Senior Advisor, Finance Administration

Position Details

• Job Type: Management and Administration
• Department: Corporate Support Services - Finance
• Salary Range: $117,414.00 - $132,091.00 per annum
• Employment Status and Duration: Full Time (FT), Regular (R)
• Hours of Work: 35 Hour work week
• Location: City Hall

Area Of Responsibility

Reporting directly to the Treasurer, this role provides strategic direction and expert advice to the Finance Division on financial planning, budget review, and ensuring fiscal efficiency. The role involves preparing detailed assessments, aligning departmental proposals with the City’s Strategic Plan, and ensuring financial and legislative compliance. This position also plays a critical role in City-wide strategic planning, fostering a collaborative environment that values trust, diversity, and inclusivity.

Stakeholder Relationships

• Collaborate with stakeholders to identify improvement areas, facilitate solutions, and promote a culture of fiscal responsibility and innovation.
• Build effective working relationships at all levels, particularly with senior leaders in client departments across the City, ensuring the highest possible level of client satisfaction and being established as a trusted advisor.
• Build and foster strong working relationships and collaborative arrangements with internal and external customers, stakeholders, business and community leaders, sponsors, public and the media.

Operation Strategy

• Lead initiatives that enhance operational excellence, setting goals and implementing policies to support Council priorities.
• Identify and manage complex, interdependent projects, ensuring alignment with relevant strategic goals.
• Provide the Treasurer with recommendations on managing critical issues and risks.
• Ensure a high standard of financial planning, budget, management reporting, and analytical support is delivered consistently to their department portfolio.
• Establish clear goals and create policies that support the Council’s priorities and the City’s strategic vision.
• Regularly review and report on the status of strategic initiatives to ensure continuous alignment with strategic goals.

Financial Analysis & Strategic Planning

• Provide financial analysis, support the annual budget process, and prepare short to long-term capital funding analysis.
• Advise on financial impacts of budget proposals and submit recommendations to the leadership team and Council.
• Participate in strategic planning at both the sectional level as well as the provision of expertise to the broader City-wide strategy.
• Prepare detailed financial reports that include analysis, projections, and recommendations.
• Assist with the annual budget planning process, ensuring it meets the City’s financial requirements and strategic objectives.

Policy & Legislative Support

• Interpret legislation, monitor trends, and use research and data analytics to inform policy and strategy decisions.
• Maintain knowledge of all laws, regulatory, judicial mandates, ordinances, legislative various acts, codes and by-laws set out by Federal, Provincial or Municipal levels of government.
• Continuously update policies and procedures to reflect legislative changes and best practices.

Financial Modelling & Advice

• Develop financial models and provide insights to support decision-making, collective bargaining, and resource management.
• Offer guidance to finance staff across City departments.
• Provide financial analysis, support the annual budget process, and prepare short to long-term capital funding analysis.
• Provide expert advice on the financial implications of various budget proposals to the leadership team and Council.

Communication and Reporting

• Prepare and present complex financial reports and recommendations, keeping leadership informed of key activities and initiatives.
• Develop comprehensive financial reports that accurately reflect the City’s financial status and projections.
• Regularly update the leadership team on key financial activities and initiatives.
• Maintain a high level of transparency in all financial communications to build trust and credibility.

Selection Criteria

Education

• Post-secondary degree in Economics, Business, Public Administration or other relevant discipline.
• CPA designation (CA, CMA, CGA) or CFA or MBA is preferred.

Experience

• Minimum 5 years of progressive experience in finance or public administration, preferably within a municipal or similarly complex organization, with significant responsibility for strategic and financial analysis, multi-year operating and capital budgets, funding strategies, and business case development.
• Proven experience advising senior leadership, leading and facilitating complex cross-departmental initiatives, and applying legislative and policy analysis to support financial, strategic, and organizational decision-making.

Other Skills and Assets

• Strong analytical, communication, and problem-solving abilities, with proficiency in Microsoft tools.
• Ability to handle sensitive situations with discretion and maintain strong internal and external relationships.
• Strong knowledge of financial planning, budget management, and capital funding analysis.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills for preparing and presenting complex financial reports and recommendations.
• Expert knowledge of Municipal, Regional, Provincial and Federal Governments, applicable Legislations and awareness of current social, economic and political priorities.
• Ability to prioritize highly complex tasks with critical deadlines.
• Experience developing policies and procedures and ensuring compliance.