Job Specification

Purpose of Position :

To provide financial expertise and leadership in the development and implementation of financial tools, processes, controls and services to support customers in the effective management of financial resources through the provision of financial analysis, guidance and advice on a range of financial reporting and controllership issues to support executive decision making. To communicate corporate and ministry financial policies and processes to customers.

Duties / Responsibilities :

Provides a full range of financial services and related reporting, in support of ministry divisions/branches and LHINs, regarding financial planning, forecasting, monitoring and controllership requirements. This position: 1. Provides financial expertise and advice to ministry customers regarding financial planning and management, through collaboration in the assessment of customer business needs. This includes the analysis and communication of ministry/corporate processes or related matters impacting ministry or LHIN's financial planning, negotiations and performance measurements. Provides leadership in the management of new funding commitments and the management of financial savings/pressures; advises on the financial aspects of accountability documentation and the evaluation of ministry/LHIN financial performance. 2. Performs a range of financial analysis to proactively gather, analyze and monitor trends and customers financial performance and to alert divisional ADMs, directors, managers or LHINs regarding financial trends, risks and opportunities. Monitors and reports on various divisions multi-million dollar budgets including Direct Operating Expenses (DOE) and transfer payments. Reviews/analyzes budgets, in-year and year-end financial reports and audits; provides advice on reallocation decisions and related budget adjustments. Prepares consolidated reporting and analysis of expenditure trends, variances and recommendations and provides options to facilitate management decision-making. Prepares ad hoc and regular reports, often within very tight deadlines. 3. Provides financial reports and recommendations including creative and flexible options and advice on financial issues to enable senior management to make informed decisions. This includes the financial review, analysis and evaluation of existing and proposed policy recommendations and project and corporate funding initiatives. Contributes to the preparation of Management Board submissions. 4. Develops and implements operational frameworks, business processes and tools in support of the ministry's fiscal cycle. Ensures adherence to ministry and assigned customers operational goals, objectives and directions and facilitates a coordinated corporate perspective on all business and financial activities and reporting requirements (e.g. Results Based Plan, Public Accounts, monthly and quarterly forecasts). Leads processes to ensure consistency, efficiency and adherence to established directives, policies and guidelines. 5. Leads reviews of the customers financial practices and procedures to assess compliance with OPS and ministry directives, policies and procedures. Develops and implements control processes to improve efficiency, ensure compliance, support the integrity of the ministry's public reporting and reduce financial, and litigation risk; identifies opportunities where possible to achieve efficiencies and streamline processes (e.g. delegation of authority, financial reporting submission requirements). 6. Works with colleagues to develop and implement training programs, communication tools and materials to inform customers of central agency and ministry financial policies and procedures, changes to financial systems and impacts of corporate initiatives. Delivers training materials to promote best practices in modem controllership and to ensure management are equipped with the skills and resources necessary to ensure financial accountability and compliance with directives, policies and controllership standards. 7. Represents the unit/branch when required to make presentations to customers on business planning and financial management activities; maintains liaison with contacts such as corporate branches and Ontario Shared Services (OSS), Provides responses to queries regarding MB2Os, Cabinet Submissions and customers financial activities as well as responses to requests from ministry funded health service providers (HSPs). 8. Leads or participates on or in branch/ministry committees, inter-ministerial stakeholder meetings, special projects and focus groups to provide financial expertise and input on financial processes, policies, project initiatives, problem solving and issues management and to lead implementation of new tools at the customer level. 9. Participates, as appropriate, regarding the financial aspects of issues management, including assistance with drafting of briefing and issues notes, option papers and responses to requests.

Knowledge :

Position requires experience and thorough knowledge/understanding of government business planning, modern controllership principles, performance measurement, financial and management processes to provide financial expertise and advice to customers regarding financial planning and management and to develop/implement operational frameworks, business processes and tools to support the ministry's business planning and allocation process; to provide financial analysis, expertise and consultative advice on a range of financial issues and processes to support critical executive decision making. Good knowledge of generally accepted accounting principles and sound financial practices, government and ministry financial directives, policies, procedures, processes and systems; skills in financial analysis, budgeting and forecasting to monitor and report on various customers financial resources and to conduct financial planning and analysis. Knowledge of the assigned customers' core businesses, objectives and strategies in order to provide advice on financial issues and activities which affect their business planning and the financial management. Knowledge of relevant legislation, regulations and policies (e.g. Local Health System Integration Act) and the ministry's health care strategy to act as financial adviser on all aspects of business and financial management related to LHINs and ministry branch & divisions. Knowledge of the use and capabilities of corporate and internal financial systems to utilize systems (e.g. IFIS, TPAS, APTS) for financial analysis and reporting. In-depth knowledge of spreadsheet and word processing software to prepare reports and presentations. Research, analytical and problem solving skills to conduct complex financial analysis, identify, review and resolve contentious financial issues. Leadership, coordination and organizational skills to manage, prioritize and coordinate financial activities to meet timelines and provide leadership, mentoring and support to staff on projects. Communication and consultation skills to provide advice/respond to questions by providing clear, concise and accurate information, deliver reports and presentations and to participate in committees, task and work groups. Excellent written communication skills to prepare a range of financial reports, options, communication tools and materials. Relationship management, customer service and team work skills to take action for the customer and to collaborate with others. Results orientation to achieve challenging objectives. Strategic thinking to guide and develop solutions in complex multi-dimensional situations.

Judgement :

Position works under the general direction of Manager, LHIN Support & Transactions or Manager Ministry Support & Transactions with significant latitude for decision making in planning and managing work. Work is governed by generally accepted accounting principles and sound financial practices, relevant legislation, financial directives, policies and guidelines. Judgement is exercised in providing advice, business and financial planning and management expertise and high level financial analyzes on financial issues which support executive decision-making, including reporting of performance indicators and in refining customers financial documents and submissions to ensure the appropriate consolidation, aggregation and quality of analysis. A high level of financial judgment is exercised in advising senior managers on financial patterns, trends, risks and opportunities, in providing options for resolving financial issues and pressures and in analyzing the financial activities of assigned customers to ensure effective management of resources. Judgment is exercised in the analysis and evaluation of the financial aspects of planning, negotiations and performance measurement, in interpreting and applying government financial directives and policies and in ensuring consistency and adherence to government and ministry financial directives and policies and modern controllership standards. Judgment is exercised in leading reviews of customers financial practices and procedures to assess compliance with government and ministry directives, policies and procedures. As one of the branches senior staff uses judgment in working collaboratively with colleagues and on teams, work groups and committees related to new initiatives, training and addressing issues.

Accountability - Programs :

Accountable for providing financial expertise and leadership in the development/implementation of financial tools, processes and services to support customers in the effective management of financial resources. This is accomplished through the provision of financial analysis, guidance and advice on a range of financial reporting and controllership issues to support executive decision-making and the communication of corporate and ministry financial directives, policies and processes. Provides financial reports and recommendations including creative and flexible options and advice on financial issues to enable ministry senior management or LHINs to make informed decisions. Advises on the financial aspects of accountability documentation and the evaluation of LHIN performance. Develops and implements control processes to improve efficiency, ensure compliance, support the integrity of the ministrys public reporting and reduce financial, and litigation risk. Contributes to the preparation of the RBP, MB submissions, briefing notes and option papers.

Accountability – Personnel :

n/a

Accountability - Finance and Materials :

Responsible for monitoring and reporting on various customers multi-million dollar budgets including Direct Operating Expenses (DOE). Prepares consolidated reporting and analysis of expenditure trends, variances and recommendations and provides options to facilitate management decision-making. Provides advice on relocation decisions and related budget adjustments.

Accountability - Impact of Errors :

Ineffective provision of financial expertise, consultation and leadership would result in ministry senior management or LHINs lacking the necessary tools and advice to make informed financial decisions regarding their programs or result in ineffective utilization f financial resources. Ineffective monitoring and reporting regarding customers budgets could result in significant financial loss to the ministry and the inability of the ministry or LHINs to meet their mandates, resulting in criticism by stakeholders and the public.

Contact - Internal :

Frequent contact with ministry and LHIN staff to work collaboratively in meeting the financial needs of assigned customers. Regular contact with customer senior management, ADMs, Branch Directors and Managers or LHINs to provide financial expertise, consultative advice and collaboration on financial processes, issues and activities for their programs and to advise on government/ministry financial directives, policies, processes and systems. Regular contact with colleagues' corporate branches and the Ontario Shared Services to respond to queries regarding assigned customers financial management and submissions.

Contact - External :

Regular contact with ministry and LHIN staff to provide expertise and advice regarding financial requirements. Contact as needed with ministry funded health service providers (HSPs) regarding financial requirements.