Career map for accounting and financial operations

• Receives, checks and tracks invoices, travel expenses and other basic transactions
• Collects fees, issues receipts, processes bank deposits

• Processes accounts payable or receivable and enters data into Corporate Accounting System (CAS). 
• Reconciles commitments and expenditures
• Prepares journal vouchers and tracks allocations
• Sets up and/or maintains financial tracking systems and files
• Provides information to staff on financial procedures and controls
• Prepares various reports

• Examines accounts to verify validity of assessments, adjustments, interest charges, credits, debits, refunds or cancellations within financial policies and program requirements
• Obtains additional information to investigate problems
• Performs complex recalculations to determine corrections and adjustments required
• Corrects errors by amending financial records, requisitioning cheques and/or generating invoices 
• Provides detailed explanation of charges to clients and staff
• Identifies and corrects duplication, allocation errors and other anomalies
• Reconciles account and ledger information and submits for month end reporting

• Monitors office processes to ensure adequate accountability through audit trails, financial controls, and records management
• Develops and implements improved work processes
• Responds to and resolves escalated, complex and/or sensitive accounts issues with staff, clients or suppliers
• Provides secondary authorizations for key financial transactions
• Supervises staff

Often entry level.

To: general office management or adjudication roles; more senior accounting/budget operations roles.

From: general office management

To: general office management or adjudication roles; accounting supervisor, financial analyst roles in area of accounting, budgeting, forecasting etc. 

From: general office management

To: supervisory office management or adjudication roles, financial analyst roles in area of accounting, budgeting, forecasting etc.

From: financial/accounting clerk.

JS #191 finance clerk

JS #400 clerk stenographer

JS #208 office manager

JS #101 accounting and budget clerk

• Secondary school graduation or equivalent

• Secondary school graduation or equivalent

• Secondary school graduation or equivalent

• Secondary school graduation or equivalent

• Experience working in an office environment

• Experience providing financial support services

• Experience providing financial support

• Experience in accounts receivable or payable in a computerized environment
• Supervisory experience

• Knowledge of standard office procedures

• Knowledge of a range of financial procedures and their associated standards

• Knowledge of a range of standard financial calculations and procedures

• Knowledge of accounting principles, procedures and financial policies

• Proficiency with standard office equipment and computer applications
• Good communications and numeracy skills
• Ability to prioritize multiple work functions effectively
• Ability to apply accuracy and attention to detail

• Proficiency with standard office equipment and computer applications and with data base applications
• Ability to explain financial processes to clients
• Ability to apply accuracy and attention to detail

• Proficiency with standard office equipment and computer applications and with data base applications
• Ability to explain detailed results and processes to clients
• Ability to apply accuracy and attention to detail

• Ability to explain detailed results and processes to clients and resolve contentious issues
• Ability to apply accuracy and attention to detail

• Concern for order
• Teamwork and cooperation
• Service orientation

• Concern for order
• Planning, organizing and coordinating
• Service orientation

• Planning, organizing and coordinating
• Problem solving and judgement
• Concern for order

• Concern for order
• Managing organizational resources
• Problem solving and judgement

• Governance – level 100
• Financial Systems and Controls – level 100

• Governance – level 100
• Planning and Decision Support – level 100
• Financial Systems and Controls – level 100

• Governance – level 100
• Planning and Decision Support – level 100
• Financial Systems and Controls – level 100

• Governance – level 100
• Planning and Decision Support – level 100
• Financial Systems and Controls – level 200

• Gov 101: Government Essentials
• FM 130: BC Government Financial Control Fundamental
• CFS application courses (such as Procurement and iExpense)

• Gov 101: Government Essentials
• FM 120: BC Government Planning Fundamentals
• FM 130: BC Government Financial Control Fundamentals
• CFS application courses (such as AP and AR)

• Gov 101: Government Essentials
• FM 120: BC Government Planning Fundamentals
• FM 130: BC Government Financial Control Fundamentals
• FM 131: BC Government Revenue, Expense and Asset Management Fundamentals
• FM 201 Financial Management
• CFS Accounts Receivable
• other CFS application courses

• Gov 101: Government Essentials
• FM 120: BC Government Planning Fundamentals
• FM 130: BC Government Financial Control Fundamentals
• FM 131: BC Government Revenue, Expense and Asset Management Fundamentals
• FM 201 Financial Management

The financial analyst roles at these levels are more commonly found in the budgeting/forecasting/reporting areas (review the budgeting career map) or perform a variety of financial functions such as:

• Budgeting
• Accounting
• Procurement

OR

Supervise the processing operations of a significant revenue stream requiring program knowledge.

• Designs and develops data bases, queries and reports
• Conducts systematic analysis of financial data
• Monitors and reconciles various accounts
• Identifies and investigates trends and anomalies

• Oversees review, approval and processing of accounts documents
• Oversees transmission of data to CAS, establishes deadlines, advises of delays, and controls data quality
• Implements and maintains ministry specific processing procedures and monitors to identify and report deficiencies
• Ensures compliance with Financial Administration Act, central agency policies and procedures
• Coordinates the implementation of new or amended procedures and systems
• Develops and delivers training
• Interprets and advises on the application of financial policies and procedures
• Resolves escalated and/or contentious issues
• Supervises staff
• Oversees the integrity of accounting records
• Responds to audit queries
• Coordinates fiscal year end activities

• Develops and monitors accounting framework
• Interprets and ensures compliance with corporate accounting and reporting policies/service level agreements
• Develops and amends program specific procedures (including such things as capital assets)
• Reviews accounting systems, policies and procedures and recommends changes to enhance internal controls and increase monitoring capability and efficiency
• Compiles and verifies information for monthly, quarterly and yearend financial statements and various other financial reports
• Analyzes balance sheet accounts to ensure they reflect financial activities
• Attests to the reasonableness of asset, liability, revenue and expenditure accounts
• Develops and delivers training and provides advice to other financial analysts and program staff

• Develops accounting, expenditure and commitment control procedures, and associated management systems
• Provides accounting advice to assist decision making and strategic planning
• Identifies and recommends changes to accounting policy, and systems
• Produces and reviews accounting reports to ensure compliance with statutory requirements
• Monitors and evaluates the delegated financial management function
• Represents the ministry on corporate financial projects
• Resolves accounting issues by researching standards and provides options
• Advises ministry officials, staff and contracted service providers on corporate policies and requirements
• Provides supervision and/or technical guidance to financial staff

• Applies focused and structured analysis of financial information
• Differences between FO 15 and FO 18 positions are related to the size and complexity of the program areas served
• Provides financial analysis services to a larger complex organization or to several different program areas

• Supervises an accounting operations function for the ministry
• Positions at grid 21 must also develop processing policies and procedures specific to the ministry/program

• Required to develop program or ministry specific accounting procedures within corporate policies
• In addition to analyzing accounting issues, has the independence to modify procedures to meet client requirements
• Provides specialist advice and guidance to other financial analysts

• Provides leadership/direction to other financial analysts
• Ministry-wide scope
• Typically combined with other functions such as budget, reporting, policy or procurement

To: more senior levels in accounting, budgeting and reporting or general finance and administration roles. 

From: clerical positions in financial services or general office management (review career maps for those career groups); or direct entry from financial institutions.

To: more senior levels in accounting, budgeting and reporting or general finance and administration roles. 

From: financial analyst or operations supervisor roles.

To: more senior levels in budgeting, auditing or accounting.

From: financial analyst roles.

To: more senior levels in budgeting, or accounting.

From: budgeting or accounting analyst roles.

JS #210 financial analyst

JS #212 financial analyst

JS #335 team lead, accounting services​

JS #118 financial analyst – accounting

• Level 1 or 2 of recognized financial programs such as Financial Management Certificate Program or nearing completion of professional accounting designation/degree or equivalent

• Level 1 or 2 of recognized financial programs such as Financial Management Certificate Program or nearing completion of professional accounting designation/degree or equivalent
• Knowledge of accounting principles, procedures and financial policies
• Diploma in financial management

• ​Completion of Financial Management Certificate Program, nearing completion of professional accounting designation/degree or equivalent

• Professional accounting designation or related degree

• Experience in conducting financial analysis and in supporting accounting and reporting processes for multiple business areas
• Experience developing financial statements and reports

• Experience working with financial accounting systems, procedures and internal controls
• Experience developing financial statements and reports
• Leadership experience

• Experience analyzing financial statements and recommending reallocations
• Experience developing financial statements and reports
• Experience interpreting legislation and conducting analytical research to support budget development and evaluation

• Experience in budget development and estimates preparation, financial planning and analysis, budget monitoring
• Experience analyzing financial data for variances and trends and recommending remedial action
• Experience interpreting legislation and conducting analytical research to support budget development and evaluation

• Basic principles and practices associated with sound financial administration

• Working knowledge of reconciliation of general ledger accounts, Chart of Accounts, budgeting and accounting policies, procedures and practices, financial systems and procedures.

• Working knowledge of financial controls and expenditure management

• Working knowledge of contract management

• Knowledge of accounting principles, procedures and financial policies
• Knowledge of the capitalization of asset policies and procedures
• Knowledge of Chart of Accounts, accounting principles, standards and financial controls
• Knowledge of computerized financial management and expenditure systems
• Working knowledge of contract management

• Working knowledge of the International Financial Reporting System
• Knowledge of the capitalization of asset policies and procedures.
• Knowledge of Chart of Accounts, accounting principles, standards and financial controls.
• Knowledge of computerized financial management and expenditure systems,
• Knowledge of operating and capital budget development, forecasting, monitoring and reporting.
• Knowledge of expenditure and commitment control processes
• Working knowledge of contract management
• Working knowledge of project management techniques and tools

• Comprehensive knowledge of the International Financial Reporting System
• Comprehensive knowledge of financial principles, standards and controls
• Knowledge of computerized financial management and expenditure systems
• Excellent knowledge of operating and capital budget development, forecasting, monitoring and reporting
• Knowledge of standard project management techniques and tools

• Ability to interpret policies and regulations
• Ability to compile and evaluate financial information
• Ability to analyze and reconcile accounts
• Ability to identify and report upon trends and variances
• Ability to communicate financial information effectively, both orally and in writing
• Strong organizational skills, including the ability to prioritize and meet deadlines
• Accuracy and attention to detail
• Proficiency with standard office applications
• Proficiency with Excel, including ability to create financial formulas

• Ability to interpret policies, regulations and complex financial information
• Ability to gather, compile, evaluate and summarize financial data in order  to make recommendations
• Ability to analyze and reconcile accounts to determine irregularities and their cause
• Ability to communicate complex financial information orally and in writing to management
• Ability to identify trends and changes in spending patterns, determine their implications for operations and recommend budget reallocations
• Ability to work effectively with other staff on projects
• Ability to organize work to meet competing deadlines and changing priorities  
• Proficiency with standard office applications
• Proficiency with Excel including the ability to create basic financial formulas

• Ability to interpret policies, regulations and complex financial information
• Ability to present financial information to senior management
• Ability to identify trends and changes in spending patterns, determine their implications for operations and determine courses of action
• Ability to build an understanding of the business objectives of the organization in order to provide effective management support and advice
• Ability to lead staff on project teams
• Ability to organize and delegate work to meet competing deadlines and changing priorities  
• Proficiency with standard office applications
• Proficiency in Excel, including the ability to create advanced financial formulas, graphs and pivot tables

• Ability to provide specialist financial advice to financial staff across the organization
• Ability to develop costing models for new initiatives or major business changes
• Ability to develop policies, procedures and financial controls to ensure effective financial management
• Ability to represent the organization on cross organization projects or committees
• Ability to interpret policies, regulations and complex financial information
• Ability to present financial information to senior management
• Ability to identify trends and changes in spending patterns, determine their implications for operations and determine courses of action
• Ability to build an understanding of the business objectives of the organization in order to provide effective management support and advice
• Ability to lead staff on project teams
• Ability to organize and delegate work to meet competing deadlines and changing priorities  
• Proficiency with standard office applications
• Proficiency in Excel, including the ability to create advanced financial formulas, graphs and pivot tables

• Problem solving and judgement
• Managing organizational resources
• Planning, organizing and coordinating

• Business acumen
• Problem solving and judgement
• Holding people accountable

• Concern for order
• Managing organizational resources
• Problem solving and judgement

• Concern for order
• Managing organizational resources
• Problem solving and judgement

• Governance – level 100/200
• Planning and Decision Support – level 100
• Financial Systems and Controls – level 200

• Governance – level 100/200
• Planning and Decision Support – level 100
• Financial Systems and Controls – level 200

• Governance – level 200/300
• Planning and Decision Support – level 200/300
• Financial Systems and Controls – level 200/300

• Governance – level 300
• Planning and Decision Support – level 300
• Financial Systems and Controls – level 300

• Gov 101: Government Essentials
• Ethics for Everyone
• FM 120: BC Government Planning Fundamentals
• FM 130: BC Government Financial Control Fundamental
• FM 201 Financial Management
• FM 210: Governance in Practice
• FMCP (Optional): additional level 100 & 200 FM courses
• CFS application courses, including CFS Fixed Assets
• FM 111: BC Government Expense Authority Fundamental

• Gov 101: Government Essentials
• Ethics for Everyone
• RM 100 Risk Management
• FM 120: BC Government Planning Fundamentals
• FM 130: BC Government Financial Control Fundamentals
• FM 201 Financial Management
• FM 210: Governance in Practice
• Supervising in the BC Public Service
• Supervisor Essentials
• Meeting Online in Virtual Environment
• FMCP (Optional): additional level 100 & 200 FM courses
• CFS application courses, including CFS Fixed Assets
• FM 111: BC Government Expense Authority Fundamentals

• Ethics for Everyone
• RM 100 Risk Management
• FM 201 Financial Management
• FM 210: Governance in Practice
• FM 220: Planning and Budgeting Applications
• FM 230: Applying Financial Controls, Control Frameworks and Systems
• FM 310: Enhancing Organizational Governance
• FM 320: Guiding the Planning and Budgeting Process
• FMCP (Optional): additional level 100, 200 and 300 FM courses
• FM 111: BC Government Expense Authority Fundamentals

• RM 100 Risk Management
• Promoting Ethics in the BC Public Service
• FM 310 Enhancing Organizational Governance
• FM 320 Guiding the Planning and Budgeting Process
• FM 111: BC Government Expense Authority Fundamentals

• Evaluate effectiveness of government wide accounting policy, research and develop changes and improvements
• Provide expert advice, tools and training to financial professionals
• Prepare government financial statements

• Manage the provision of accounting services for a ministry

• Develop and execute the financial management strategies and financial service delivery framework for the organization.
• CFO/ED Succession Plan Options (DOC, 62KB)

• Plans and conducts research to identify and recommend opportunities to improve accounting policy, systems, procedures and practice
• Analyzes potential impacts of national and international standards on public sector accounting
• Represents the Province and influences standards associations through committees, task forces and forums
• Leads corporate review projects to determine compliance
• Develops guidelines, tools, and templates, and provides training and advisory services to ensure best practice and to guide the implementation of changes
• Identifies risks and discrepancies in high profile areas and develop strategies to resolve and/or mitigate
• Provides expert advice to support executive decision-making and strategic planning
• Evaluates financing proposals for new corporate initiatives to develop reporting options
• Leads and/or participates in inter-ministry committees/project teams
• Prepares government financial statements, reports and supporting information
• Explains financial reports to corporate executive bodies and prepares Minister’s Briefings

• Oversees establishment, updating and implementation of accounting policies
• Provides assurance that financial operations are in compliance with IFRS/PSAB and public service policies and procedures
• Identifies and mitigates financial risks through the development, maintenance review and improvement of financial controls
• Leads the compilation of financial statements and reports
• Represents the Ministry in public service wide initiatives impacting accounting
• Researching and providing advice to Executive on complex and emerging accounting and financial issues
• Attests to the integrity and accuracy of financial information
• Manages the review of service agreements in a shared service environment
• Manages a team of accounting staff which may include managers and supervisors.

NOTE: These are identified as the foundational corporate accountabilities across government but are not inclusive of all the accountabilities required to classify this job

• Develops and executes the financial management strategies and financial service delivery framework for the organization
• Leads the financial operations according to financial principles, policies, legislation. regulations and ministry service plans and government strategic plans
• Establishes the financial structure, processes, controls, and reporting for the organization to ensure finances are managed according to relevant, legislation, policies, procedures and generally accepted accounting principles
• Directs and coordinates the planning and preparation of annual and long-term budgets for executive approval
• Directs and prepares financial analysis of operations for guidance and to build commitment with executives to establish the financial objectives that support the organizations’ business needs
• Directs and oversees the preparation and presentation of timely and accurate financial reports for both internal executive and central agency submission
• Leads a multi-disciplinary team (such as financial, budgeting, reporting) of directors and/or senior managers and translates the vision for the team to define clear business goals and objectives
• Collaborates with ministry program areas, Treasury Board Staff, the Office of the Comptroller General, and the Office of the Auditor General to identify and resolve emerging issues
• Exercise delegated authority and responsibility for the ministry’s system of financial management administration and is subject to the functional direction and guidance of the Comptroller General in matters related to the government's system of financial management and administration
• Prepares short and long-term business plans to direct operational changes that enhance efficiency, strengthen controls, reduce costs and achieve business outcomes
• Builds and fosters partnerships with a diverse range of senior leaders (such as minister, deputy minister, ministry executive members, partner/peer CFO’s) to ensure the financial and organizational goals are achieved

• Scope is BC public service wide, versus ministry or program specific
• FO 30 positions report to more senior levels, manage high profile, high risk policy review and development projects and function as senior authoritative experts

• The size and structure of the ministry requires a position excluded from union membership
• Significant staff management responsibilities

• Accountable for the financial services for a ministry
• Compensation targets differ according to the size of the organization

To: senior financial management positions

From: team lead/supervisory financial specialist or generalist position

To: senior financial management positions

From: team lead/supervisory financial specialist or generalist position

To: executive leadership

From: budget manager, manager – Financial Services

BENCHMARK (BM) job profiles

• BM 200 business manager regional operations BAND 3 E-Class: 16575 (PDF)
• JS #125 BM 202 budget manager BAND 2 (PDF)
• BM 309 regional director capital planning BAND 3 (PDF)
• BM 316 tax audit manager BAND 3 (PDF)
• BM 401 director financial operations BAND 4 (PDF)

• BM 500 chief financial officer (PDF)
• Chief financial officer (DOC)

• Professional accounting designation

• Professional accounting designation

• Professional accounting designation CPA/CA, CGA, CMA, issued by a Canadian Accounting Association

Note: if your designation was obtained from outside of Canada, you will need to confirm it has been assessed for equivalency through an applicable Canadian Accounting Association.

• Experience establishing and maintaining policies and procedures
• Experience in statistical and business case analysis
• Experience in financial statement preparation and analysis

• Experience in the development of financial controls
• Experience in managing accounting operations and producing financial statements for a large multi-faceted organization
• Experience in providing advice and making presentations to senior managers

• Considerable experience in progressively more challenging leadership roles directing a wide range of activities including 2 or more of:
  • Infrastructure change
  • Business systems and controls
  • Or policy
  • Or budgeting
  • Or accountancy
  • Or performance management
  • Or corporate risk
  • And/or legislative compliance
• Considerable experience in establishing collaborative relationships with executives, senior financial leaders and senior managers associated with managing financial activities and/or leading financial management change
• Considerable experience in leading and coaching multi-disciplinary financial teams

• Expert knowledge of current financial standards
• Knowledge of reporting requirements of various entities

• Knowledge of public service accounting and budgeting policies
• Advanced knowledge of the International Financial Reporting System
• Advanced knowledge of financial principles, standards and controls
• Excellent knowledge of accounting operations

• Knowledge of financial management and control frameworks, accounting and practices
• Knowledge of strategic planning, procurement, risk management and negotiation strategies
• Knowledge of government priorities and operating environment including government’s decision-making process and central agencies

• Good communication skills to provide training, advice and influence compliance and consensus
• Project management skills
• Ability to meet tight deadlines in a constantly changing environment
• Ability to analyze and interpret complex financial issues/problems.

• Excellent communication, presentation/ facilitation skills
• Excellent analytical, judgement, persuasion and consensus building abilities
• Ability to develop and maintain productive relationships at various levels
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and produce results within aggressive deadlines
• Demonstrated leadership ability

• Leadership, change management and influence management skills
• Analytical and interpretive skills to deal with complex information, processes/systems, and projects
• Ability to solve and communicate complex issues, in both written and verbal formats
• Ability to build and foster effective and collaborative relationships with senior leaders

• Problem solving and judgement
• Planning, organizing and coordinating
• Building partnerships with stakeholders

• Leadership
• Strategic orientation
• Business acumen

• Promoting empowerment
• Vision and goal setting
• Creating and managing change
• Solving problems creatively
• Building strategic alliances
• Executive presence: review Core Competencies for Strategic Leaders (PDF, 402KB)

• Governance – level 300
• Planning and Decision Support – level 300
• Financial Systems and Controls – level 300

• Governance – level 300
• Planning and Decision Support – level 300
• Financial Systems and Controls – level 300
• Reporting – level 300

• Governance – level 400
• Planning and Decision Support – level 400
• Budgeting – level 400
• Financial Systems and Controls – level 400
• Reporting – level 400

• Promoting Ethics in the BC Public Service
• FM 310 Enhancing Organizational Governance
• FM 320 Guiding the Planning and Budgeting Process

• FM 111 Expense Authority
• Promoting Ethics in the BC Public Service
• FM 310 Enhancing Organizational Governance
• FM 320 Guiding the Planning and Budgeting Process
• Managing in the BC Public Service
• Building a Respectful and Inclusive Workplace
• Present Your Best
• Leading Virtual Teams
• Meeting Online in a Virtual Environment
• Briefing Notes – Writing Good Briefing Notes (taped webinar of a live meeting)

• FM 111 Expense Authority
• Promoting Ethics in the BC Public Service
• Managing in the BC Public Service
• Coaching Approach to Conversations
• Fierce Conversations
• Presenting Your Best with Impact
• Meeting Online in a Virtual Environment
• Briefing Notes – Writing Good Briefing Notes (taped webinar of a live meeting)