GOVERNMENT OF NUNAVUT POSITION DESCRIPTION Date: May 2015 Position Number: 10-4105 Position: Incumbent: Reports to: Location: Director Finance Executive Director Corporate Services Iqaluit Effective: Certified that this position description accurately describes the position of Director Finance. Deputy Minister Department of Health Date PURPOSE This position, reporting to the Executive Director Corporate Services, is the senior financial advisor to the Department. The Director, Finance, is responsible for providing financial management advice on the requirement to conform to the Financial Administration Act and the FAM as well as all appropriate government policies. However, the primary responsibility is to provide quality advice and assistance to management on the development and control of realistic operating budgets that are structured according to program needs. The end result of the Director s efforts will be fewer cost overruns, a better financial database and a public perception that the department s spending is under control and public money is being expended in a responsible and sustainable manner. The position is also responsible for coordinating the Department s reporting to the Department of Finance for completion of the Government s Public Accounts and for coordinating the Departmental capital plan. The Director is also accountable for administering the insurance programs of Medicare, hospital services, extended health benefits and the Contribution Agreement for Non-Insured Health Benefits. This involves the management of policies, acts and legislation and deciding on the eligibility of claims and submitting claims for reimbursement to the federal government.
ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE A total of six (6) positions report directly to the Executive Director Corporate Services. The other positions are: Director Health Information Manager Health Insurance Programs Manager Medical Travel Business Continuity and ATIPP Coordinator Capital Planner SUBORDINATES Four (4) positions report directly to the Director Finance. They are: Manager Budgeting Reporting to the Director, Finance, the incumbent is responsible for providing financial planning advice in support of the Department and Government s budgetary cycle. The incumbent coordinates all major budgetary exercises for the Department, including Main Estimates, Capital Estimates, Supplementary Estimates and assists in the Business Plan development. The incumbent manages the Department variance reporting process, provides advice and support to departmental managers, including functional advice and guidance to finance staff at the regional offices. Provides financial support for departmental FMB submissions. Provides daily supervision of the Senior Financial Analysts. Manager Contracts Reporting to the Director, Finance, the incumbent is responsible for contracts administration and management for over 500 new contracts and contribution agreements each year with over 150 amendments extensions or modifications. The incumbent supervises the Contracts Administrator and provides support to regions by developing directives and guidelines, providing ongoing training and ensuring the Department complies with contract law, the Financial Administration Act and Manual, Government contracting regulations, and NNI Policy. Finance Officer Reporting to Director, Finance, the incumbent provides accounting services to the department within all applicable legislation the GN Financial Administration Manual, acts, policies, regulations, directives, financial accounting requirements and departmental procedures to ensure appropriate and effective controls are in place and adhered to, and that financial transactions are processed in a timely manner.
Medical Services Billing Officer Reporting to the Director, Finance, the incumbent is responsible for ensuring the department s revenues from medical billings are maximized in accordance with the GN Financial Administration Manual, acts, policies, regulations, directives, financial accounting requirements and departmental procedures relating to monies receivable. The incumbent is accountable to medical billing revenues for which the department budgets to avoid exceeding annual funding allocations voted by the Legislative Assembly. NATURE AND SCOPE This position has a major impact on budget development and control within the Department. The Director, Finance, will coordinate the development of a realistic budget that, to the extent possible within existing resources, satisfies program needs. The Director will train program managers to understand their budgets, to effectively monitor spending and to develop realistic financial forecasts for yearend spending. Rationalizing the budgets and effectively monitoring expenditures will require far fewer accounting transactions to replenish depleted allotments throughout the year and will, ultimately minimize the work involved for the entire department in completing year-end financial forecasts. Knowledgeable financial managers will make better program decisions as they balance the financial resources available to achieve program objectives. As the officer with the responsibility for coordinating the Department s input to Public Accounts, this Manager will ensure timeliness, accuracy and adequacy of all submissions. The Director is also accountable for contract administration across the Department to ensure that the requirements of FAM and contract law are followed. DIMENSIONS (2014/15) O&M Budget: $1,170,000 Person Years: Vote 01, 8 and Vote 04, 1 SPECIFIC ACCOUNTABILITIES The Director, Finance, is accountable to the Executive Director of Corporate Services for coordinating the development of sustainable budgets for all program areas by: Supervising a section of 3 staff headed by the Manager Budgeting, who are responsible for coordinating the development of the Department s annual operating budget; Working closely with the Executive Director of Corporate Services to complete an ongoing analysis of historical expenditure patterns;
Coordinating the development of a sustainable budget that is adequate for program needs within the resources available; Developing templates for managers to assist them in developing the supporting documents to support monetary demands for resources; Coordinating the analysis required to determine the program changes needed to allow the Department to effectively operate programs with sufficient resources; Acting as the senior financial advisor to departmental managers to help them develop the budgets for which they are responsible; Compiling all budgets within the prescribed format and submitting them to the Department of Finance within the departmental deadlines. The Director, Finance, is accountable for assisting managers to develop and implement program and policy changes to address programs where resources are insufficient over the long term to run programs in accordance with the guiding policies by: Based on an historical analysis of expenditures in all programs, determining those areas where resources provided by government are insufficient to run programs at the level specified in legislation and policies; Coordinating the review of targeted programs and services to determine whether they are meeting objectives; Evaluating targeted programs and services to determine the reasons for their failure or success and assessing the extent to which program resources are being efficiently expended; On the basis of comprehensive reviews of programs and services, in conjunction with the responsible managers, implementing modifications that will improve program effectiveness; Implementing changes to systems and procedures to streamline systems, improve controls and make more efficient use of resources. The Director, Finance, is accountable for the development of an effective framework of financial management reports for the use of Health program managers by: Determining the information needed on a regular basis by program managers to monitor their budgets within an effective system of financial control and management; Assessing the standard reporting mechanisms available from Free Balance to determine whether they provide managers with understandable, adequate and timely information to make program decisions; Developing standard monthly financial reports to be provided to program managers to ensure they all have the same user friendly program information;
Monitoring and providing comprehensive quarterly variance reports; Training managers to interpret management reports and maintain effective budget controls. The Director, Finance, is responsible for developing and implementing a process of budget monitoring and control by: Developing cash flows in conjunction with program managers to predict their monthly program expenditures in accordance with the budget backup for main estimates; Submitting cash flows for consolidation into departmental spending forecasts; Developing standard variance report formats that can be made available to managers on a minimum of a quarterly basis; Training managers to interpret variance reports to assess the reasons for variations from predicted expenditures, to modify spending to live within available allocations and to submit completed regional variance reports for rollup to departmental totals; In conjunction with program managers, assisting with the completion of accurate spending forecasts to year end; Assessing the accuracy of spending forecasts on a monthly basis and amending subsequent variance reports to take into account lessons learned. The Director, Finance, is accountable for coordinating the Department s financial reporting to contribute to the Government s overall Public Accounts by: Compiling the results of variance reports and completing departmental financial forecasts to predict the fiscal position at year end; Completing the accounting work necessary at year end to finalize the financial accounts, accrue any outstanding liabilities and close the books on spending in a particular fiscal year. The Director, Finance, is accountable for supervising the section involved in administering departmental contracts by: Developing and implementing all contribution policies and manages contracts across the organization. Managing the central tendering of projects and the advertising of requests for proposals. With over 500 contracts currently on the books, generating annual expenditures near $70 million in vote 1 and $11 million in vote 4 funding, strong fiscal controls are necessary. Accountability in this area is extremely high due to the sensitivity associated with non-competitive contract awards and the continuing need to ensure the NNI policy is adhered to.
Direct Management Duties include: Assigning and delegating duties and responsibilities to staff. Establishing goals and priorities for the section, developing work plans and evaluating staff performance against goals and objectives. Motivating staff to produce high quality work in reasonable and acceptable timeframes. Identifying objectives for the section and assigning work to staff. Conducting performance reviews to assess the extent to which mutually agreed objectives have been achieved. Administering progressive discipline to employees as required. Treating everyone in respectful manner. Following health and safety procedures and protocol. Other duties as assigned. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Knowledge: Business planning/budget development Budget monitoring and evaluation Generally accepted accounting principles Strategic financial planning decision making process Financial and program analysis and evaluation Financial accountability and control processes Skills: Strong analytical skills with the ability to utilize report writing software for the Free Balance system; Proven competency in utilizing business software including financial spreadsheets, e-mail, word processing and database development; Good writing skills with the ability to structure technical reports in a user friendly format for lay readers. Managerial or Supervisory Skills: A sound understanding of management and leadership theories and principles and demonstrated experience in their application. This knowledge is used when developing budgets and providing advice and support to senior departmental managers. Strong supervisory and leadership skills to assign work, review work in progress, evaluate employee performance and provide on the job training as required.
Contacts: Deputy Minister, Assistant Deputy Ministers and Senior Department Managers to exchange information, provide briefings and receive general direction; Deputy Minister and senior officials of the department to provide information and interpretation of budget issues, to provide advice and support, to solve problems, and to collaborate on special research or development projects; Colleagues in the regional offices and professional organizations to exchange information and contribute to the successful interpretation of financial information. Communication Skills: The position requires excellent verbal and written communication skills to ensure informed decision making about complex subjects for audiences who may not be familiar with issues at hand. The position requires excellent interpersonal skills to lead and influence parties to achieve common objectives, facilitate development, manage conflicts and resolve disputes. These skills, knowledge and abilities are usually obtained by completion of a professional accounting designation with 5 years related progressive management and supervisory experience, or by an equivalent combination of education and related experience. This is a position of trust and a Criminal Record Check is required.