Director of Finance

Employment Opportunity

Director of Finance

An integral member of the National Association of Friendship Centre’s management team, the Director of Finance, reporting directly to the CEO, plays a vital role in ensuring financial sustainability, compliance, and strategic financial management. The Director of Finance leads the Finance Team, and guides and coaches NAFC staff on business and financial matters.

Who we are:

Friendship Centres are Canada’s most significant urban Indigenous service delivery infrastructure. Based in downtown Ottawa, the NAFC represents a network of over 100 Friendship Centres and Provincial/Territorial Associations. Our collective work reaches millions of points of contact in a year and thousands of people every single day from coast to coast to coast.

What we provide:

• Highly competitive benefits package, including health & dental plan from day one;
• Hybrid working arrangements options available;
• Ongoing professional development.

This job might be for you if:

• You are passionate about advocating with and for Indigenous peoples across Canada.
• You have a strong background in non for profits organizations and strive to ensure financial sustainability and compliance.
• You have strong strategic financial management skills.
• You have strong leadership and managerial skills.
• You are a great communicator.

The ability to work in both official languages and an Indigenous language is an asset. Depending on the applicant’s qualifications, this role has an expected salary range of $100,000 to $140,000.

Tell us about how you match our needs via a resume and cover letter addressed to CEO – Jocelyn W. Formsma, by 5 pm on March 14, 2025.

Accommodation requests can be made at any stage of the recruitment process.

Job Description

Director of Finance 

Job Overview 

An integral member of the NAFC’s management team, the Director of Finance, reporting directly to the CEO, plays a vital role in ensuring financial sustainability, compliance, and strategic financial management. The Director of Finance leads the Finance Team, and guides and coaches NAFC staff on business and financial matters.

Key Roles and Responsibilities:

Financial Strategy & Leadership

• Develop and implement NAFC’s financial strategy in alignment with its mission, funding realities, and overall strategic plan.
• Advise the Executive Team and Board on financial performance, risks, opportunities and long-term outlook.
• Lead risk assessment and financial scenario and contingency planning.
• Periodically assist NAFC members with financial and managerial expertise.

Budgeting, Forecasting & Financial Planning

• Oversee the preparation of the annual budget, ensuring alignment with contribution agreements.
• Monitor and manage budget variances, working with NAFC managers to adjust spending as necessary.
• Develop multi-year financial projections and plans based on anticipated funding.

Contribution Agreement Management & Compliance

• Ensure compliance with financial terms and conditions of all contribution agreements and any other funding agreements.
• Ensure financial reporting requirements are met for each contribution or other funding agreement.
• Develop strong and professional relationships with federal and other funders to strengthen the reputation and credibility of NAFC.

Financial Reporting & Transparency

• Prepare and present financial statements to the board, executive team, and funders.
• Prepare and present financial reports for program and operations managers and stakeholders to inform decision-making.
• Ensure compliance with all relevant accounting standards and reporting requirements.
• Ensure appropriate allocation of indirect costs, overhead, and administrative expenses.
• Lead the external audit process, ensuring an efficient, clean and timely audit.

Risk Management & Internal Controls

• Identify and mitigate financial risks, including those related to funding stability, contract compliance, and operational expenses.
• Implement strong internal financial controls to prevent mismanagement and ensure compliance with financial policies, contribution agreements, accounting standards, and laws and statutes.

Cash Flow & Treasury Management

• Oversee cash flow policy and management to ensure funding is received and spent in accordance with agreements.
• Prepare cash flow forecasts to inform spending and investing decisions and ensure appropriate cash balances are always maintained.
• Optimize cash balances and investments to ensure appropriate stewardship of cash resources.
• Manage banking relationships, investment policies, and financial risk exposure.

Operational & Team Leadership

• Lead and mentor the finance team, ensuring they have the skills and resources to manage complex funding and program accounting arrangements.
• Work collaboratively with programming and operational managers to ensure financial literacy, performance and accountability across NAFC.
• Oversee payroll, accounts payable, accounts receivable, and expense management systems.
• Support funding proposals, renewals, and negotiations by providing financial analysis and reporting.

Technology & Financial Systems

• Ensure financial systems and tools support efficient reporting and compliance with federal funding agreements.
• Implement, optimize, modernize and/or automate financial software to manage finance department operations.
• Ensure cybersecurity and data integrity in financial systems.

Note: This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or tasks.  Instead, responsibilities may change, or new ones be assigned, as required, that contribute to the overall success of NAFC.

Qualifications

• A bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, business administration, or a related field, at a minimum.
• A master’s degree in finance, public administration, business administration or a related field.
• A CPA designation is strongly preferred.

Experience

• At least 10+ years of progressive experience in financial management, preferably in a non-profit or Indigenous organization.
• 5+ years overseeing financial operations and managing a finance team.
• Experience with budgeting, financial reporting, and compliance for large non-profits or public sector organizations.
• Experience managing multi-million-dollar federal funding and other agreements (contribution agreements, grants, etc.).
• Experience ensuring compliance with funding agreements, financial regulations, accounting standards and reporting requirements, and laws and statutes.
• Audit and risk management experience.

Technical Skills & Knowledge

• Proficiency in Sage Intacct for financial management; advanced Microsoft Excel skills for data analysis and reporting; experience with project management software, financial software integration, database management, and data analysis tools.
• Advanced financial modelling skills.
• Advanced financial analysis and planning skills.
• Expertise in financial reporting to various groups of stakeholders including management, governance, funders, auditors, staff, etc.
• Demonstrated ability to maintain strict confidentiality regarding financial and sensitive information.

Leadership & Strategic Skills

• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to effectively communicate financial information to stakeholders with varying levels of financial literacy.
• Strategic financial leadership with the ability to align financial strategy, planning and operations with NAFC goals and strategy.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving and risk management skills with the ability to proactively analyze financial data and make strategic recommendations.
• Excellent interpersonal and relationship building skills with the ability to engage and build strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Excellent people management, mentoring and coaching skills with the ability to work collaboratively in a diverse team environment and provide guidance and coaching to non-finance colleagues.

Industry Specific Knowledge

• Strong knowledge of federal funding mechanisms (e.g. contribution agreements) and public policy as they relate to Indigenous peoples and organizations.
• Strong understanding of Indigenous governance structure and protocols.
• Strong understanding and knowledge of the Friendship Centre movement in Canada and NAFC’s role within that movement.
• Strong knowledge of non-profit financial management, reporting and compliance.

Please submit your resume and cover letter by 5 pm on March 14, 2025, detailing how your qualifications align with our needs.

Thank you for your interest in this position at NAFC!

• NAFC is committed to providing an inclusive and accessible recruitment process. Please let us know if you require accommodation at any stage of this application process.
• We encourage applications from all qualified candidates. If you self-identify as Indigenous (First Nations, Métis, or Inuit), we invite you to indicate this in your application. This information is voluntary and will be used to support our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion here at NAFC.
• Fraudulent recruitment postings have affected the way we recruit as it affects the applicants & organizations alike. We want to make it as safe as possible as we go through our recruiting process. Please know that NAFC will never ask you for any type of payment, nor require you to provide all your personal information.  If you think you have been a victim of recruitment fraud scheme, please contact your local police department. If you would like to report instances of fraud with us, please e-mail us at careers@nafc.ca. You are also welcome to report the suspicious activity with the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre [hyperlink: Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre]. We wish you the best of luck in your job search.