To apply, please send your application to andrew@gaspar.ca
This is a position with one of Top Five Canadian banks. The base salary and bonus combined is approximately $140-150k.
Scope of the role:
The Director, Accounting Policy and Advisory will participate in the development and interpretation of The Bank’s accounting requirements with consultation of and input from all affected parties in the Corporate, RBB and Wealth Shared Services area including the SVP Chief Accountant, the LOB Controllers, SBU CFOs, and key personnel in other areas of Finance, Operations and Risk Management as appropriate. The Director will also provide consultation and assist Finance (LOB Controllers, SBU Finance, Taxation), Operations, Risk Management and Business areas with interpretation and evaluation of the impact of future changes in financial accounting and reporting policies on accounting and operational processes and procedures as well as on business practices as required.
The scope of these roles are across the whole Bank. The product focus of one is mainly wholesale, treasury and hedge accounting. The other would be more general and the experience could be from non financial services. The client is open to hiring at a more senior level.
Key Accountabilities:
• Provide input to establish, maintain and communicate accounting requirements;
• Influence the development of appropriate external accounting requirements that are relevant to The Bank;
• Provide accounting recommendations, oversight and leadership over the accounting for complex / significant transactions;
• Establish, maintain and communicate internal accounting requirements;
• Provide leadership and oversight over accounting interpretations within The Bank
• Keep up-to-date on relevant developments in IFRS including the requirements of OSFI, the SEC and the OSC;
• Keep current with any authoritative or interpretive statements from the major accounting firms;
• Comment on relevant Exposure Drafts or Discussion Documents issued by IASB, CICA and other regulatory bodies;
• Liaise with the Canadian Bankers Association and directly with other banks on financial accounting, reporting and related issues and developments in Canada, the US and internationally;
• Perform preliminary and/or detailed evaluation of the effects of accounting developments on The Bank's financial accounting and reporting;
• Liaise with the External Auditors on key financial accounting and reporting policy issues;
• Ensure that The Bank's financial accounting requirements are developed in full compliance with GAAP and are the most appropriate taking into account industry and bank specific consideration;
• Lead or participate in project work as required and appropriate to ensure that financial accounting and reporting related changes are implemented in a controlled and timely manner;
• Provide accounting advice to senior Finance personnel upon request to ensure that accounting operational concerns are addressed appropriately and in a timely fashion;
• Assist the Shareholder Reporting area with external disclosures, maintain certain external disclosures, gather supporting data;
• Support various internal control processes and quarterly financial reporting processes;
• Support the Finance Continuous Improvement initiatives within Finance Shared Services.
Responsibilities:
• Participate through the CBA in various industry specialist groups and IASB and CICA roundtables so as to contribute to the development of IFRS (GAAP) in a manner that takes account of industry circumstances, business practices and relevant US/international developments ;
• Initiate or participate in the evaluation of impact of accounting changes;
• Assist Finance (LOB Controllers, SBU Finance, Taxation), Operations, Risk Management and Business areas with interpretation and evaluation of the impact of future changes in financial accounting and reporting policies on accounting and operational processes and procedures as well as on business practices as required;
• Develop The Bank's accounting requirements with consultation of and input from all affected parties in the Finance Shared Services area including the VP Accounting Policy, the Chief Accountant, the LOB Controllers, SBU CFOs, and key personnel in other areas of Finance, Operations and Risk Management as appropriate;
• Provide direct assistance to the Consolidations group and the Shareholder/Regulatory Reporting area to develop new and/or technically complex disclosures within the financial statement notes and the MD&A as required and appropriate; this may involve gathering supporting data;
• Provide input/assistance to the Chief Accountant for reporting on various items (e.g. SOX, reporting to management and Audit Committee);
• Liaise with internal groups so that the impact of accounting standards is fully evaluated with respect to risk management, regulatory capital, taxation and strategic business considerations;
• Provide formal or informal leadership and direction to members within Group as appropriate.
Qualifications:
1. CA / CPA plus relevant work experience at the appropriate level.
2. Knowledge of banking products and practices is an asset.
3. Strong knowledge of IFRS (Canadian GAAP). Knowledge of US GAAP and SEC reporting requirements is also beneficial.
4. Strong conceptual skills and can see the "big picture" in a complex environment.
5. Excellent problem solving skills.
6. Creative and practical.
7. Strong financial and analytical skills. Ability to elicit necessary information to provide value-added consulting services to internal clients (i.e. business units and infrastructure groups).
8. Strong technical skills in statutory accounting and reporting and financial management business principles.
9. Experience in providing consulting services to clients.
10. Strong presentation skills in order to present findings/results and recommendations to target audience.
11. Excellent verbal communication skills - one-on-one and small groups.
12. Persuasion and influencing skills necessary to be able to "sell" recommendations and obtain cooperation across functional groups to achieve objectives.
13. Ability to develop business relationships and establish rapport with internal business and support group management.
14. Excellent writing skills; ability to concisely and persuasively express viewpoints on complex issues.
15. Excellent organizational skills; managing changing priorities.
16. Strong team leaderships skills; ability to cross train peers and motivate staff.