Senior Financial Analyst - City of Mississauga, Mississauga

AI Summary

This Senior Financial Analyst role at the City of Mississauga, located in Mississauga, Ontario, involves leading key accounting and financial reporting processes. The successful candidate will prepare and analyse the City's financial statements and ensure compliance with various accounting standards. A Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) designation is required, alongside a minimum of three years' experience in preparing or auditing external financial statements. Advanced Microsoft Excel skills are also essential for this finance position.

About the Role

As a Senior Financial Analyst with the City of Mississauga, you will play a pivotal role in the organisation's core accounting and financial reporting functions. This position requires a proactive approach to preparing, analysing, and interpreting the City’s year-end consolidated financial statements, notes, and disclosures. Adherence to Public Sector Accounting Standards (PSAS), Accounting Standards for Not-for-Profit Organizations (ASNPO), and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) is paramount. You will also be instrumental in supporting and coordinating requests from external auditors, ensuring smooth financial statement processing. Furthermore, the role involves preparing accurate monthly and quarterly financial reports, consistently meeting assigned deadlines. Your expertise will be crucial in delivering annual financial reporting submissions as required by Provincial and Federal governments, including the Provincial Financial Information Returns. This is a hybrid role, requiring office presence at Mississauga City Hall.

Key Responsibilities and Expertise

A significant aspect of this Senior Financial Analyst position is acting as a subject matter expert, researching complex technical accounting issues and advising staff on the implications and implementation of new accounting standards. You will be responsible for identifying and implementing improvements to financial reporting and internal controls, thereby enhancing the efficiency and quality of accounting processes. This includes performing in-depth quality assurance reviews on all balance sheet reconciliations and general ledger transactions to ensure compliance with Public Sector Accounting Standards (PSAB) and maintain high data integrity. Providing support and guidance to Finance staff on accounting and financial reporting automation initiatives is also a key duty. Additionally, you will prepare monthly journal entries and assist in the closing of period-end and year-end processes as required, contributing to continuous improvement initiatives within the finance division. Your analytical and problem-solving skills will be essential in developing and implementing effective solutions for various financial challenges faced by the City of Mississauga.

Qualifications and Skills

To excel in this Senior Financial Analyst role, candidates must possess a graduation from a recognised post-secondary institution in Accounting, Business, Finance, Economics, or a related field. A Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) designation is absolutely required, demonstrating a high level of expertise in accounting principles. A minimum of three years of experience in preparing or auditing external financial statements, including direct experience working with external auditors, is also essential. While not strictly required, previous experience in preparing Public Sector financial statements is considered a significant asset. Advanced working knowledge of Microsoft Excel, including Pivot Tables, Power Query, and the ability to manage large data sets, is required for effective financial analysis and reporting. Knowledge of SAP or other large-scale ERP systems is preferred, along with experience in financial reporting and accounting automation software. Strong communication skills, a track record of meeting tight deadlines, and a proactive, self-motivated approach are crucial for success within the City of Mississauga's finance team.