Manager-Finance Optimization-Financial Accounting and Advisory Services-Assurance 1

From small businesses to some of the world’s best-known brands, our clients count on reliable financial statements, information, and processes to inform their ongoing strategies. More than ever, business is about interpreting and reacting to complex data — and they look to us for advice and services they can trust every time. You’ll use your professional skills and experience to make it happen, handling complex accounting and finance process issues across a broad range of industries and responsibilities. Although we are part of EY’s Assurance business unit, FAAS FO is a very different place to be, where we apply industry leading practices from around the world to support our clients’ challenges.

In today’s world, constant change is the new normal. Forces of disruption are increasing - digital and technological advancement, changing regulatory and political environments, evolving societal norms, talent shortages, and market volatility are forcing CFOs and their Finance teams to become more agile – more efficient, more responsive, and more insightful. Finance leaders must radically rethink their strategies in the face of shifting priorities as they partner with the business to deliver long-term organizational value.  Our FAAS FO practice helps our clients interpret and react to complex financial and non-financial data sets and provide real-time, forward-looking, and trusted insights to stakeholders leveraging best-in-class operating models and technology platforms.  

Our evolving suite of Finance Optimization service offerings includes Finance Strategy, Performance Management & Costing, Finance Process Optimization, Finance Systems, Finance Integration, and Data Analytics. Pick a major, pick a minor or explore a range of our services before deciding to specialize and take advantage of the learning and development opportunities available to you as you grow your experience and accelerate your career by working alongside our team of leading finance and accounting professionals to Build a Better Working World. 

The opportunity

As a FAAS Manager, you will be a professional member of our team, responsible for both guiding our staff and senior consultants – and building our culture - while also developing long-term client relationships and networks principally through project delivery and business development efforts.  FAAS – FO focuses on supporting finance leaders in assessing, designing, and implementing innovative and effective finance operating models, processes, and technologies across all areas of the finance function.  In addition, we also contribute to improving the data integrity and quality, management accounting, and financial systems of our clients.  As such, our team members combine technical accounting skills, practical experience in financial reporting processes, cost and management accounting, performance management, systems and analytics, as well as deep industry experience. 

Your key responsibilities

As a Manager within our Financial Accounting Advisory Services (FAAS) Finance Optimization practice, you will help clients transform and optimize financial and management reporting processes through technology-enabled solutions.

We are seeking an experienced Manager with strong functional and implementation experience with Workiva, particularly across financial and management reporting use cases. You will work with clients to understand their accounting, reporting, data and technology requirements and translate them into practical and scalable solutions.

In this role, you will lead key aspects of the implementation lifecycle, including requirements gathering, functional and solution design, configuration, data and integration requirements, testing, training, deployment and optimization. You will work closely with finance, controllership, financial reporting and technology stakeholders and manage multidisciplinary teams to deliver successful client outcomes.

Skills and attributes for success

• Strong functional solution design mindset, with the ability to translate finance and reporting requirements into practical and scalable technology solutions. 
• Strong understanding of Workiva functionality and the ability to advise on solution design, configuration, data, workflow and governance considerations. 
• Ability to lead client workshops, synthesize complex requirements and communicate clear recommendations to senior stakeholders. 
• Strong understanding of financial reporting processes and the ability to connect technology design decisions to business outcomes. 
• Consulting-oriented delivery experience, including ownership of scope, timeline, budget, quality, risks, issues and client expectations. 
• Ability to coach and supervise engagement teams while providing functional direction throughout the implementation lifecycle. 
• Strong collaboration skills across accounting, reporting, finance transformation, data and technology teams. 

Business responsibilities

• Lead finance transformation and technology engagements and workstreams involving Workiva, including requirements gathering, functional design, configuration, testing, deployment, training and optimization.
• Lead client workshops and translate accounting, financial reporting and business requirements into functional and solution designs within Workiva.
• Design practical and scalable financial reporting solutions, including reporting structures, workflows, security and permissions, data structures and governance processes.
• Provide functional leadership across relevant Workiva capabilities, including Documents, Spreadsheets, Presentations, Wdata, Chains, connected reporting, workflow management and reporting automation.
• Define and oversee data and integration requirements between Workiva and ERP, EPM, CPM, consolidation, data warehouse and other source systems, working with appropriate technology specialists.
• Support the design and optimization of external, statutory, regulatory, management and other financial reporting processes.
• Lead design workshops, testing, user acceptance testing, training, deployment readiness and post-implementation stabilization.
• Assess existing financial reporting processes and technology environments and identify opportunities to improve standardization, automation, governance, data integrity and user experience.
• Manage engagement scope, timelines, budgets, quality, risks, issues and client expectations, including engagement economics and quality and risk management requirements.
• Manage and coach senior consultants and staff and provide functional direction throughout the implementation lifecycle.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with finance, controllership, financial reporting and technology stakeholders.
• Support proposals, client pursuits, solution demonstrations, scoping and effort estimation relating to finance transformation and reporting technology opportunities.
• Collaborate across FAAS and other relevant EY teams to bring appropriate finance, accounting, data and technology capabilities to client engagements.
• Contribute to EY methodologies, implementation approaches, training materials and knowledge sharing related to finance and reporting technologies.
• Understand and follow workplace policies and procedures, including applicable independence, quality, risk management and client acceptance requirements.

Practice Development responsibilities

• Promote an innovative and team-oriented work environment
• Develop people through effective coaching, supervision, and mentoring
• Conduct performance reviews and contribute to performance feedback for staff
• Contribute to people initiatives including recruiting, retaining, and training Finance & Performance Management professionals
• Maintain an educational/training program to continually develop personal skills
• Understand and follow workplace policies and procedures, including project & proposal quality & risk management

What we look for

• Strong functional solution design mindset, with the ability to translate finance and reporting requirements into practical and scalable technology solutions.
• Strong understanding of Workiva functionality and the ability to advise on solution design, configuration, data, workflow and governance considerations.
• Ability to lead client workshops, synthesize complex requirements and communicate clear recommendations to senior stakeholders.
• Strong understanding of financial reporting processes and the ability to connect technology design decisions to business outcomes.
• Consulting-oriented delivery experience, including ownership of scope, timeline, budget, quality, risks, issues and client expectations.
• Ability to coach and supervise engagement teams while providing functional direction throughout the implementation lifecycle.
• Strong collaboration skills across accounting, reporting, finance transformation, data and technology teams.

Ideally, you’ll also have

• Current or prior Workiva certifications or formal Workiva platform training. 
• Experience across multiple Workiva financial reporting implementations or use cases. 
• Experience with complex financial statements, disclosure reporting and management reporting environments. 
• Experience with structured reporting or XBRL would be an asset. 
• Knowledge of complementary finance and data technologies such as SAP, Oracle, Workday, BlackLine, OneStream, Snowflake, Databricks or Microsoft technologies. 
• A professional designation such as CPA, CA, CFA, CMA or another relevant certification. 
• Previous professional services or consulting experience. 
• French-language skills would be an asset. 

What we look for

We’re interested in strong team players who support their colleagues in reaching their goals while also considering their own workload and development. If you have the confidence to speak up and influence a team that affects big businesses worldwide, this role is for you.

This job posting relates to an existing vacancy within our organization.

What we offer

We offer a competitive compensation package where you’ll be rewarded based on your performance and recognized for the value you bring to our business. In addition, our Total Rewards package allows you decide which benefits are right for you and which ones help you create a solid foundation for your future. Our Total Rewards package includes a discretionary bonus program, a comprehensive medical, prescription drug and dental coverage plan, a defined contribution pension plan, a great vacation policy plus firm paid days that allow you to enjoy longer long weekends throughout the year, statutory holidays and paid personal days (based on province of residence), and a range of exciting programs and benefits designed to support your physical, financial and social well-being. Plus, we offer:

• Support and coaching from some of the most engaging colleagues in the industry
• Learning opportunities to develop new skills and progress your career
• The freedom and flexibility to handle your role in a way that’s right for you

EY reports salary ranges in accordance with applicable provincial pay transparency legislation. Individual salaries within the anticipated salary ranges noted below are determined through a wide variety of factors including but not limited to internal equity, education, relevant experience, knowledge, and applicable skill sets.

• Toronto: $105,000 to $155,000
  
  

Are you ready to shape your future with confidence? Apply today.

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Inclusiveness at EY

Inclusiveness is at the heart of who we are and how we work. We’re committed to fostering an environment where differences are valued, policies and practices are equitable, and our people feel a sense of belonging. We embrace diversity and are committed to combating systemic racism, advancing gender equity and women in leadership, advocating for the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, promoting our neuroinclusion and accessibility initiatives, and are dedicated to amplifying the voices of Indigenous peoples (First Nations, Inuit, and Métis) nationally as we strive towards reconciliation. Our diverse experiences, abilities, backgrounds, and perspectives make our people unique and help guide us. Because when people feel free to be their authentic selves at work, they bring their best and are empowered to build a better working world.

Learn about our commitment to Inclusiveness at  https://www.ey.com/en_ca/about-us/corporate-responsibility/equity

At EY, we use artificial intelligence (AI) tools as one element of our recruitment process to enhance efficiency and improve the candidate experience. While AI supports us in our process, human judgment and decision-making remain integral in our candidate experience. We are committed to the responsible use of AI, and our practices are continuously reviewed and refined to ensure they align with ethical principles and regulatory requirements.

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