Controller, Finance & Banking, Financial Compliance

Pacheedaht First Nation - or “People of the Seafoam” are a Nuu‑chah‑nulth people from the southwest coast of Vancouver Island.

Controller

Full-time, Ongoing (Hybrid)

We are the Pacheedaht First Nation – a resilient, thriving community rooted in our sacred lands and waters. Our home brings peace, safety, and belonging, connecting us to one another and to our ancestors.

Guided by our teachings, we steward our territory and exercise our rights, title, and jurisdiction with care, protecting the wildlife, clean air, waters, and forests that sustain current and future generations. Pacheedaht First Nation is a proud, progressive government focused on the health, safety, and self‑reliance of our people while preserving our culture, values, and language. We hold four reserves (174 hectares) within our traditional territory in Port Renfrew, about 80 km from Victoria, with an estimated 286 members, including roughly 100 living on‑reserve.

Reporting to the Band Manager, the Controller serves as PFN’s senior finance leader, providing strategic financial oversight and acting as the primary financial advisor to Chief and Council. This role is responsible for ensuring compliance with PSAS, ISC, FNHA, and CMHC reporting requirements, managing the annual external audit, leading the finance team across both remote and on‑site locations, and overseeing ongoing automation and continuous improvement initiatives.

PFN is seeking a Controller who combines a hands‑on approach with strategic vision, capable of implementing and following through on projects, evaluations, and feasibility studies. You will be directly involved in synthesizing complex information, informing reinvestment strategies, and engaging in practical tasks such as compliance, audits, and process improvements. The Controller is tasked with ensuring the finance department operates independently and sustainably, while delivering timely and actionable information to support PFN’s leadership and staff, ultimately helping to maintain sound and sustainable financial operations.

• Serve as the senior financial advisor to Chief and Council, presenting monthly, quarterly, and annual financial reports in a manner that is clear, transparent, and decision-focused.
• Support Council in fulfilling fiduciary responsibilities by maintaining strong financial governance, policies, and internal controls.
• Attend Council meetings and provide financial analysis, recommendations, and risk assessments as needed.

• Lead the annual budgeting process across all PFN entities and programs.
• Develop multi‑year financial forecasts aligned with the Nation's strategic, operational, and capital plans.
• Prepare consolidated and entity‑level financial statements in accordance with PSAS.
• Oversee the annual external audit and act as the primary liaison with auditors.

• Ensure compliance with all funding agreements (ISC, FNHA, CMHC, provincial ministries, grants) and reporting deadlines.
• Provide oversight of the Funding Manager's work, ensuring proposals and reports meet funder requirements and align with PFN's financial position.

• Directly supervise, mentor, and develop the finance team, including remote team members.
• Conduct regular one‑on‑ones, performance conversations, and team meetings (mix of in‑person and virtual).
• Build a positive, values‑driven team culture that reflects PFN's community values.
• Manage workload distribution and ensure adequate cross‑training and coverage.
• Account for treasury and risk management duties consistent with compliance requirements.

• Own the ongoing automation roadmap and ensure finance systems are maintained, improved, and leveraged effectively.
• Evaluate and recommend system enhancements to reduce manual effort and support the remote work model.
• Develop and maintain a comprehensive finance procedures manual (SOPs) so all processes are documented and not dependent on any single person.

• Demonstrates initiative and a proactive approach…