Recent Graduate Program for Finance Professionals

Job title: Recent Graduate Program for Finance Professionals

Company: Government of Alberta

Job description: Job Information
Job Title: Recent Graduate Program for Finance Professionals
Job Requisition ID: 66741
Ministry: Various
Location: Edmonton
Full or Part-Time: Full-Time
Hours of Work: 36.25 hours per week
Permanent/Temporary: Temporary
Scope: Open Competition
Closing Date: February 13, 2025
Classification: Opted Out & Excluded Budget Officer 1
Salary: $2,030.78 to $2,996.29 bi-weekly ($53,003 – $78,203/year)The Government of Alberta is committed to a diverse and inclusive public service that reflects the population we serve to best meet the needs of Albertans. Consider joining a team where diversity, inclusion and innovation are valued and supported. For more information on diversity and inclusion, please visit: .The GoA finance community is looking for recent graduates to join our team of trusted professionals through the Government of Alberta (GoA) Recent Grad Program for Finance Professionals. This is a temporary 18-month program for new finance professionals who have graduated within the past two years. We are committed to providing meaningful work assignments and introducing program participants to various finance functions within the GoA. Program participants will make professional connections with other Alberta Public Service (APS) professionals and gain constructive feedback to grow in their career. Listen to a brief interview with senior leaders from the GoA finance community and hear from our finance professionals as they share their personal experiences on the .Role ResponsibilitiesThe Government of Alberta (GoA) Recent Grad Program for Finance Professionals will provide you with an opportunity to gain experience working in public sector finance reporting, planning, and operations at both a corporate and department level. In addition to career development, there are formal and informal opportunities to meet and network with others in the program, experienced finance professionals, and finance leaders across the GoA. Mentoring opportunities are also available and you will have the opportunity to apply on internal GoA positions.In this 18-month program, you will gain diverse experience as you rotate through three six-month placements in at least two different ministries. Placement Supervisors in each ministry will provide guidance as you grow your knowledge and your finance skill set.You will learn about the GoA’s financial legislation, policies, procedures, processes, delivery structures and technology systems. This role will also provide you with an opportunity to practice and develop your communications and collaboration skills as you work with other finance professionals and business partners to troubleshoot issues and provide clear information and advice.As a participant in this program, you will have the opportunity to gain exposure in the following areas:Financial Planning:Under the supervision of the Placement Supervisor, you will assist with the budgeting cycle, business plan, fiscal analysis and cash flow forecasting. Some activities that may be performed include:

• Providing technical support in the development of department/division/branch budget allocations and submissions, and/or maintaining formal review processes to identify spending pressures
• Preparing documentation to support financial information presented to Treasury Board Committee
• Revising budget allocations in response to approved changes during the fiscal year and assisting in maintaining finance reporting structures
• Evaluating and reporting on financial performance compared to prior year and budget allocations – including investigating variances, performing trend analysis, and completing ad hoc reports
• Establishing and maintaining solid on-going working relationships within the department and across departments to provide financial planning services
• Contributing to the preparation of briefing material and responses

Financial Reporting:Under the supervision of the Placement Supervisor, the program participant will assist with the preparation of financial statements in accordance with government policies, processes, guidelines, and Generally Accepted Accounting Principles. Some activities that may be performed include:

• Involvement in the preparation of the ministry financial statements and disclosures, including assistance with sections to appear in the GoA Annual Report
• Providing input into the development of financial management systems and reporting
• Providing input into the development and maintenance of administrative processes, policies, and procedures to support the use of financial systems within the GoA
• Reviewing and analyzing financial information and producing summary reports
• Preparing monthly and quarterly reconciliations for various accounts and programs
• Preparing year-end working papers and schedules to complete Financial Statements
• Following processes and procedures for ongoing reconciliation
• Providing support for processing year-end accruals
• Preparing analysis and working papers to support restatements of balances
• Preparing information provided to the Office of the Auditor General and/or Treasury Board and Finance during year-end audit
• Preparing and entering journal entries, as required
• Contributing to the preparation of briefing materials and responses

Financial Operations:Under the supervision of the Placement Supervisor, the program participant will assist with maintaining the integrity of financial data within the following functions: Grants and Contracts, Travel & Expense Claims, P-Card, Accounts Payable (A/P), Accounts Receivable (A/R) and General Ledger. Some activities that may be performed include:

• Reconciling the general ledger to sub-ledgers (A/P, A/R, Procurement and Payroll)
• Preparing financial reports within established guidelines and timelines
• Validating coding and approvals on accounts payable entries
• Liaising with other staff to rectify errors and gather information
• Processing various accounting transactions
• Analyzing and clearing inter-unit transactions
• Preparing and entering journal entries, as required
• Providing support with system security
• Reviewing contracts and subsequent payments to ensure they are in accordance with financial policies
• Assisting with internal control reviews and implementation

APS CompetenciesCompetencies are behaviors that are essential to reach our goals in serving Albertans. We encourage you to have an in depth understanding of the competencies that are required for this opportunity and to be prepared to demonstrate them during the recruitment process.This link will assist you with understanding competencies: .The competencies that are determined to be essential for this program are:Creative Problem Solving – The ability to analyze the impact of and break apart any complex problems to get the best result for the client.Drive for Results – Knowing what outcomes are important and maximizing resources to achieve results that are aligned with the goals of the organization, while maintaining accountability to each other and business partners.Develop Networks – Proactively building networks, connecting, and building trust in relationships.Build Collaborative Environments – Leading and contributing to the conditions and environments that allow people to feel respected, work collaboratively and facilitate productively to achieve outcomes.Agility – The ability to anticipate, assess and readily adapt to changing situations and issues, while making well-thought-out recommendations.QualificationsApplicants must have successfully graduated from an accredited university within the last two years.Requirement:Applicants must have completed a Bachelor’s Degree program in a related field such as Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, Commerce, Economics, or Public Administration.Equivalencies will be considered as follows:An equivalent combination of education and experience which includes as a minimum, completion of a recognized applied accounting degree or diploma program, such as:

• related diploma and minimum of two years related experience

Assets:

• Experience with Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel and PowerPoint
• Experience or knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP)
• Experience or knowledge with general budget preparation
• Experience or knowledge preparing financial forecasts and analysis
• Experience or knowledge manipulating data sets
• Experience or knowledge preparing presentations or providing recommendations based on financial analysis.

A cover letter must accompany your application and should indicate why you are interested in participating in the program and how your past education and/or work experience aligns to the qualifications. The cover letter may be used to assess your communication abilities.Minimum recruitment standards outline the minimum education and experience required for appointment to a job classification. Refer to .NotesSuccessful program participants will be offered an 18 month full-time temporary salaried position scheduled to begin in early May. Participants will gain experience in financial operations, planning and reporting as they rotate through three six-month placements in at least two different ministries.In your resume, please include dates (including months and years) associated with all education and work experience. As well, please indicate whether your work experience is casual, part-time or full-time. For example, January 15, 2006 – June 25, 2009: Assistant (PT three 8 hrs. shifts/week). Please indicate if your education is complete or in progress.Standard work hours are 36.25 hours per week. Hybrid work arrangements may be possible.Final candidates will undergo an academic check, reference checks and provide a suitable security screening.Any costs associated with obtaining the required documents/checks as noted or interview travel expenses, will be the responsibility of the candidate. Out-of-province applicants can obtain the required documents/checks from the province they currently reside in.What we offer:

• Working for the Alberta Public Service –
• Public Service Pension Plan (PSPP) –
• Alberta Public Service Benefit Information –
• Professional learning and development –
• Research Alberta Public Service Careers tool –
• Positive workplace culture and work-life balance
• Opportunity to participate in flexible work arrangements such as working from home up to two days per week and modified work schedule agreement
• Leadership and mentorship programs

How To ApplyClick on the “Apply Now” button.Applicants are advised to provide information that clearly and concisely demonstrates how their qualifications meet the advertised requirements, including education, experience and relevant examples of required competencies.Candidates are required to apply for a job online. Please visit for more information. Please visit , for more information.It is recommended applicants who have completed post-secondary studies from outside of Canada obtain an evaluation of their credentials from the International Qualifications Assessment Service (IQAS)( ) or from a recognized Canadian Credential Evaluator; please visit the Alliance of Credential Evaluation Services of Canada for more information ( ).It is recommended that applicants include the assessment certificate from IQAS or any other educational assessment service as part of their application.Closing StatementThis competition may be used to fill future vacancies, across the Government of Alberta, at the same or lower classification level.We thank all applicants for their interest. All applications will be reviewed to determine which candidates’ qualifications most closely match the advertised requirements. Only individuals selected for interviews will be contacted.If you require any further information on this job posting or a copy of the role profile, please contact .

Expected salary:

Location: Edmonton, AB

Job date: Sat, 01 Feb 2025 03:57:56 GMT

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