Program Lead, Financial Operations

KEY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
People Management (20%)

• Fosters a positive, inclusive, and collaborative work environment that supports open communication across in-office, remote, and hybrid teams.
• Provides clear direction by setting strategic goals, establishing performance expectations, and conducting regular reviews to support staff development and continuous improvement of team capabilities and processes.
• Develops and supports staff through career planning, ongoing coaching, training, and professional development initiatives.
• Collaborates with HR to make effective hiring decisions and ensures alignment with HR procedures when supporting employee performance, accountability, and resolution processes.
• Oversees and supports specialized staff in highly regulated and technical areas (e.g., taxation, accounting, pensions, disability management, and payroll), ensuring adherence to legislative, regulatory, and collective agreement requirements.
• Ensures operational continuity by developing team capacity, cross-training, and knowledge transfer processes for critical finance and employee services functions.
• Monitors and manages compliance with financial, employment, and tax regulations as they relate to staff responsibilities, providing oversight and direction to mitigate risks.
• Drives process improvement and automation initiatives across financial and employee service functions to enhance efficiency, accuracy, and client service standards.

Municipal Taxation Program (30%)

• Oversees, administers, coordinates, leads the municipal property tax program in accordance with the program requirements, timelines, internal processes, policies, bylaws, and Municipal Government Act requirements.
• Educate and inform stakeholders regarding corporate financial processes or standards.
• Performs the monthly financial accounting activities pertaining to taxation and general revenue.
• Prepares tax projections, bylaw development, budget development, collections, agreements, financial reporting, and project work pertaining to the County’s tax program.
• Manages the administrative and financial systems or modules to ensure they are effective and appropriate with necessary controls in place.
• Applies a comprehensive understanding of the municipal tax and assessment system to provide strategic advice to leadership and Council.

Financial Operations & Systems (30%) 

• Provides strategic leadership and technical oversight to supervisors responsible for accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll, benefits, and municipal taxation, ensuring efficient, accurate, and compliant financial operations.
• Maintains deep operational knowledge across all financial functions to provide guidance, troubleshoot complex issues, and deliver hands-on support or coverage during peak periods or staff absences.
• Oversees the implementation, review, and optimization of financial procedures, internal controls, and system workflows to support efficiency, compliance with legislation, and alignment with organizational policies.
• Supports the preparation and reconciliation of key financial accounts (e.g., payroll, benefits, AR, AP, taxation, utilities) and ensures reporting integrity for internal stakeholders, auditors, and regulatory bodies.
• Provides direction on financial processes related to tax rate bylaw testing, tax recovery, payroll compliance, benefit administration, utility billing, and vendor payments, ensuring legislative adherence and service excellence.
• Leads or supports the development of process documentation, training materials, and procedural updates to build team capacity and ensure operational continuity.
• Advises on and supports budget development, forecasts, financial reporting, and year-end processes related to salaries, benefits, taxation, and financial operations.
• Identifies opportunities for continuous improvement across financial services and drives change management initiatives to enhance service delivery and operational resilience.

Other Related Duties (20%) 

• Maintains and develops financial controls, procedures, policies, directives, and bylaws, with the ability to read, interpret, and apply related documentation such as legislation, meeting minutes, manuals, and other regulatory or operational materials.
• Assists with financial reporting and audits as required.
• Performs and reviews of complex financial calculations, analytical procedures, and reconciliations, and provides evidence-based recommendations if necessary and applicable.
• Provides cross over senior financial level responsibilities and direct reports as required.
• Remains current on relevant accounting standards, internal processes, policies, bylaws, Municipal Government Act requirements that may be relative to the finance team and communicate as necessary.
• Adheres to applicable responsibilities and accountabilities as outlined in the Sturgeon County Health and Safety Management System.