Internal Controls Over Financial Reporting (ICFR) Manager

About Us

The Department of Finance and Treasury Board works to preserve the financial capacity of the Government of Nova Scotia for public programs and services by providing advice on fiscal sustainability for the Province. To deliver its mandate, the department is guided by its core functions of: budget and fiscal plan development; financial accounting; expenditure and financial management; financial advisory services; corporate strategic initiatives; revenue estimates and federal transfers; tax policy, administration, and credits; economic and demographic forecasting, policy analysis, and modelling; liability and treasury management; lending to municipalities, capital markets administration, and compliance; regulation of pensions and select financial institutions; oversight on gaming operations, policy oversight to specific agencies, boards, and commissions; and labour relations.

About Our Opportunity

The mission of the Internal Controls and Municipal Finance Division is to ensure the integrity of financial reporting by overseeing an effective system of internal controls. The Division also provides capital infrastructure financing to municipal clients at the lowest available cost, within acceptable risk parameters, and to provide financial management advice and assistance to clients.

Reporting to the Director, Internal Controls and Municipal Finance, the Internal Controls over Financial Reporting (ICFR) Manager is responsible for leading the development, documentation, implementation, testing, and reporting of the ICFR program for the Province. The Manager provides oversight of the Governance Risk and Compliance (GRC) system, an access and process control solution for the Province's SAP system.

Primary Accountabilities

Reporting to the Director, Internal Controls and Municipal Finance, the Manager's primary responsibilities include:

• Ensures the Province's internal controls over financial reporting (ICFR) align with the COSO framework.
• Documents and analyzes government-wide internal controls, conducts risk assessments, and creates control documentation through stakeholder interviews.
• Evaluates entity-level controls and coordinates recommendations from management assessments.
• Assists with reports to Executive Management and the Audit Committee.
• Provides professional opinions on improving internal control design and effectiveness. Develops testing methodologies, conducts walkthroughs, and completes testing. Identifies ineffective controls, recommends remediation strategies, and monitors their implementation.
• Manages and maintains the SAP GRC System, providing leadership for its development, advising stakeholders, and overseeing GRC Analysts.
• Serves as the segregation of duties (SoD) point of contact for the SAP GRC system, coordinating remediation and mitigation of sensitive access and SoD issues.
• Coordinate the administration and tracking of the FTB code of conduct annual sign off.

Qualifications and Experience

The successful candidate must possess a university degree plus a CPA professional designation and have two to four years' experience with internal controls, auditing, or financial reporting. A reasonable equivalent combination of education, training, and experience may be considered. The skills required for this position include proven experience with financial reporting processes, demonstrated strong technical competence in applying the Canadian public sector accounting standards, as well as current knowledge of the various other accounting frameworks, knowledge of the COSO Internal Control-Integrated Framework, working knowledge of a variety of software applications including Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, and Internet applications. Strong analytical and excellent communication skills are essential.

An understanding of internal controls and experience completing risk assessments, assessing control effectiveness, implementing/modifying controls to mitigate risks, performing walkthroughs and control testing as well as preparing process and control documentation is required.

The successful candidate must be able to work well in a team environment as well as work independently on complex assignments with minimal supervision. The ability to build collaborative working relationships within government, simultaneously manage multiple assignments with conflicting and urgent deadlines, and exercise discretion always with sensitive and highly confidential information is also required. The candidate must also demonstrate attention to detail, the utmost accuracy, and exceptional analytical, writing, and organizational skills

An understanding of SAP, GRC, and a working knowledge of the government's financial reporting processes and requirements would be considered assets.

We will assess the above qualifications and competencies using one or more of the following tools: written examination, standardized tests, oral presentations, interview(s), and reference checks.

Candidates must clearly identify in their cover letter that they meet the qualifications listed above.

Equivalency

Applicants relying on education and experience equivalencies must demonstrate such equivalencies in their application.

Benefits

Based on the employment status and union agreement, the Government of Nova Scotia offers its employees a wide range of benefits such as a Defined Benefit Pension Plan, Health, Dental, Life Insurance, General illness, Short and Long Term Disability, Vacation and Employee and Family Assistance Programs. For information on all our Benefit program offerings, click here: Benefits for government employees.

What We Offer

• Career Development where you have access to career guidance, tools, resources, and ongoing training for every stage of your career.
• Engaging workplace. Our Employees feel valued, respected, connected, and tuned in. We have forward- thinking policies and strategies.
• Countless Career Paths.
• Department Specific Flexible working schedules.