The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) reports to the City Manager (CM), oversees a team of 25 with four direct reports, and is a member of the City’s executive leadership team. The CFO is responsible for the administrative, financial and risk management operations of the City, as well as providing strategic and operational advice to council, the CM and other senior leaders. The CFO is a key driver in change who inspires and enables teams to realign business and processes systems to support the delivery of programs and services in order to position the City in achieving its mission of providing sustainable programs and services.
The CFO will be responsible for analyzing and solving complex financial problems and is the strategic leader in providing oversight and direction for the City’s financial position and information systems. This position is accountable for the administrative, financial, and risk management operations of the organization. This will include the development of a financial and operational strategy, metrics tied to that strategy, and the ongoing development and monitoring of control systems designed to preserve city assets and report accurate financial results.
Key Roles & Responsibilities:
Financial Leadership
- Oversees the annual Capital and Operational Budget in excess of $100 million combined.
- Monitors and reports financial performance by measuring and analyzing results, initiates corrective actions, and develops ongoing improvements.
- Maximizes return on investment funds by identifying investment opportunities; maintains relationships with the investment community.
- Develops emergent strategies through the analysis of financial trends and fiscal forecasting.
- Utilizes, and when required, creates financial planning, monitors and controls systems for the organization, including the management of the external audit and any governmental audits.
- Leads the development of the City Business Plan and the department's annual operational plan and budget, and participates in the review and approval process of the budget with Council.
- Oversees cash flow and capital expenditure planning, ensures availability of funds when needed.
- Leads the reporting as well as monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements; ensures they are prepared in a timely fashion and accurately represent the financial position of the city and its operations.
Strategic Leadership
- Develops organizational financial strategies by contributing financial and accounting information, analysis, and recommendations relating to strategic thinking and direction; establishes functional objectives in line with organizational objectives.
- Updates professional knowledge by remaining aware of new regulations, participates in educational opportunities, maintains current on professional publication, maintains personal networks, and participates in professional organizations.
- Partners with the executive leadership team on all operational and strategic issues as they arise and provides strategic recommendations to the CM based on thorough financial analysis and projections.
- Shares organizational performance measurement information and encourages dialogue and analysis.
- Takes a long term view and builds a shared vision.
- Identifies and communicates priorities, milestones, performance measures, clear accountabilities, and performance agreements for direct reports.
- Coordinates priorities, planning and performance, and aligns with resources.
- Revises current plans to reflect changing priorities or conditions.
Change Management
- Leads change that maximizes desired results and outcomes within the department, organizationally, and in the industry.
- Fosters an environment that promotes innovation, continuous improvement, and manages risk-taking.
- Anticipates and addresses the impact of large scale changes on morale and productivity.
- Works with the executive leadership team to develop a set of actionable and targeted change management plans - including communication plans, coaching plans, training plans, and resistance management plans.
Engaged leadership
- Invests time in managing and developing people, individually and collectively.
- Creates and open, positive working environment to stimulate open discussion.
- Sets clear expectations, monitors, evaluates, rewards, and develops performance.
- Builds leadership throughout the department.
- Guides and develops employees through success, career planning, and professional development.
- Provides insightful, motivating, and constructive feedback, coaching and guidance.
- Ensures the team has the capacity and diversity to meet current and future needs of the City.
Relationship Building
- Cultivates effective relationships and networks with other departments, residents, unions, regional partners, contractors, agencies, and other levels of government.
- Builds a commitment to excellence and common purpose by promoting the vision internally and externally.
- Is accessible to staff and invests the time necessary to build relationships.
- Builds support through influence, negotiation, and balancing national and regional interests.
Leadership
- Demonstrates passionate personal commitment to quality leadership.
- Acts as a representative for the entire organization, not just the department.
- Effectively translates concepts and information related to the department.
- Establishes credibility by demonstrating broad knowledge and good judgement.
- Positions ideas and proposals to address the needs, interests, and concerns of all stakeholders.
Accountability
- Develops a culture where people hold themselves personally accountable for results.
- Ensures resources are directed to support the organization's desired goals and culture.
- Plays a leadership role in shaping the values and culture of the organization by consistently communicating and exemplifying them.
- Serves as a role model in making critical decisions that are required to move the organization forward.
- Sets a climate where team and organizational achievements are recognized, rewarded, and celebrated.
- Establishes expectations regarding performance and what success looks like.
Qualifications & Experience:
- University degree int he field of Chartered Accounting, Commerce, or Business Administration.
- Certified Professional Accounting designation (CA, CGA, or CMA).
- At least 10 years related experience with multiple years of experience and training in management and supervision.
- Knowledge of municipal financial administration and accounting principles and practices.
- Experience and/or training in municipal administration.
- Knowledge of the Lloydminster Charter and/or Alberta and Saskatchewan Municipal Legislation would be considered an asset.
Knowledge, Skills & Attributes:
In addition to the core competencies, the successful candidate is a dynamic, engaged leader who demonstrates the following personal characteristics:
Multi-faceted Leadership - The successful candidate is a skilled strategic and operational leader. The individual is able to move forward employees, teams and an entire organization to perform at a higher level and to embrace change; works collaboratively with all levels of the City and stakeholders towards a common goal, communicates a compelling vision and is committed to what needs to be done, inspires others, builds motivated, high-performing teams, understands what motivates different people, and knows when and how to lead with influence.
Solutions-oriented - The individual is able to absorb and digest a wide range of variables and perspectives, and condense them down to develop an action oriented plan that will lead to solutions guided by strategic goals.
Innovative entrepreneurship - The successful candidate is able to think outside the box or propose new ideas or suggestions. The individual thrives in an environment where open dialogue, respect, and sharing options is encouraged and the status quo can be and is challenged.
Tactful political astuteness - This person is comfortable working in a context that interfaces with the political daily and has a keen ability to demonstrate tact and discretion in handling matters or a confidential or politically sensitive nature, and to maintain confidentiality.
Communication - The successful candidate is an expert communicator. As a manager, this person delegates appropriately, develops people by setting and communicating clear goals, providing useful feedback, and holding people accountable. As a representative of the City, this person is comfortable dealing with public/media relations.
Service-focused - The successful candidate approaches work with a foundational spirit of service and fosters this spirit of service at every level, both within the organization and with key stakeholders, levels of government, residents, and Council.
Pragmatic decision-making and problem-solving - This person is a grounded, common-sense and practical decision-maker. In rising to the challenge of even the toughest and most complex of problems, this person gleans meaning from whatever information is available, and adds personal wisdom and experience to come to the best conclusion and solution. This person uses multiple problem-solving techniques, and can make decisions quickly without hesitation.
Compensation:
The City of Lloydminster offers consistent working hours that afford a positive quality of live, a competitive salary/benefit package and relocation allowance.
Further details will be discussed in a personal interview.
Ardyce Kouri, Partner or Sandra McIsaac, Search Associate
Davies Park
501 Fox One
10226 - 104 Street
Edmonton, AB T5J 1B8
Phone: 780-420-9900
daviespark.com/city-of-lloydminster-chief-financial-officer/
