Union Affiliation: Excluded staff, Management
Hiring Range: $102,167.00 - $153, 251.00
Posting Period: Posted until filled
Vacancy Status: This posting is for an existing vacancy in our office.
The Ombudsman is an independent, non-partisan Officer of the Ontario Legislature whose role is to ensure that the provincial government and broader public sector serve people fairly, transparently, and respectfully.
The Office of the Ontario Ombudsman reviews and resolves complaints about the administrative decisions and actions of more than 1,000 public sector and government bodies, in addition to French language services and the child protection sector.
About the role
We are seeking an experienced finance professional to join our team as Manager, Finance and Facilities. Reporting to the Chief Financial Officer, the Manager, Finance and Facilities is responsible for the effective day-to-day operation of the Office's Finance and Facilities functions. This is a hands-on management role requiring strong technical accounting knowledge, sound judgement and the ability to lead a team in an environment where accuracy, financial controls and deadlines matter.
The successful candidate will oversee the Office's accounting and financial operations, including financial reporting, budgeting and forecasting, year-end and audit activities, payroll, cash management, purchasing, and financial controls. They will also lead and support the Finance team and oversee the Office's facilities function.
This opportunity will be particularly well suited to an experienced finance manager or controller who understands the detail behind the numbers, is comfortable reviewing and challenging financial information, can identify and resolve operational issues, and enjoys leading a team responsible for delivering an effective and reliable finance operation.
Key responsibilities
Finance
As Manager, Finance and Facilities, you will provide hands-on leadership and oversight of the Finance team and ensure that the Office's financial activities are completed accurately, efficiently and on time.
- Lead the day-to-day operation of the Finance function, establish priorities, allocate work and ensure that critical financial deadlines and deliverables are met.
- Supervise and support Finance and Facilities staff, establish clear performance expectations, provide coaching and direction, address performance issues when required and support employee development.
- Oversee the integrity and accuracy of the organization's accounting records and ensure that appropriate financial controls, accounting practices, policies and procedures are followed.
- Oversee month-end and year-end financial processes, including reconciliations, adjustments, supporting schedules and closing activities.
- Coordinate and support the annual external audit, ensure that requested documentation is complete and accurate, respond to auditor inquiries and resolve outstanding issues.
- Prepare, review and analyze internal financial reports, identify discrepancies or emerging issues and ensure appropriate corrective action is taken.
- Working with the CFO, assist in the annual budgeting process, consolidate organizational estimates and prepare financial information in the required format for submission.
- Prepare and maintain financial forecasts, monitor expenditures and commitments throughout the year and identify potential budget pressures or variances.
- Manage cash planning and forecasting and support required reporting to government and other external bodies.
- Coordinate administrative functions tied to payroll processing.
- Review and authorize invoices, expenses and other financial transactions within delegated authority.
- Maintain and strengthen financial processes and controls, identify opportunities to improve efficiency and ensure that established procedures are consistently followed.
- Provide practical financial analysis and advice to the CFO, senior management and managers to support operational and resource decisions.
- Liaise with government officials, auditors, vendors and other external parties on financial matters as required.
Facilities
The Manager also oversees the Office's Facilities function and provides leadership and direction to staff responsible for facilities administration.
- Oversee relationships with landlords, property management and service providers.
- Ensure maintenance and facilities issues are identified, prioritized and resolved in a timely manner.
- Oversee facilities-related contracts, vendors and expenditures.
- Coordinate building access, security and other workplace requirements.
- Support the effective day-to-day operation of the Office's physical workplace, including facilities-related moves or changes as required.
What you bring
Required skills and competencies
You are a technically strong finance professional with experience managing an accounting or finance function and leading people.
- Post-secondary education in accounting, finance or a related discipline.
- A CPA designation in good standing.
- Significant experience managing an accounting or finance function, including direct responsibility for the quality and accuracy of financial operations.
- Demonstrated experience leading and supervising finance professionals.
- Strong knowledge of accounting principles, financial reporting, internal controls and financial policies and procedures.
- Hands-on experience with month-end and year-end close processes, account reconciliations, financial statements and audit preparation.
- Demonstrated experience with budgeting, forecasting, variance analysis and expenditure monitoring.
- Strong analytical skills and the ability to identify, investigate and resolve financial discrepancies and control issues.
- Experience reviewing the work of others and the technical ability to identify errors, incomplete analysis or inappropriate accounting treatment.
- Experience working with financial systems and improving financial processes.
- Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple deadlines and competing priorities.
- Sound judgement and the ability to determine when issues can be resolved operationally and when they should be escalated.
- Strong interpersonal communication skills and the ability to work effectively with managers, senior leaders, auditors, government officials and external suppliers.
Preferred qualifications
- Ability to establish clear direction, drive execution, and deliver results through others.
- Demonstrated ability to provide strategic leadership while maintaining effective operational oversight.
- Experience in the public or broader public sector, a legislative office, agency, regulator or another environment with significant public accountability.
- Experience in a unionized environment and experience overseeing facilities, vendors, leases or office operations is also an asset.
- Proven commitment to accountability, operational excellence, and continuous improvement.
- High standards for quality, accuracy, and the implementation of leading practices.
Why consider this opportunity?
This is an opportunity to serve as a trusted partner to the CFO and senior leadership team, providing financial insight, advice, and operational leadership. While the role contributes to strategic decision-making, its primary focus is ensuring excellence in financial operations through strong technical expertise, disciplined execution, and effective leadership of the finance function.
Internal mobility is an important part of how we build capability across the Office. Your experience, institutional knowledge, and commitment to our mandate are valued and make a difference.
We are committed to reconciliation, equality, diversity and inclusion, and accessibility, and to fostering an environment where everyone feels they belong. If you are interested in expanding your impact and believe your skills align with this role, we encourage you to apply!
Application instructions
Please include a cover letter and resume outlining relevant finance, facilities and leadership experience.
We are dedicated to building a workforce that reflects diverse talent, and we are committed to ensuring an inclusive and accessible experience for every applicant. If you require an accommodation during any stage of the recruitment process, please contact us and we will work with you to support your needs.
Technology may be used to assist with managing applications. All candidates are reviewed by a Recruiter, and selection decisions are made by people, not automated systems.
We thank all applicants for their interest. Only those selected for interviews will be contacted.
