Accounting Specialist (Public Health & Emergency Services/Community Services)

The Role

Provides corporate-level accounting services and support to the Public Health and Paramedic Services Department and Community Services Department. This includes but is not limited to: operating and capital budget preparation, budget updating and control, expenditure reporting, and financial studies. 

Prepares budget submissions, subsidy claims, and year end financial statements for provincial and federal programs operated by the Region. 

Prepares information reports used by senior leaders in decision-making. 

Duties/Responsibilities

• Participates in the preparation of client operating budgets, including budget documents, summaries, and impact studies. Assists in monitoring operating and capital expenditures against budget, and prepares monitoring reports and projections for management. 
• Participates in capital reserve and reserve fund analyses related to projects. Determines financing requirements for capital projects and applies financing (e.g., debentures, reserve funds) as required.
• Prepares budget submissions to the Province, and submits upon management approval.  
• Gathers information and prepares year end documentation for financial statements.
• Monitors to ensure funds due to the Region from other levels of government are received and properly accounted for, and reconciles accounts.
• Allocates costs to provincially cost-shared programs. 
• Calculates rates and financial impacts for rate increase reports.
• Administers, reconciles, and verifies account accuracy. Investigates and corrects errors in the general ledger.
• Calculates and prepares invoices for services provided by the Region on behalf of client departments.
• Prepares monthly and annual journal entries to allocate charges to programs.  Prepares monthly cheque requisitions for subsidy entitlements and validates invoice payment information.
• Compiles and reports information required by provincial ministries and federal agencies.
• Verifies and processes progress payments and holdbacks for facilities capital construction projects. Submits to Legal Services for lien checks. Administers holdback accounts.  
• Assists in preparing information for external auditor. Works with ministry auditors when required in examination of subsidy claims.
• Responds to inquiries from contracted home childcare providers regarding payment status.  
• Exchanges information with clients as it relates to budgets, forecasting, grants, claims, and subsidies.  
• Consults with management on policy directions, and on unusual or politically sensitive situations.  
• Performs related duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge and skills are normally acquired through a Bachelor’s degree in a related field, plus 3 years of related experience. An equivalent combination of education and experience will be considered.
• Must be enrolled in, eligible to be enrolled in, or completed the Chartered Professional Accountant professional education program upon hire.
• Knowledge of financial and management accounting practices and principles, financial and systems analysis, and general business and economic principles.
• Proven skill in financial analysis, budget preparation, and report writing.
• Knowledge and understanding of municipal financial accounting policies and procedures, provincial and federal programs, and funding and cost-sharing relationships.  
• Knowledge and understanding of funding requirements outlined in legislation and regulations applicable to client departments, such as (but not limited to): employment and income support, disability support, children’s services, long term care and seniors services, housing services, paramedic services, and public health, as well as the Municipal Act.
• Knowledge of and ability to comply with corporate policies and procedures.
• Computer skills with ability to use software such as MS Office (particularly Excel), report writers, corporate financial systems, and human resources information systems.  
• Understanding of provincial technology systems used by client departments, and their impacts on accounting and reporting requirements.
• Communication and interpersonal skills to exchange information with internal and external stakeholders with varying levels of understanding; and participate as an effective team member.  
• Ability to prepare clear, concise subsidy claims, correspondence, and reports, as well as financial statements and information used in reports going to council and committees of council.
• Ability to plan and prioritize work to meet deadlines. 
• Ability to travel within and outside Waterloo Region.
• Ability to support and demonstrate the Region’s values.