The City of Guelph
City Of Guelph · Guelph, ON
- On site
- Full-time
- CA$121,435 / year
- Guelph, ON
Job highlights
- Lead City budget planning and preparation.
- Manage multi-year budget processes.
- Improve budget communication and engagement.
- Ensure budget aligns with strategic goals.
- Develop budget policies and training.
About the role
Senior Financial Analyst, Budget Strategy
Join the City of Guelph as a Senior Financial Analyst, Budget Strategy and contribute to our vision of an inclusive, connected, and prosperous city. You will be an integral part of the Finance department, specifically within the Financial Strategy & Reporting division, based at City Hall.
About the Role
Reporting to the Manager, Financial Strategy & Reporting, this permanent, full-time position involves leading the planning, coordination, and preparation of the City's budget. You will also be instrumental in identifying and implementing continuous improvement activities within your scope. This role is crucial in aligning budgeted investments with the City's Strategic Plan and ensuring transparent communication with all stakeholders.
Key Duties and Responsibilities
- Act as the project manager for the City’s Budget, developing and coordinating the multi-year budget and budget confirmation processes.
- Develop budget instructions and documents for various internal and external audiences, focusing on clarity and continuous improvement.
- Lead budget communication and engagement strategies in partnership with other departments to ensure stakeholder connection.
- Collaborate with Corporate Performance and Strategy to align budgeted investments with the Strategic Plan.
- Coordinate with Information Technology for the delivery of a public budget website and PowerBI dashboard.
- Develop and maintain budget policies and create budget-related educational materials.
- Lead budget-related education, training, and engagement sessions.
- Identify and assess potential budget risks and develop mitigation measures.
- Participate in and advise on budget systems improvements.
- Prepare reports and provide support for Committee of the Whole and Council meetings.
- Liaise with Finance colleagues to ensure budget integration between capital and operating budgets.
- Investigate best practices, conduct research, and report findings.
- Identify and implement areas of improvement within your functional area and partner with other departments on improvement initiatives.
- Serve as a member of City budget committees and lead special projects as required.
Qualifications and Requirements
- Professional accounting designation is required, with extensive progressive post-designation experience in a municipal/public sector budget environment.
- Equivalent combination of education and experience will be considered.
- Extensive experience in project management is essential; professional accreditation is a strong asset.
- Proven analytical and organizational project management skills with the ability to manage diverse stakeholders under demanding deadlines.
- Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and communicate clearly, both orally and in writing.
- Demonstrated experience in preparing internal and external budget documents or similar complex documents.
- Ability to analyze problems, identify alternatives, and make recommendations for procedures and policies.
- Experience coordinating the annual budget process is preferred.
- Advanced skills in FMW budget software and JD Edwards are preferred.
- Advanced computer skills in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and ADOBE, with knowledge of Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) compliant documents.
- Ability to work independently and prioritize tasks to meet strict deadlines.
- Knowledge of the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
Work Arrangement
This is a hybrid position with 35 hours per week, Monday to Friday, between 8:30 am and 4:30 pm. Occasional evening work is required for Council meetings, and additional hours may be needed during peak budget times. Flexible work arrangements are available as per corporate policy.
What We Offer
- Competitive wages and comprehensive benefits.
- Paid vacation days, increasing with years of service.
- Paid personal days.
- Defined benefit pension plan with OMERS (100% employer matching).
- Extended health and dental benefits, including a Health Care Spending Account.
- Employee and Family Assistance Program.
- Parental leave top-up program.
- Learning and development opportunities, including tuition assistance.
- Employee recognition programs.
Key skills/competency
- Budget Management
- Financial Planning
- Project Management
- Financial Reporting
- Stakeholder Engagement
- Data Analysis
- Policy Development
- Municipal Finance
- Strategic Planning
- Process Improvement
Skills & topics
- Financial Analyst
- Budget Strategy
- Finance
- Financial Reporting
- Budgeting
- Project Management
- Municipal Finance
- Public Sector
- Financial Planning
- Accounting
How to get hired
- Tailor your resume: Highlight your municipal budget experience and project management skills, aligning them with the 'Senior Financial Analyst, Budget Strategy' role.
- Quantify achievements: Use numbers to demonstrate your impact in previous budget cycles or project successes.
- Address qualifications: Clearly showcase your professional accounting designation and progressive experience in public sector budgeting.
- Prepare for interviews: Be ready to discuss your project management methodology and stakeholder management strategies for the City of Guelph.
- Showcase relevant software skills: Emphasize your advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office, FMW budget software, and JD Edwards if applicable.
Technical preparation
Master municipal budget processes and software.,Practice financial modeling and forecasting.,Prepare sample budget reports and analyses.,Review project management methodologies.
Behavioral questions
Describe leading a complex budget process.,How do you manage conflicting stakeholder needs?,Give an example of a process improvement you led.,How do you ensure budget alignment with strategy?
Frequently asked questions
- What are the core responsibilities of the Senior Financial Analyst, Budget Strategy at the City of Guelph?
- The Senior Financial Analyst, Budget Strategy at the City of Guelph is responsible for leading the planning, coordination, and preparation of the City's budget, acting as project manager for the budget cycle. This includes developing budget instructions, managing communication and engagement strategies, ensuring alignment with the Strategic Plan, and identifying areas for continuous improvement within budget processes.
- What qualifications are essential for the Senior Financial Analyst, Budget Strategy position at the City of Guelph?
- Essential qualifications for this role at the City of Guelph include a professional accounting designation, extensive progressive post-designation experience in municipal/public sector budgeting, and advanced project management skills. Candidates should also demonstrate strong analytical, organizational, and communication abilities, along with proficiency in Microsoft Office and experience with budget software like FMW and JD Edwards.
- What is the work arrangement for the Senior Financial Analyst, Budget Strategy at the City of Guelph?
- The Senior Financial Analyst, Budget Strategy position at the City of Guelph offers a hybrid work arrangement. The standard hours are 35 per week, Monday to Friday, with flexibility. Occasional evening work for Council meetings and extra hours during peak budget periods may be required.
- What benefits does the City of Guelph offer to its employees, particularly for the Senior Financial Analyst, Budget Strategy role?
- The City of Guelph offers competitive wages and comprehensive benefits, including paid vacation and personal days, a defined benefit pension plan with OMERS (100% employer matching), extended health and dental benefits, an Employee and Family Assistance Program, parental leave top-up, and learning and development opportunities with tuition assistance.
- How does the City of Guelph ensure transparency in its hiring process for roles like the Senior Financial Analyst, Budget Strategy?
- The City of Guelph is committed to transparent recruitment. Candidates interviewed for the Senior Financial Analyst, Budget Strategy position will be notified of the hiring decision in writing within 45 days of their interview, ensuring clear communication throughout the process.
- How can I apply for the Senior Financial Analyst, Budget Strategy position at the City of Guelph?