General Accountant

Reports to: Chief Financial Officer

Salary: $60,000 - $65,000

Job type: Permanent, full-time

Job location: 9010 West Saanich Road, North Saanich, British Columbia

Process: email cover letter and resume to Lori Fitzgerald, CPHR at lori@pauquachin.com

Closing Date: 4:00 PM Monday, January 20, 2025

The Finance Department:

The Finance Department is responsible for providing financial services to the Pauquachin First Nation (the Nation). The Finance Department works closely with all departments within the Nation as well as with government agencies, funding sources and community members. The Finance Department includes expertise in financial planning, budgeting, monitoring and reporting service plan development, performance measures, financial policy and procedures management, financial systems support, debt management, payroll, and revenue and accounts receivable and payable.

The Opportunity:

The General Accountant provides a wide variety of daily financial tasks including processing a bi-weekly payroll, and to perform bookkeeping including accounts payable, accounts receivable, invoicing, journal entries; and the preparation of monthly financial reports as well as monthly account and credit card reconciliations.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable and General Accounting

  • Reviews, processes or prepares financial documentation including accounts payable, accounts receivable and reconciliation transactions, contracts, invoices, purchase orders; and ensures appropriate supporting documentation and cheque requisitions are prepared for cheque signature approval;

  • Receives, prepares, validates and processes incoming supplier invoices for payment as received on a daily basis; ensures signing/approval by Department Directors and Managers and that applicable supporting documents are attached;

  • Records accounts receivable invoice information into the system, and emails/mails invoices to customer for payment;

  • Receives and processes cheques, cash payments and e-transfers including verifying cash with the Nation agreements with the individuals and stakeholders, property tax payments and homeowner grants; ensures the security of cash on premises;

  • Validates goods received and that proper prices and freight charges have been invoiced in accordance with the purchase order;

  • Ensures accurate account allocation/coding for costs within the General Ledger and/or other sub-systems including coding of accounts payable invoices, expense claims and visa receipts to avoid duplication of payment;

  • Establishes and manages vendor information and standard payment terms; identifies and corrects incorrect codes and updates approved new codes;

  • Follows very specific and strict deadlines and adheres to the weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual payables schedule to avoid late penalty or interest charges. Disburses monies according to finance policy and guidelines;

  • Prepares forms for online banking payments and electronic fund transfers of purchases ensuring approval signatures included in the process;

  • Receives and reviews monthly health benefits and pension statements to ensure only active employees are included;

  • Assists the CFO with the preparation, adjustments and distribution of month-end financial statements, cash flow projections and other financial reports;

  • Generates monthly department financial statements (income statement and general ledger) as well as monthly reports detailing accounts payable status including vendor aged and aged overdue payables for presentation to the CFO as per the monthly schedule;

  • Generates and sends out invoices, statements. Actively monitors unpaid receivables such as utilities, taxes, rent and initiates collection procedures. Facilitates payment of invoices and rents due by sending reminders notices and contacting clients;

  • Reconciles the accounts receivable and payable ledger as per the monthly schedule to ensure that all payments are accounted for and properly posted. Tracks and follows up on delayed or missed payments and other such irregularities;

  • Reconciles vendor invoices with monthly statements;

  • Reconciles and remits GST, PST, WCB, Receiver General Source Deduction and Extended Health and Pension payments as well as credit card statements on a monthly basis; Ensures that reconciliation and remittance reports are completed and presented to the CFO as per the monthly schedule;

  • Enters weekly revenues and expenses into Adagio;

  • Maintains a record of all Nation assets, by department for insurance purposes, ensuring descriptions, and accurate serial numbers and replacement values are allocated to each item;

  • Gathers capital asset expenditure invoices for annual audit and responds to auditor inquiries related to accounts payable and receivable;

  • Checks departmental bank accounts to ensure funds are available for purchases;

  • Verifies and obtains authorization for any discrepancies;

  • Processes requests for manual cheques when and as required; such as travel advances;

  • Receives and processes approved employee travel and mileage claims from Departmental Directors, validates supporting receipts; and ensures claims have been properly authorized in accordance with the delegation;

  • Sets up and maintains accounts payable vendor files as well as financial records including purchase orders and invoices;

  • Processes, distributes and securely maintains invoices, financial forms, payroll transactions and records;

  • Reviews and may deliver bank deposits. Disburses monies according to legislation and guidelines;

  • Assists with the preparation of monthly account reconciliations and budget variances; Investigates and reports on budget discrepancies as requested;

  • Assists with the preparation of year-end working papers and the audit process as required;

  • Creates and maintains accurate account information for vendors and customers;

  • Prepares EFT files for bank upload and prepares cheques for signature;

  • Communicates with suppliers and internal clients to obtain information and clarify/resolve issues such as invoice discrepancies, missing documentation for payable processing;

  • Summarizes financial information related to projects as requested;

Payroll

  • Processes and maintains biweekly payroll transactions and records;

  • Prepares, verifies and/or reconciles documents such as Record of Employment, extended health benefit and pension enrolment;

  • Ensures TD1 IN forms are completed for all status employee;

  • Distributes new TD1 (federal and provincial) at the beginning of each calendar year to all non-status employees;

  • Administers the pension plan and extended health benefit enrollment, cancellations and status changes in various benefit plans, and annual reporting on the same as per legislation;

Other

  • Tracks folios, taxes and homeowner grants and calculates interest and penalties based on PFN rates and expenditure laws;

  • Investigates and responds to all inquiries in a timely manner.

What we require from you:

  • Degree or Diploma from a recognized accounting program;

  • Minimum five (5) years of recent related work experience; or

  • An equivalent combination of education and experience;

  • Minimum five (5) years of recent experience processing accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll and journal entries, and adhering to reporting requirements;

  • Minimum five (5) years experience using computerized accounting software, preferably Adagio;

  • Experience creating relatively complex spreadsheets;

  • Experience collecting debt from unpaid receivables;

  • Experience working in a First Nation environment an asset;

  • Clean criminal record check.

Why work with the Pauquachin First Nation?

By working with Pauquachin First Nation you will make an impact on the lives of our members. This is an opportunity to work for the advancement of our resilient community who seek to build a healthy, self reliant and economically strong community.

We offer competitive compensation, extended health benefit and registered pension plans, and a dynamic and friendly workplace.

Preference may be given to persons of Aboriginal ancestry and/or having knowledge of the Hul’q’umi’num’ culture and traditions.

Thank you for your interest in this position, only those short listed will be contacted.