Indigenous Internship Program – Business and Financial Planning Intern

Indigenous Internship Program

The Indigenous Internship Program (IIP) is a 12-month paid internship program designed to provide recent Indigenous (First Nations, Métis, Inuit) post-secondary graduates, with the opportunity to gain professional level work experience and a pathway through which they can build and develop transferable skills that can be used to gain sustained employment in their field of choice.

You must self-identify as an Indigenous person to be eligible for this program. The term Indigenous refers to individuals who identify as being descended from the original inhabitants (the first peoples) of what is now known as Canada. In this context, Indigenous people are First Nations, Métis and/or Inuit.

Personal Information

The Ontario Public Service (OPS) is committed to building a workforce that reflects the communities it serves and to promote a diverse, anti-racist, inclusive, accessible, merit-based, respectful, and equitable workplace. To enable this commitment and advance broader organizational objectives, this dedicated internship has been created for eligible applicants who self-identify as an Indigenous person. As part of the application process, all applicants must respond to a self-attestation. Applicants who do not self-identify as Indigenous or who choose not to identify will not be eligible.

What makes working in the Ontario Public Service great

Working in the public service has real meaning and impact on the lives of Ontarians. What we do matters, and you can grow your career here. From economic growth to health and social justice, we offer career opportunities in multiple disciplines and business areas to match your passion. Our strength is the diversity of our people and the ideas we generate. We value trust, fairness, diversity, creativity, collaboration and excellence. We are committed to be an employer of first choice.

OPS Commitment to Diversity, Inclusion, Accessibility, and Anti-Racism:

We are committed to build a workforce that reflects the communities we serve and to promote a diverse, anti-racist, inclusive, accessible, merit-based, respectful and equitable workplace.

Visit the OPS Anti-Racism Policy and the OPS Diversity and Inclusion Blueprint pages to learn more about the OPS commitment to advance racial equity, accessibility, diversity, and inclusion in the public service.

We offer employment accommodation across the recruitment process and all aspects of employment consistent with the requirements of Ontario's Human Rights Code. Refer to the "How to apply" section if you require a disability-related accommodation.

What can I expect to do in this role?

Treasury Board Secretariat (1 position at 7 Queen's Park Cres E, Toronto)
Office of the Provincial Controller Division:
Bring your knowledge, experience and perspectives to the Internal Control and Assurance (ICA) Unit, Financial Capacity Control and Assurance Branch in the Office of the Provincial Controller Division at Treasury Board Secretariat. Working with a team of engaged professionals and dedicated leaders, you'll take the next step in your career in a dynamic environment that provides opportunities for personal growth, competitive salary, mentorship, learning and development opportunities, and work-life balance.

If you are contemplating or currently pursuing a CPA designation or interested in gaining in-depth knowledge of internal controls and financial management policies Office of the Provincial Controller, consider applying for this position.

As an intern, you will:
• Support a full cycle of the annual Certificate of Assurance (CoA) process, including the identification and implementation of ongoing process improvements through consultations with the finance community and OPCD branches.
• Learn key principles and concepts of internationally established Internal Control Frameworks and leverage that knowledge to support any future updates related OPS frameworks for emerging and best practices in financial control and assurance.
• Assist in facilitating training session for OPS finance staff, thereby allowing them to learn directly from our Unit's seasoned CPAs.
• Support the assessment, gathering of relevant documents and respond to the Auditor General's time-sensitive requests.
• Network with the OPS Finance Community by attending and supporting the ICA team at various OPS-wide forums (e.g., Internal Control Community of Practice and the Financial Controllership Committee).

Treasury Board Secretariat (1 position at 222 Jarvis St, Toronto or 33 King St, Oshawa)
Central Agencies I&IT Cluster:
Are you a dynamic and results-oriented individual with a financial background combined with great problem-solving skills? If yes, please consider the Central Agencies I&IT Cluster for your next role. The Business and Service Management branch is seeking an extraordinary person with strong financial, analytical, and interpersonal skills to support a multidisciplinary team on a range of financial and business projects and initiatives.

As an intern, you will:
• Provide support for financial functions by analyzing and compiling financial information and reports and communicating results, in managing contracts in the division for individual project initiatives, for Cluster management and/or project lead.
• Work under the direction of the manager to assist in the preparation of budget estimates, allocations and forecasts, reporting on budget expenditures, and conduct financial analysis.
• Participate in on-going improvements to financial/business processes by developing financial models for planning and forecasting, determining trends and variations in expenditure, and participating in projects to implement and enhance accounting controls.
• Work with senior staff in collecting background research for risk assessments and risk reviews and other project related work by conducting research and performing quantitative, qualitative and statistical analysis.

Ministry of Indigenous Affairs (1 position at 160 Bloor St E, Toronto)
Corporate Management Division
As a business and financial planning intern, your work could include:
• learning about public sector accounting, financial management and internal control practices
• acquiring hands-on experience with the principles of business planning, risk assessment and strategic resource management
• developing business proposals in support of ministry programs
• designing financial and business processes that support the implementation of program initiatives and changing business requirements
• identifying and analyzing the financial impacts of new and changing programs
• providing assurance and consulting services to add value and improve an organization's operations

Ministry of Solicitor General (1 position at 10-25 Grosvenor St, Toronto)
Business and Financial Planning Branch
The Business and Financial Planning Branch coordinates the Multi-Year Planning (MYP) process as well as fiscal management processes and manages the service level agreements with Ontario Shared Services for the Ministry of the Solicitor General (SOLGEN). The branch is made up of two business planning units and the corporate controllership unit.

At BFPB, you will gain business and fiscal planning skills along with experience providing financial planning advice and analytical expertise of business/financial issues to senior management and other stakeholders. The position will also prepare you to thrive in a fast-paced work environment working with complex financial information where you have tight timelines. Consider this excellent opportunity to showcase your skills as you conduct complex analysis and provide strategic financial advice in support of the ministry's business and financial planning processes in the SOLGEN.

How do I qualify?

Mandatory

• You must have graduated or will complete the requirements to graduate with a degree, diploma or post-graduate certificate from a recognized or legally authorized post-secondary institution in the last five years (May 2018-August 2023).
• You must self-identify as an Indigenous person. The term Indigenous refers to individuals who identify as being descended from the original inhabitants (the first peoples) of what is now known as Canada. In this context, Indigenous people are First Nations, Métis and/or Inuit.
• You must be legally entitled to work in Canada.

Select here to view information about Indigenous Self-Identification.

Knowledge:

• You have knowledge of general financial management principles such as long and short-range financial planning, budget and financial forecasting, estimates planning, risk management/assessment, performance measurement, monitoring financial controllership and reporting.
• You have knowledge and understanding of various accounting principles and systems, and the ability to analyze and prepare financial statements and reports.
• You have a solid understanding of accounting principles, policies/practices, in order to conduct analytical reviews and develop/implement strategies, business plans and reporting requirements.
• You have knowledge of risk assessment and risk management principles to contribute to ministry assessments on financial and non-financial issues.
• You have knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles internal controls, audit techniques, risk assessment principles/techniques.

Analytical and problem-solving skills:

• You can analyze financial information and provide input into business planning, expenditure management and financial decision-making processes.
• You can assist in the analysis of ministry and program proposals for accuracy and completeness and consolidate program financial performance data, identify variances and risks, and areas for further analysis
• You have the ability to identify trends and relevant themes
• You have/are able to gain understanding of Ministry programs and government and ministry strategic directions and decision-making processes, in order to assess impact of proposed initiatives, and make viable recommendations.
• You have knowledge of research and statistical tools/techniques to produce analysis, conduct risk assessments, recommend financial processes/tools and assess business and financial options and implications.

Planning and organizational skills:

• You are able to manage multiple tasks, determine work priorities and ensure deadlines are met.

Communication and interpersonal skills:

• You have the ability to prepare reports, make presentations and provide explanations and advice in a clear and concise manner through effective written, verbal and visual communication.
• You can establish effective working relationships and participate on committees, project teams and working groups to identify and solve a problem or achieve a common goal that is mutually beneficial.

Computer skills:

• You are proficient using information and financial management programs (e.g., word processing, spreadsheet, database, presentation, Internet and email) to produce reports.

Other Summer Opportunities

We offer a variety of summer jobs in diverse career fields. See what summer opportunities are currently available!

Also, check out all the other student and new professional opportunities offered within the Ontario Public Service.

Please be advised that the results of this competition may be used to form an eligibility list of qualified candidates to potentially fill future vacancies represented by the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU). In accordance with the Collective Agreement, eligibility lists are shared with OPSEU representatives. By applying to this competition, you are providing consent that your name may be shared with OPSEU representatives.

All external applicants (including former employees of the Ontario Public Service) applying to a competition in a ministry or Commission public body must disclose (either in the cover letter or resume) previous employment with the Ontario Public Service. Disclosure must include positions held, dates of employment and any active restrictions as applicable from being rehired by the Ontario Public Service. Active restrictions can include time and/or ministry-specific restrictions currently in force, and may preclude a former employee from being offered a position with the Ontario Public Service for a specific time period (e.g. one year), or from being offered a position with a specific ministry (either for a pre-determined time period or indefinitely). The circumstances around an employee's exit will be considered prior to an offer of employment.

Remember: The deadline to apply is Wednesday, June 21, 2023 11:59 pm EDT. Late applications will not be accepted.

We thank you for your interest. Only those selected for further screening or an interview will be contacted.