and ministry financial, administrative and procurement policies and directives to plan and manage fiscal and material resources. This includes reviewing and approving budgets, managing facilities, assets, and contract service providers, leading long range fiscal planning, providing regular financial reporting, and ensuring compliance with financial protocols, audit principles, directives and guidelines.

Human resources theories, principles, policies and collective agreements to develop organizational capacity which includes succession planning, talent management, organization and job design and labour relations management.
Project management principles and methodologies to oversee and guide the overall delivery of mandates and strategies.
Ministry and central agency decision-making processes, ministry organization, program operations and strategic business plan, corporate and public finance multi-year business and results based planning processes, ministry financial/budgetary requirements, grant accountability framework and financial reporting processes, and ministry and agency service delivery models, to lead and manage strategic business and financial planning activities.

Program evaluation and operational policy principles and methods, to lead and manage the analysis and evaluation of business planning effectiveness.
Government and ministry issues management processes and methods, to provide critical identification and analysis of financial issues and stakeholder concerns potentially impacting the ministry/government business agenda.

Program Responsibility :

Responsible for leading and managing a range of corporate business planning and resource allocation processes, and develops a viable fiscal accountability framework for the ministry.

Responsible for development and implementation of ministry corporate budgetary planning and resource allocation policies, processes, procedures and standards to ensure fiscal oversight, establishment of best practices, corporate accountability, and alignment and integration with strategic policy/program directions.

Responsible for providing advice and corporate finance expertise, including analysis and development of budgetary and capital planning options and risk management strategies, to senior ministry executives to address financial planning and management issues, stakeholder interests, and identified concerns that could potentially impact corporate fiscal planning and delivery of the ministry/government program agenda.

Responsible for corporate business and operational planning including: developing annual unit budgets, managing facilities, assets, and contract service providers; lead long range planning; provide regular financial reporting; and ensuring compliance with financial controls, procedures, audit policies, directives, and guidelines.

Analytical Thinking :

Uses business acumen to lead executive business and financial management functions, and to assess and determine any impact of central agency directives on ministry program plans and funding.

Conceptualizes and articulates long and short term strategic business and resources planning needs to meet ministry program delivery and business plan mandates.


Assesses business planning effectiveness and accountability, identifies needs and gaps and addresses potential financial impacts, ensures consistency with ministry/ government standards, best practices, and alignment and integration with strategic program directions.

Identifies savings and pressures including mitigation options, expenditure management, and preparation of financial outlooks and forecasting of year-end position.

Anticipates and identifies business and financial related issues, performs risk assessments, and provides strategic and expert advice to senior executives on risks and mitigation, including strategies.

Analyzes corporate financial reports and provides briefings to ministry executives on the fiscal position of the ministry, with recommendations for best strategies to meet priorities and goals.

Planning / Coordinating :

Leads and manages multi-year strategic business /program/service plans including the deployment of resources (human and financial) to deliver programs and services.

Coordinates and leads the planning and implementation of organizational development and complex change initiatives for the program, service, project or initiative.

Plans and coordinates multiple deliverables with external and internal stakeholders, partners and consultants.
Plans and manages consultation processes with program stakeholders in program areas to ensure the integration of stakeholder interests in business planning and review processes.

Coordinates and leads the preparation of the ministry financial submission for the annual estimates, quarterly reports and year-end submissions for Treasury Board.

Coordinates the review, investigation, and resolution of critical business planning issues which impact the achievement of the mandate of the branch/ministry.

Leadership/Guidance :

Develops, builds and leads organizational capacity through positive and values based leadership, inclusive and engaged teams, and partnerships. Frames program vision and strategy for services, programs or operations.


Determines human resources and organizational needs for optimal performance and delivery of results and alignment with ministry objectives; leads talent management and succession planning; mentors employees; sets goals and performance standards.

Exercises managerial and strategic leadership accountability and authority in the areas of organizational design, recruitment and retention, talent management, labour relations and compensation related matters.

Independence of Action :

Reporting to a senior level, Director or higher and works within broad parameters and the strategic ministry/branch mandate, legislation, and strategic goals and directions.

Exercises considerable independence and judgment in the development of program/service plans including delivery/implementation to meet government and ministry strategic business objectives and priorities and in the provision of advice and recommendations to Senior Management, which is considered authoritative, and informs policy and program decisions.

Exercises independence in leading business planning to meet government and ministry strategic business objectives and priorities, and provides advice and recommendations to senior executives.

Has broad latitude to establish unit program goals and to plan and manage ministry or transfer payment planning processes, to meet government/ministry strategic business goals and objectives.

Interpersonal/Communication :

Provides strategic advice, briefs, and makes persuasive recommendations to ministry senior management and executives on strategic business planning, corporate finance business cases and proposals, and issues resolution.

Builds key horizontal relationships to lead and manage a range of corporate, cross ministry business planning and resource allocation processes to support ministry program planning and delivery, coordinates submissions to central agencies, and leads and manages any partnership negotiations and consultation processes with agencies.

Chairs or participates on senior level corporate committees, work groups, special projects and initiatives, related to strategic business planning and issues management.

Participates in senior management planning meetings and committees, and leads and influences management working group to provide strategic advice and guidance on current and emerging fiscal planning issues, and to propose options and solutions, presents reports, and discuss options.

Physical Effort :

The majority of time is typically spent in an office environment with frequent opportunity to move about. Occasionally, moves/lifts light objects such as training materials required for presentation sessions.

Sensory Effort :

The work requires visual attention (computer) and concentration to plan, lead and manage ministry wide strategic business and financial planning activities to meet strategic business objectives and timelines. The work has limited repetitive tasks and capability to control the pace and interruptions.

Working Conditions :

Work is performed in a typical office environment.