Location: Hybrid (Downtown, Toronto)
Daily Responsibilities:
As the Senior Manager, Auditor Independence, the individual will help to drive transformation of the Auditor Independence function to streamline activities while mitigating risk. The individual will develop materials supporting the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of the Bank in their oversight of our external auditors, including the audit plan, audit fees, and evaluation of the external auditors based on quality of service, independence, objectivity, and expertise. The individual will also play an integral role in managing the day-to-day audit relationship and assisting in fee discussions in partnership with the Finance and Procurement teams. The individual will also play a key role in our accounting policy team with a focus on our quarterly disclosures. This is a critical role within the Enterprise Finance department and is an ideal position from which to develop an understanding of significant business issues, build leadership skills, and develop strong relationships across the Bank.
As part of the Chief Accountant’s Group in our Toronto head office, the individual will be part of a collaborative team culture that strives to challenge ourselves to be our best, think progressively to keep growing, and work together to deliver collective results.
The individual would be a great match for this role if the individual has experience navigating complex business issues and/or independence matters and enjoys re-imagining processes. The individual might describe themselves as a self-starter, are able to investigate issues in detail, step back and understand the business lens at a bird's eye view, and can effectively communicate difficult concepts in a concise manner.
- Provide oversight of and insights into our audit and audit-related fees by entity:
- Foster trust and cross-functional efficiencies through effective collaboration with key contributors across Finance and other functional groups, including Procurement and Human Resources and our external auditor
- Develop strategies and perform analysis to support the fairness of fees charged by our auditors
- Manage day-to-day engagement tracking
- Provide critical support, including through the development and/or review of materials, to the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of the Bank in their oversight of our external auditors, including the audit plan, audit fees, and evaluation of the external auditors based on quality of service, independence, objectivity, and expertise
- Exposure to senior executives and guide them through the review process and address any feedback in a constructive and timely manner
- Ensure communications are effective, concise and timely, addressing key audit requirements across the bank
- Help to drive a transformation of the Auditor Independence function to streamline activities while mitigating risk
- Own the process and bring a unique perspective to set ambitious goals, implement process improvements, and challenge the status quo while fostering strong partnerships
- Ensure accuracy and quality of disclosures in Financial Statement Notes and sections of Management’s Discussion & Analysis with effective challenge, lead discussions with external auditors where applicable
- Foster team building, trust, and cross-functional efficiencies through effective collaboration with key contributors such as External Reporting, Financial & Regulatory Reporting, and Investor Relations
Must-have Skills/Experiences and/or Education, certifications, qualifications, designations:
- Chartered Professional Accountant designation
- 6+ years of working experience
- Experience with financial reporting
- Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills – the ability to manage multiple priorities and lead independently, while knowing when to escalate and ask for support.
- Strong attention to detail and accuracy
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate effectively to senior executives, and present accounting items in a commercial context
- Curiosity to learn new ways to do things, including new technologies and tools, willingness to challenge the status quo, and ability to drive process improvements and efficiencies
- Strong interpersonal skills – specifically, able to act as a change agent, facilitator, and collaborator
- Proactive and forward-thinking approach
Nice-to-have Skills/Experience and/or Education, certifications, qualifications, designations:
- Working knowledge of auditor independence rules
- Previous experience with managing the external auditor relationship is highly beneficial
- Strong understanding of accounting, legal, and financial institutions’ disclosure requirements
- Experience with reporting tools such as Tableau, Workiva, etc.
Finance professional is committed to creating an inclusive environment where all team members and clients feel like they belong. We seek applicants with a wide range of abilities and we provide an accessible candidate experience. We advocate for you and welcome anyone regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, physical or mental disability, or age.