Vice President Finance and Administration

Why Literacy? Work with purpose at United for Literacy.

Canada’s literacy divide widens daily because so many people lack adequate support. Solving systemic literacy challenges is key to advancing social equity and prosperity across our country. Literacy changes everything.

United for Literacy (formerly Frontier College) is a national charity that was founded in 1899. We believe literacy is a right, and that every place can be a learning place. Our vision is a Canada in which everyone has the literacy skills they need to achieve their goals at school, at work, and in life. Our mission is to provide local learning support programs that change lives.

We encourage applications that reflect the diverse cultures and socio-economic backgrounds we serve at United for Literacy. In keeping with our ongoing efforts to promote equity and reflect the diversity of our organization, we encourage applications from Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities and members of visible minorities.

The opportunity:

The VP Finance and Administration provides strategic leadership and oversight of the financial and administrative operations of United for Literacy and United for Literacy Foundation. The VP reports directly to the President and CEO and is also accountable to both the organization’s and the Foundation’s Board of Directors.

The VP Finance and Administration is a key contributor to ensuring that the organization achieves its financial strategic objectives and meets its obligations to regulators, donors and funding bodies. The VP will lead and develop an internal team to support the following areas: finance, human resources, information technology and analytics, and facilities. This role is a member of the senior executive team and provides support and financial guidance to the management team across Canada.

Your main responsibilities and major duties:

Financial Management

• Contributes to the setting of overall organizational goals and strategic direction as it relates to fiscal management.
• Works with and advises President and CEO on long-term financial planning, using strategic and creative thinking.
• Ensures accurate, timely and end-user-appropriate reports are prepared for management, the two Boards, funders, and other key stakeholders.
• Manages annual budget and projection processes; supports and coordinates program and other departmental leaders in development of budgets and projections; prepares consolidated reports for discussion and decision making with senior leadership team and the Boards.
• Develops, recommends, and implements financial policies and procedures that support overall operations.
• Manages the monthly financial statement process of both organizations, including distribution to relevant staff for review.
• Responsible for ongoing assessment of potential financial risks and makes recommendations on how to address risks in collaboration with the senior leadership team.
• Responsible for organizational cash flow management and forecasting.
• Manages relationships with Foundation’s investment management firms and prepares financial reports and materials for the Foundation’s Board as required.
• Prepares and ensures compliance with CRA filings and other regulatory requirements.
• Acts as key staff support for United for Literacy’s Finance and Audit Committee of the Board. Manages annual external audit process and liaises with auditors.
• Participates in decisions regarding strategy for program development and funding proposals with financial goals of the organization in mind and develops budgets and financial reports for funders.  
• Oversees all financial transactions and reviews contractual agreements.
• Ensures adequate financial internal control framework is in place and conducts ongoing assessment of same.

Operating/Administrative Department Oversight

• Works closely with external partners and third-party vendors and consultants.
• Manages and develop Human Resource, IT and other administrative teams to ensure operational effectiveness and to implement strategic priorities.
• Oversees the organization’s payroll, benefit plan and defined contribution pension plan.
• Oversees various operational functions including insurance, facilities management, and leases, as well as the financial aspects of the United for Literacy Books (social enterprise of United for Literacy)
• Acts as Privacy Office and Complaints Officer for United for Literacy

Skills, Attributes and Requirements

• Professional accounting designation (CPA) and university degree.
• Strong knowledge of both current and upcoming not-for-profit accounting principles, standards and regulations as established by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), the Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada, Imagine Canada and other applicable regulatory bodies.
• Working experience in an entrepreneurial, high-growth, mission-driven environment.
• Experience in working across organizational teams/functions from front line staff to the Board.
• Track record of successfully leading staff in a changing environment.
• Experience using Sage Intacct an asset.
• Core competencies include:  accountability, business acumen, planning and organizing , interpersonal and teamwork, service excellence, supervisory/management, initiative, stakeholder management, strategic visioning