Chief Financial Officer

THE ORGANIZATION

Catholic Social Services and Catholic Charities (The “Agency”) is a not-for-profit agency with nearly 60 years of commitment to its mission, which states:

 

“As a Catholic social services agency, we are guided by faith to care for

and bring hope to people in need with humility, compassion, and respect.”

 

The Agency identifies and responds to community needs by serving over 20,000 people each year through a variety of services and programs. The Agency operates with a combination of public and private (“Sign of Hope”) funding and has an annual operating budget of more than $100 million. The Agency operates many residential programs and manages a portfolio of more than 120 leased or owned properties throughout Edmonton, Red Deer, and central Alberta.

 

For further information please visit:  https://www.cssalberta.ca/

 

THE OPPORTUNITY

Job Title:

Chief Financial Officer

Reports to:

Chief Executive Officer

Direct Reports:

4-5 (Executive Assistant, VP Finance & Controller, Director Health & Safety, Director Infrastructure and Asset Management, future state may include a Payroll Manager)

Indirect Reports:

21

Location:

Edmonton, Alberta.

 

THE MANDATE

As a key member of the Executive Management team, and reporting to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) plays a critical role in developing and implementing the business and financial strategy of Catholic Social Services and Catholic Charities (the Agency). This position is integral to organizational success in support of the mission, vision, and goals of the Agency. Key accountabilities include direction of the Agency’s finance, accounting and payroll functions, procurement and contract management, property management, occupational health and safety, the development and the stewardship of the Agency’s assets and strategic risk management.

 

Key Accountabilities

Strategy

  • Establish and maintain strong relationships with senior executives and Service Vice Presidents, to identify their needs and seek full range of business solutions.
  • Providing strategic management and oversight of the finance, accounting and payroll functions, procurement and contract management, property management, occupational health and safety, and any other function as may be assigned.
  • Develop tools and systems to provide critical financial and operational information to the CEO and make recommendations on both strategy and operations.
  • Develops finance organizational strategies by contributing financial and accounting information, analysis, and recommendations to strategic thinking and direction and establishing functional objectives in line with organizational objectives.
  • Assess organizational performance against both the annual budget and Catholic Social Services’ strategic and long-term plans.
  • Assist in establishing annual objectives and selecting and engaging outside consultants when necessary to support fiscal strategy. Identify, monitor, and report on key success factors.
  • Ensure that the financial control environment and governance processes are effective and efficient.
  • Evaluates and advises on the impact of long-range planning, introduction of new programs/ strategies and regulatory action.
  • Develop and direct the implementation of the Strategic Asset Management Plan to ensure a well-managed roadmap for achieving value from our physical assets by optimizing cost, risk and performance across the asset lifecycle.
  • Ensure that the Agency has robust strategies and plans for capital projects, property and facilities management including a Corporate Property Asset Management Plan and a Facilities Management Strategy. 
  • Oversee the development and management of an Occupational Health and Safety framework and plan for the Agency.
  • In partnership with the academic and research communities, oversee the establishment of a research and evaluation agenda across Agency services.
  • Oversee the exploration of social entrepreneurship as a way of delivering services.

 

Leadership and Management

  • Engage others to accomplish organizational goals and strategies, with a commitment to succession planning and the ability to develop and empower direct and indirect reports.
  • Provide mentoring support to larger, cross-service teams and senior leaders throughout the Agency.
  • Employees under your leadership have established performance expectations and professional learning plans.
  • Create a positive culture and productive work environment that attracts and retains top talent.
  • Ensure employees work in a safe and secure environment and follow safe practices.

 

Financial and Operational Management

  • Providing timely and accurate analysis of budgets, financial trends, and forecasts. Help set and track financial goals, objectives, and budgets. Monitor progress and present financial metrics to internal and external stakeholders.
  • Develop, review, and revise financial and accounting policies ensuring they reflect current operations. Oversee and provide guidance to multiple projects.
  • Provide executive management with advice on the financial implications of business activities.
  • Support the assessment of new initiatives and proposals for financial, tax, GST, covenant, and other regulatory impacts. Advise and recommend changes in operations to ensure continued fiscal health of the organization.
  • Review financial accounting and fiscal performance standards to ensure they are maintained in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), audit requirements and federal, provincial, and charitable organization financial regulations.
  • Oversee cash flow and forecasting.
  • Optimize the handling of banking relationships and initiate appropriate strategies to enhance cash positions.
  • Monitors financial performance by measuring and analyzing results, initiating corrective actions and minimizing the impact of variances.
  • Oversees the Agency’s annual external audit.
  • Oversee infrastructure and asset management.  Manage Agency assets over their full life cycle, considering both the current and future needs of the Agency.
  • Lead the management, development, performance, and continuous improvement of the agency’s property portfolio, capital projects, and infrastructure services.
  • Oversee Procurement and Contract Management including vendor and supplier relationship management and performance monitoring through the contract life cycle.
  • Oversee the Agency’s investment portfolio, working collaboratively with portfolio managers and ensuring compliance with the Investment Policy Statement.
  • Provide strategic recommendations with respect to management of Agency reserves.
  • Ensure solid procurement practices are in place across the Agency and that vendors deliver value for money and consistent quality service. 
  • Oversee the health and safety program to ensure safe work practices and facilities, client safety and compliance to safety legislation.
  • Act as the Agency’s privacy officer, managing legal and privacy policies, processes, issues. Oversee all activities related to the implementation of, and adherence to, the Agency’s privacy and to ensure operational procedures are in compliance with relevant privacy laws. Manage how information is collected, used, and disclosed and access to identifying information.
  • Ensure legal and regulatory documents are filed and monitor compliance with laws and regulations.
  • Develop, implement, and monitor risk management programs.  Support areas in assessing their risk, identifying areas of improvement and in developing mitigation and controls.
  • Create, leverage, and maintain relationships necessary to advance the program/ service strategy or operational plans
  • Actively seek beneficial opportunities to collaborate and partner with external stakeholders.
  • Create proposals based on research and analysis. Ensure that proposals maximize resources and are complete, costed, accurate, and in compliance with regulations and standards.
  • Manage numerous vendor and partner relationships.
  • Perform any other duties deemed necessary by the CEO, including serving as the primary management liaison to the Board’s Finance and Audit Committee.

 

Quality Improvement

  • Provides leadership in the development for the continuous evaluation of short and long-term strategic financial objectives.
  • Streamline and optimize processes and controls for all programs you are accountable for through the continuous improvement and optimization of technology solutions.
  • As a champion of change, reflects on past experiences, organizational practices and processes and current trends in order to determine the correct course of action.
  • Develop metrics and monitor performance for each area of responsibility.

 

OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES

  • With the full support of the Executive Management team, the Chief Financial Officer will be given the flexibility to create innovative change to the financial operations that will assist in the execution of the strategic plan and be of benefit to the Agency.
  • The Chief Financial Officer will be joining an organization that is well positioned for substantial growth through leveraging the various services and specialized care that Catholic Social Services provides to its clients.
  • The incoming Chief Financial Officer will partner with a well-aligned Executive Management team who thrives in an environment of collaboration and transparent information sharing to create positive change to the finance and accounting procedures of Catholic Social Services.
  • The successful candidate will be comfortable being hands-on with the team, utilizing innovative thinking and creativity to initiate transformational operational strategies.

 

FIRST YEAR DELIVERABLES / MEASURES OF SUCCESS

Success in the first year will be determined by the candidate’s ability to:

 

  • Gain a solid understanding of the complex nature of the organization, including its size, scope and scale, and how this role and team impacts that complexity.
  • Build positive and trusted relationships both within and outside of the organization.
  • Make measurable strides in identifying potential process and continuous improvements with a move toward implementation.
  • Assess, and refine where necessary, the structure and skills of the current finance and accounting team.
  • With a March year end, concurrently learn and lead through an annual audit cycle.

 

CANDIDATE PROFILE

The successful candidate will have the following:

Education

  • Bachelor’s degree in business, finance, or accounting is required.
  • MBA or MPA graduate degree is preferred.
  • Professional designation as a CPA.
  • Canadian Payroll Professional designation is an asset.

Experience

  • The CFO will be a seasoned leader with a minimum of 12 years of broad financial experience, including gathering and evaluating financial information, and making actionable recommendations to senior leaders.
  • The ability to transform a strategic vision into an operational model, and the ability to forecast and think strategically and proactively about all financial aspects of the organization.
  • Minimum 10 years’ experience in progressively responsible financial leadership roles.
  • Demonstrates leadership courage; appropriately challenges the status quo, and positively influences others to perform at higher levels.
  • Prior experience in an executive level position of a medium or large sized organization is a strong asset.
  • Experience in the not-for-profit, charitable, or public sectors is preferred.
  • The individual requires excellent knowledge of governance, budgeting, business management and accounting standards.
  • Possesses specific expertise in external financial and regulatory reporting, financial information systems and processes and fraud prevention, detection, and investigation.
  • The individual demonstrates maturity, self-awareness, and insightfulness, and possesses high ethical standards and an uncompromising sense of integrity.
  • Proficiency with accounting software, word processing, and spreadsheets.
  • Solid GAAP and financial reporting technical skills.
  • Strong interpersonal skills, ability to communicate and manage well at all levels of the organization and with staff at remote locations is essential.
  • Excellent communication skills, with the ability to translate complex financial matters into terms that non-financial staff and board members can readily understand.
  • Strong problem solving and creative skills and the ability to exercise sound judgment and make decisions based on accurate and timely analyses.
  • High level of integrity and dependability with a strong sense of urgency and a results-orientation.
  • Has a high degree of comfort working in a Catholic faith-based environment. A basic understanding of, and appreciation for, Catholicism is an asset.
  • Satisfactory Security check required including: Police (CPIC) and Child Intervention Check (renewals may be required.

Business and Financial Acumen

  • Possesses exceptional business and accounting expertise with experience in a large multi-service, multi-function organization. Knowledge of non-profit and/or government organizations is a strong asset.
  • A strategic thinker who can analyze internal and external environmental factors to identify current and future opportunities, challenges and risks.

Commitment

  • Passionate about the mission of the organization and understands the intricacies of the non-profit sector.
  • An ambassador of the vision, mission and values, ensuring they are entrenched in all strategic and fiscal planning.

Communication

  • With an executive presence, is effective at maintaining positive relationships and understands the needs of diverse internal and external stakeholders.
  • Ability to distill complex financial material into meaningful and comprehensible analysis and to communicate same to varied audiences.
  • Expresses and transmits information with consistency and clarity, using active listening techniques in order to effectively understand provided feedback, summarizing information according to the audience in order to promote engagement and increase understanding.
  • Proactively keeps CEO, and other members of the senior leadership team, informed of key files and developments.

Leadership

  • Maintains professional and positive manner even under changing or uncertain conditions. Works well with a wide range of individuals to provide support, coaching, encouragement and directions. Engages others in order to accomplish Agency goals and strategies.
  • Works with members of the Board of Directors, and Finance and Audit Committee, as delegated by the CEO.

Strategic Resource Management

  • Exhibits expert administrative and organizational skills and a demonstrated capacity to oversee multiple projects simultaneously. Leads strategic, long-term planning, vision and goal setting using professional knowledge and experience to anticipate future opportunities or problems. Pursues improvement and results. Demonstrates flexibility, with a strong work ethic and an entrepreneurial spirit to accommodate high level of responsibility and multiple priorities. Creates a culture of mutual accountability.

Analytical/Critical Thinking

  • Applies systematic, logical reasoning addressing problems or situations in order to arrive at an appropriate solution or outcome. Considers the various issues and components of the problem, develops sequential steps to address the situation and determines rational timeframes and priorities.

Relationship Building and Interpersonal relationships

  • Effectively builds constructive, friendly, professional relationships and networks of key contacts with people and colleagues, maintains partnerships that can provide information, assistance, and support.

Decision Making and Judgement

  • Makes timely, informed decisions that take into account facts, goals, constraints and risks. Sees the big, long-range picture. Aligns decisions with the Agency policies and procedures, strategic plan, and CEO vision.

Ethics and Integrity

  • Earns the trust and respect of others through consistent honesty and professionalism in all interactions. Diplomatically handles challenging or tense interpersonal situations. Insists on same from direct reports.

 

THE COMPENSATION

An excellent compensation package awaits the successful candidate.