The Ontario Clean Water Agency (OCWA) believes in Our Communities, Our Environment and Our People. As a trusted partner to municipalities, First Nations communities, businesses, governments and institutions across Ontario, we provide our clients with total solutions in water and wastewater. We are dedicated to working closely with our clients to help them build healthy sustainable communities and organizations and provide safe and reliable drinking water to thousands of Ontarians each day.
Join our team as a Financial Administrator with OCWAIn this role you will provide financial administrative support including processing accounts payable, accounts receivable, staff travel and expense claims, ERP report reconciliations, and vendor payments. You will also provide general administrative support as required.
Location: (Hybrid Work Model)
About the job
Key Responsibilities- Prepare annual departmental budgets with input from management. Reconcile departmental budgets and assist in the coordination of financial analysis of the departmental budget including forecasting and actual expenditures, identify and investigate actual versus budget variances, as well as, the development of comprehensive financial analysis reports.
- Validate chart of accounts/codes and input/output documents, purchasing card and electronic billing statements and appropriate delegation of authority; and ensure that reporting formats and templates meet reporting requirements. Track problems, reconcile discrepancies, and initiate follow-up action as required.
- Process invoices and journal entry functions for the departments by verifying that financial transactions are accurate, complete and within approved budget/funding policy, have been approved by appropriate delegated authorities and are processed in accordance with OCWA policies, guidelines and directives. Ensure that information in Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and other relevant systems for departments is accurate.
- Prepare monthly invoices to clients for departmental services for the Agency ERP and other systems. Work with the Project Managers, investigate and resolve issues with the payment process to contractors/consulting engineers to ensure that payments are made accurately and to the appropriate projects.
- Compile and prepare various regular and ad/hoc financial data/ information, financial/ accounting/statistical and special reports (e.g. group utilization, year-end financial reports, flow through revenue, variances, commitments, projected expenditures for fiscal year, actual expenditures to date, etc.).
- Review expense claims and advises Directors/VP of any inconsistencies prior to approval in ERP and other systems. Advise staff on how to make corrections in on expense claims.
- Maintain and ensure original files and original receipts are centrally filed.
- Provide advice on and explain accounting and financial administration procedures related to project accounting, accounts payable and accounts receivable to staff, managers and suppliers.
- Provide general administrative support as required.
What you bring to the team
Knowledge
- Knowledge of accounting principles and processes, reporting, information flow within ERP system to balance and reconcile General Ledger and Project level reports.
- Knowledge and understanding of project accounting principles and practices.
- Knowledge and experience with Microsoft Office Suite specifically Excel.
- Knowledge and understanding of content of acts, regulations and manuals (i.e., Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and International Financial Reporting Standards, IFRS
- Knowledge of the Construction Act with respect to holdback amounts, payment timelines, payment certificates, certificate of substantial performance, liens, etc. is beneficial.
Skills and Ability include
- Strong analytical and problem solving skills to utilize complex mathematical concepts to: produce complex reports; identify trends or anomalies in financial reports; provide recommendations to branch management.
- Good organizational skills, accuracy and attention to detail to establish work priorities, organize daily activities, ensure the timely and accurate completion of work, and develop and maintain various filing, banking, payment and ERP system databases.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills to produce written documents and other communications, and to discuss processes with internal and external stakeholders, explain in detail, accounting, financial administration procedures and OPS directives related to accounts payable, to employees, managers and suppliers.
- Ability to handle complex issues regarding payment tactfully and diplomatically by responding in a timely and appropriate manner.
- Good decision making skills to select from a wide range of strategies to resolve all on-going issues, and refers only contentious issues that deviate radically from established guidelines to the manager.
- Ability to set priorities among competing demands/tasks while adhering to set timeframes/deadlines.
- Ability to work in accordance with Ministry guidelines and directives, policies, procedures, and general accounting practices.
- Ability to work through problems independently and consult with management as necessary.
Ontario Clean Water Agency is an inclusive employer.
We will accommodate your needs under the Ontario Human Rights CodeThe Ontario Clean Water Agency is an agency of the Province of Ontario, reporting to the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks. In 2023, OCWA staff treat water and wastewater, and provide other technical services for 318 clients in the province including 169 municipalities, 16 First Nations, 108 commercial and industrial clients and 25 government and institutional clients. Municipal clients range in size from populations as large as 1.5 million in the Region of Peel to as small as 2,400 in Moose Factory. This broad scope of experience ensures OCWA has the expertise to solve any issues that may arise, in any size or type of treatment process in the province. Our Agency has grown its municipal client base every year over the past 30 years is proof of this value. We continue to focus on our people and strategies to attract and retain competent staff.
Note: Thank you for your interest, we will contact you only if you are selected for further screening or an interview.
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
- Flexible learning and development opportunities.
- Opportunities for career advancement and specialization with the largest provider of water and wastewater services in Ontario.
- You will be eligible for additional pay for certification, should you be successful in completing and maintaining facility water/wastewater operator's licenses.
- Work with the partner of choice for more communities than any other water and wastewater service organization in Ontario for over 30 years.
- Work with an organization committed to innovation and advanced technology.
- A defined benefit pension plan; Comprehensive Health Plan; Life and Disability Insurance.
- Maternity and parental leave top-up benefits including for adoptive parents.