Director, Finance 

Canadian Home Builders’ Association (CHBA)
“The Voice of Canada’s Residential Construction Industry Since 1943”

Job Title:                      Director, Finance

Position Type:             Full-Time
Job Location:              National Office - 141 Laurier Avenue West, Ottawa

Reports to:                   CEO

ABOUT THE JOB

Under the direction of the Chief Executive Officer, and responding and interacting frequently with the Treasurer of the Board of Directors, the incumbent is responsible for effective management of CHBA’s financial affairs, including the preparation and updating of the long-range financial plan, monthly reports on the Association's finances to the Executive Committee/Board of Directors, supporting the financial audit function and committee, evaluation and monitoring of CHBA's financial performance in relation to stated objectives, development and maintenance of financial control and accountability systems and records, all accounts payable and receivable, and providing all financial support activities related to the CHBA National Office and all of its lines of business in terms of committees, councils, projects and programs.

Key Responsibilities

Financial Management:

• Prepare, manage and report on budgets and projections for the overall CHBA budget, and working with staff leads for committees, councils, projects and programs (e.g. special projects, annual conference and fall meetings, Modular Construction Council, Net Zero Homes Council, etc.)
• Oversee and prepare monthly financial reporting at the organization level (for Executive Committee and Board of Directors) and sub-component levels (for staff leads), and for the Annual Meeting of Members
• Prepare other reports for the CEO, Board of Directors, and other stakeholders as appropriate
• Implement and maintain the next iteration financial system, which will include regular access by program/project managers with read-only access for actuals such as accounts receivable and accounts payable, and read-write access for planning and forecasting, providing real-time financial status and projections on overall budget, program and project budgets
• Implement new leave/vacation tracking system (may be part of, or separate from, financial system platform)
• Work with provincial and local associations on securing their membership dues remittances and staying current
• Provide advice on the applicable taxes and cost estimations for projects (e.g. billable rates, GST, HST)
• Analyze financial data, authorities’ frameworks and metrics to identify areas for improvement
• Ensure compliance with financial regulations and reporting requirements to CRA and other federal government entities
• Working collaboratively with internal project leads, handle financial inquiries and resolve operational issues as they arise
• Conduct financial risk assessments and develop mitigation strategies
• Engage and support the Treasurer as well as the Audit Committee
• Liaise with auditor on the annual audit process, as well as auditors who are assigned by other agencies (e.g. federal government funders of CHBA projects/programs)
• Lead development and implementation of all financial-related office/staff/member policies and procedures
• Oversee employee benefit plan and RRSP plan
• Oversee all corporate insurance (including cyber insurance, D&O, etc.)
• Review of all contracts from a financial perspective
• Support project leads in government project/program funding applications (e.g. financial estimates) and subsequent contract reporting for hours worked, payroll documentation, per diems, etc.

Bookkeeping:

• Record day-to-day financial transactions and complete the posting process
• Ensure all transactions are properly recorded and categorized in the general ledger
• Manage all accounts payable and receivable, including for all projects/programs, and chasing delinquent accounts receivable
• Tracking label sales for the Modular Construction Council
• Reconcile bank and credit card statements to ensure accuracy
• Process accounts payable and accounts receivable, ensuring timely payments and collections
• Process payroll
• Process travel claims for staff and volunteer members on CHBA business
• Administer group benefits
• Oversee new vacation/sick-day systems and track vacation and sick days in collaboration with managers
• Prepare and submit financial reports, including balance sheets, income statements, and cash flow reports
• Maintain organized financial filing systems for easy access to documentation
• Maintain an inventory of assets (in collaboration with other leads, e.g. IT Manager, Operations)
• Support office lease negotiations and financials
• Update databases for payroll and benefits, financial records, and facility documentation

Facilities Management

In collaboration with the Office Manager:

• Be the primary liaison with the building manager for building issues, security updates and incident resolution
• Organize building access control
• Negotiate vendor contracts as needed and maintain inventory

Asset: The ideal candidate would also have human resources experience, expertise and potential accreditation. In that case, the following responsibilities would also be part of the role.

Human Resources:

• Serve as lead for the Joint Health and Safety Committee
• Develop/implement security plans and regular inspections to mitigate risks and ensure the health and wellbeing of the team, volunteers, partners and members
• In collaboration with the Senior Director, Operations:
  • Liaise with the external HR Consulting Firm to oversee the implementation of HR strategy
  • Develop and/or update HR policies and procedures
  • Understand, address and resolve employee relations matters by representing the office of the CEO where appropriate, interpreting policy and supporting the appropriate application of policy 
  • Implement policies, processes and strategies for a positive and inclusive organizational culture

ABOUT YOU, THE CANDIDATE

Essential Requirements

Education:

Post-Secondary Degree or Diploma in a related field.

Experience:

• A minimum of ten (10) years’ recent practical work experience in a related field
• Proven ability to manage financial systems, and establish efficient processes and financial controls
• Expertise in budgeting and financial reporting
• Experience in managing vendors

Asset: Experience working with non-profit organizations and/or associations

Asset: Experience in project management

Asset: Experience in managing vendors and digital transformation initiatives

Asset: Experience in human resources

Equivalent combinations of education and experience may be considered.

Knowledge:

• In-depth knowledge of Word, Outlook, Excel and PowerPoint
• In-depth knowledge of Sage (and/or similar accounting systems)
• In-depth knowledge of all aspects of role as Director, Finance (see Job Description above)
• Asset: in depth knowledge of human resources

Skills and Abilities:

• Ability to develop strong working relationships that encourage cooperation
• Ability to multi-task, advancing multiple projects and activities simultaneously
• Strong verbal and written communication skills

Team Fit:

• Self-starter who thrives in an environment where he/she can be equally successful working independently as well as collaboratively in a team environment
• Strong client service attitude and customer service mentality
• Outstanding interpersonal skills
• Strong organizational skills
• Detail-oriented
• Time management skills
• Ability to prioritize and handle multiple tasks and competing deadlines
• Enthusiastic desire to contribute to the overall success of the CHBA and its members
• Emotional intelligence: effective understanding of oneself and others and ability to relate well to other people

ABOUT CHBA

How we deliver our services

CHBA is the national level of one association working at three levels – nationally, provincially and locally. Our members join a Local Home Builders’ Association (HBA), and in so doing also become members of the provincial and national levels of the Association. With over 50 constituent (local and provincial) HBAs in the Association, collaboration is our strength.

Our membership is made up of over 8,500 leading companies from coast to coast – including home builders, renovators, land developers, trade contractors, product and material manufacturers, building product suppliers, lending institutions, insurance providers, and service professionals. Our industry represents over $182B of economic activity and over 880,000 million on- and off-site jobs.

The members engaged with the National association are leaders in the industry and within the local and provincial levels of the Association – they are successful business people who volunteer their time for years to give back to the industry and support its overall success.

Each level of the Association works to support the members and works with the government at its level (federal, provincial or municipal) to advance the interests of the industry and Canadians with respect to housing. The three levels of the Association collaborate to ensure a consistent approach towards real solutions that will benefit members and consumers alike.

CHBA is a federal not-for-profit organization governed by a Board of Directors elected by the membership, supported by our professional staff.

At the national level, our system of Committees and Councils brings together industry experts from across the country to share information and ideas, collaborate on common issues, and to formulate recommendations to governments to improve the quality, affordability and choice of homes for Canadians.

Our Team

The national office staff is a high-performance team of cross-disciplinary professionals working in a dynamic and welcoming work environment. There is a great deal of comradery in our day-to-day dealings with each other, our constituent associations, our Board leadership and its Executive Committee, and our members. We juggle a variety of work activities that allow us to take on new challenges and develop new skills and make use of the multi-disciplinary team we have on staff. We value a positive and collaborative work environment above all, striving for continuous improvement, and at all times treat each other with respect.

• We are naturally entrepreneurial and innovative and enjoy collaborating on new ways of approaching a task or challenge.
• We work both autonomously and together in teams, knowing that we each bring our own expert contribution to the organization.
• We are not shy about asking for help and we celebrate each other’s strengths.

We are constantly and solely focused on delivering the best services and support to our membership, in the most efficient and effective manner possible, always bearing in mind that per our strategic plan: “CHBA exists to serve the interests of our industry and to help our members succeed and prosper as they strive to fulfill the housing aspirations of Canadians.”

Our Location

Located on Laurier Avenue just beside the Lord Elgin Hotel on Elgin Street, CHBA’s offices are a stone’s throw from Parliament Hill and key government agencies, where CHBA staff have meetings on a regular basis. The newly completed space offers our staff a wonderful bright work environment, with new office furniture, high-tech boardrooms, a spacious kitchen, casual meeting and group workspaces, a dedicated video room and more. While the CHBA office kitchen is well appointed, there is also a coffee shop in the building, as well as a gym on-site with free access for CHBA employees. Parking for vehicles and dedicated secure storage for bikes is available, and the location offers easy access to public transit and outdoor activity areas along the canal. Close to many restaurants and stores, the location provides quick access to Sparks Street, Elgin Street, the Rideau Centre and the Byward Market.

Hybrid Work: CHBA National staff have been working in a hybrid model for years, working from the office and from home on fixed days. In-office days bring the entire staff together for the comradery and team building that only  in-person experiences can provide, while video-conferencing and complete remote-work set-ups ensure seamless continual productivity for staff and teams whether working in the office, from home, or on the road.

Hours of work

The hours of work are from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday to Friday, though some flexibility is available. There may be a requirement to travel within Canada to attend meetings. The incumbent may be asked to work overtime from time to time.

Please send resume and cover letter to careers@chba.ca. CHBA is looking to fill this position ASAP and will assess applications as they are received. Accordingly, there is no closing date for this posting. The application process for this posting will close when we have received a sufficient number of qualified applicants.