Senior Financial Advisor

The Senior Financial Advisor’s key responsibility is to build and maintain trusted business advisory relationships across the organization while managing a high degree of confidential and sensitive issues that have varying degrees of political impacts and deal with confidential and politically sensitive issues. The Senior Financial Advisor will independently exercise professional judgement in handling these sensitive situations, acting in the best financial interests of the corporation and expeditiously dealing with the highly confidential information while exercising appropriate tact and diplomacy. 

The Senior Financial Advisor acts as the primary interface between the Financial Services Branch, and Deputy City Managers, applying a high degree of understanding of the business area being served as well as corporate financial governance to deliver on integrated financial plans and projects. A comprehensive understanding of the client department’s goals, business plans, and core values are fundamental requirements for this role. 

Reporting to the Finance Director, Business Financial Analytics Capital (BFA Capital), the Senior Financial Advisor is responsible for providing key strategic, leadership, and project management support on financial matters, initiatives and projects within the Business Financial Analytics section. Responsibilities include: 

Strategic Financial Consultation: 

  • Assist Deputy City Managers and Branch Managers in navigating financial processes, including planning/budgeting, performance reporting, identifying gaps between business/financial goals and results, and working within the business areas to formulate financial strategies to address the gaps and ensure alignment with corporate initiatives and priorities
  • Conduct financial analysis and examine best practices within the corporation (and under certain circumstances external to the corporation such as environmental scans) to identify trends and opportunities to effectively assist the client with financial planning
  • Review and analyze relevant financial information to provide meaningful analysis of organizational trends and how they may be applied to the business area being served
  • Conduct client project-related external best practice research and the analysis of qualitative and quantitative data. Present findings in a constructive manner
  • Act as a subject matter expert providing financial advice and assisting the business area through corporate financial processes including budget development, financial reporting as well as issue identification and problem solving

Resolution and Managing Corporate Financial Processes:

  • Lead the financial support for key corporate projects providing direct support for the Deputy City Manager and Branch Managers
  • Provide an examination of the initial project scope, assess user needs, risks, anticipate possible outcomes and understand the impacts of recommendations
  • Provide research, analysis, monitoring and recommendations on a wide range of issues primarily at the department level while coordinating an integrated approach 
  • Anticipate financial advisory needs of the Deputy City Managers and business area by connecting diverse information arising from multiple sources
  • Coordinate business sections activities and assignment of responsibilities required to complete project work
  • Assess impact and client satisfaction with services and deliverables by seeking feedback 

Relationship Building & Support:

  • Represent the Financial Services Branch perspective and Corporate perspective to clients in a positive, meaningful and professional manner
  • Build and maintain trusted relationships across multiple levels of the organization
  • Comprehensive understanding of the client department’s goals and business objectives with the ability to balance that with corporate direction, administrative and political priorities 
  • Establish and maintain effective working relationships with business areas within the Financial Services Branch 
  • Coordinate and consolidate business area inputs and branch responses on a wide range of topics
  • Coordinate business area activities and assignment of responsibilities ensuring timely and quality projects and activities
  • Respond to requests for information evaluated needs and design appropriate ongoing financial reports and prepare ad hoc reports as required 
  • Investigate and respond to internal and external inquiries and requests

Qualifications:

  • University degree in Commerce or Business Administration
  • A formal professional designation (CPA, CA, CGA, CMA) is preferred, equivalencies will be considered
  • Minimum of 10 years, progressively responsible strategic and management experience 
  • Experience managing and working with internal and external clients, consultants and stakeholders
  • Knowledge and skills related to civic operations and the public sector would be considered an asset
  • Additional training in financial management; public administration; government relations; project management; and/or change management would be considered an asset
  • Knowledge and experience in project management processes, project administration, and managing multiple projects 
  • Excellent understanding of financial processes, budgeting and financial reporting
  • Sound judgement and strategic thinking skills; ability to develop creative solutions to sensitive and complex issues to take multiple perspectives into account
  • Demonstrated ability to identify, coordinate and analyze financial information related to issues and projects critical to department operations 
  • Demonstrated ability to maintain a proactive approach ensuring information is shared in a timely manner and provide complete, accurate and organized communications
  • Ability to summarize large quantities of information and data to provide meaningful, informative strategically focused recommendations
  • Ability to to handle confidential, sensitive material and information in a positive and constructive manner
  • Ability to effectively transfer ideas, concepts and information into effective and efficient strategies 
  • Ability to build effective working relationships across multiple levels of an organization 
  • Advanced negotiation skills, influencing skills, ability to effectively interact, communicate, collaborate and influence key decision makers
  • Exceptional verbal and written communication and presentation skills 
  • Proven ability to learn and adapt quickly in diverse areas while maintaining resilience in times of uncertainty and effectively work and lead in a changing environment
  • Ability to demonstrate a high degree of professionalism, initiative, and ability to work independently
  • Demonstrate the key behaviours and attributes of the City’s six leadership competencies: Courage, Inclusivity, Values-Based Influencer, Collaborative Networker, Systems Thinker and Creative Innovator. For more information on the City’s leadership competencies, please visit (http://bit.ly/2PLbz1w
  • Embraces the Cultural Commitments of Safe; Helpful; Accountable; Integrated; and Excellent, and fosters an environment which encourages others to do the same. For more information on the City’s Cultural Commitments, please visit (http://bit.ly/3bH2Ztv
  • Demonstrate service excellence, embracing diversity and promoting inclusiveness
  • Applicants may be tested

Management and Out-of-Scope positions at the City of Edmonton are being reviewed for possible inclusion in the Civic Service Union 52 bargaining unit. If this position is impacted, the incumbent will be notified accordingly.

The City of Edmonton is committed to inclusive, respectful and equitable workplaces that represent the communities we serve. We continuously improve our systems, policies and practices to remove barriers and ensure our employees, in all their diversity, can succeed. We value applicants with a diverse range of skills, experiences and competencies, and encourage you to apply. To learn more, see the Art of Inclusion: Our Diversity and Inclusion Framework here: https://bit.ly/3hd2d95 

The City of Edmonton strives to provide reasonable access and accommodations throughout the application and selection process. If you would like to request an accommodation at any stage of the process, please contact Employment@edmonton.ca. 

COVID-19 Notice: The City of Edmonton has implemented a COVID 19-Vaccination Policy. Employees must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and provide proof of vaccination. Employees who cannot be fully vaccinated on the basis of a protected legal ground (e.g. medical, religious) may request an exemption. Please note that this policy applies to all employees, including new hires, and volunteers. If your application is successful, you will be asked to provide proof of vaccination or request an exemption.

For more information, please refer to our COVID-19 Vaccination Policy (bit.ly/3lKwb6j) and COVID-19 Vaccination Procedure (bit.ly/39BICMt). 

Up to 1 permanent, full-time position

Hours of work: 36.9 hours per week. Monday - Friday

Salary: $97,649 - $122,062 (Annually)

Talent Acquisition Consultant: CM/CW

 

Classification Title: PT3 - Business Mgmt Consulting

Posting Date: Jul 21, 2022

Closing Date: Aug 11, 2022 11:59:00 PM (MDT)

Union : Management

Department: Financial Services