Controller, Finance & Banking, Financial Reporting

About FIRST UNITED

FIRST UNITED is a registered charity that has been serving Vancouver's Downtown Eastside community for 140 years. We offer responsive, low-barrier services to individuals who are low-income, underhoused or homeless. We pursue dignity, belonging, and justice to meet the daily needs of community members while engaging in systems change work to reduce homelessness and break cycles of poverty. We invite candidates who share in our values to apply even if your strengths align with most and not all of the requirements of this role.

The Controller plays a key role in strengthening our finance operations and supporting First United Church Community Ministry Society. This includes reconciliations, maintenance of adequate systems of accounting records, and ensuring accuracy of First United’s financial records, including compliance with Canadian generally accepted accounting principles. This position also provides support to the Senior Director, Finance & Administration in financial analysis and reporting, including preparation of annual budgets and reports for funding partners.

This position will work onsite at our office located at 320 East Hastings Street, Vancouver B.C.

• Annual salary progression for all staff.
• Comprehensive and 100% employer-paid health benefits including extended health and dental plan for regular staff, spouses and dependents.
• United Church of Canada defined benefit pension plan; employee contribution rate 6%, employer contribution rate 9%.
• Life insurance, Long-term Disability, and AD&D benefits.
• 15 days of paid annual vacation.
• 13 statutory paid days off every year and 12 days of paid sick leave.
• Professional designation reimbursement.
• An inclusive and supportive workplace culture.

• Maintains and enforces a documented system of accounting policies & procedures.
• Oversees the operations of the accounting department, including control systems, transaction-processing operations, policies and procedures.

• Ensure accounts payable are paid in a timely manner and that all reasonable discounts are taken; process cheque runs & prepare/process electronic payments and transfers.
• Assist the Payroll & Benefits Coordinator with payroll reporting problems or in correcting errors.
• Review bi-weekly payroll before finalization.
• Process bi-weekly payroll when Payroll & Benefits Coordinator is absent.
• Ensure that bank reconciliations are completed.
• Ensure reconciliations with Raiser’s Edge (fundraising software) are completed.
• Maintain the chart of accounts.
• Maintain orderly accounting filing systems.
• In partnership with the Senior Director, Finance & Administration, maintain a system of controls over accounting transactions.
• Make weekly bank deposits and enter bank deposit information from the Raiser’s Edge (fundraising) software as receipts in the Quick Books accounting system.
• Enter adjusting journal entries as needed.

• Review monthly financial statements.
• Preparation of monthly department financials.
• Preparation of financial reporting to institutional funders & for annual reports, as necessary.
• Support annual budgeting processes with Senior Director, Finance & Administration.
• Provide financial analyses as needed, under the direction of the Senior Director, Finance & Administration.
• Coordinate the provision of information to external auditors.
• Prepare quarterly and annual filing for WorkSafeBC premiums.

• Expertise processing accounting transactions with Quick Books Online accounting software.
• Accounts payable, accounts receivable and bank reconciliation experience.
• General accounting and financial reporting experience.
• Experience with payroll software and general understanding of requirements of processing payroll in a Canadian context.
• Expertise with Payworks and Raiser’s Edge are assets.
• Good command of English language both written and verbal.
• Ability to effectively interact with a variety of staff and members of the public in a diplomatic, professional and result-oriented manner.
• Excellent organizational skills and ability to prioritize one’s workload.