Officer, Pension Investment Accounting

Job Description

The Officer, Pension Investment Accounting is responsible for supporting back office functions for alternative investments including investment accounting, processing capital calls and distributions, foreign currency requests and maintenance of internal data bases. The role interacts internally with the Canada Post Investment group and externally with the custodian, external auditors, and our external investment partners.

Job Responsibilities

Below are the main job requirements and responsibilities for the Officer, Pension Investment Accounting:

• Liaises with custodian and external investment partners to validate and ensure financial reports are kept up-to-date. Follows up and resolves any discrepancy in a timely manner. Creates monthly and quarterly reporting aligned with reporting cycles and deadlines and coordinates with manager to ensure signoff.

• Participates in on boarding new investment partners, including system setup, coordinating with custodian, educating asset managers on Canada Post policies, procedures, standards and property management system. 

• Maintains the content for the Master Data for Pension Investment which includes internal investment accounting and performance management data.  Receives, analyzes, and processes capital calls and distributions and ensures that all adjustments are booked in compliance with professional financial accounting standards and investment industry practices.

• Reconciles and analyzes all assigned general ledger accounts on a regular basis in accordance with professional accounting standards, statutory requirements and corporate accounting policies, and also in keeping with corporate management information requirements;

• Participates in month-end closing process; calculates asset market values, equity reconciliations, providing the custodian and internal pension accounting with investment accruals and calculating management fees. Ensures cash is available in the correct currency and account for investment calls, distributions, sales purchases and month-end cash accounts are swiped.  Prepares weekly cash flow projections.

Job Responsibilities (continued)

• Compiles financial statements, note disclosures and management reports for holding companies ensuring accuracy and completeness. Participates in conducting audits for assets that do not have asset managers.

• Ensures internal control over financial accounting and reporting are in place by coordinating with stakeholders. Ensures compliance with the Statement of Investment Policies and Procedures (SIPP). Participates in collecting data for statutory reporting as required.

• Participates in the year-end audit process, providing external auditors with required documentation and answering questions as required.

• Maintains a current knowledge of pension legislation, tax legislation, pension evaluation and accounting and reporting changes relating to pension plans investments. Provides input on improvement to policies, procedures, and or systems to ensure compliance to statutory requirements. Develops and documents processes for financial supporting functions to ensure alignment and business continuity.

• Participates in gathering and compiling of data to inform budgeting and forecasting for the Pension Finance group. 

Qualifications

Education

• A University or College degree/diploma, preferably in business/commerce. 
• CPA or in the process of obtaining a CPA preferred.

Experience

• Minimum 3 years of experience in an investment accounting or similar role
• Experience with alternative assets such as Real Estate, Private Equity, Infrastructure, Private Debt, as well as foreign currency translation and derivatives preferred.

Other Candidate Requirements

• Strong financial acumen and analytical skills
• Solid understanding of alternative assets, hedging and foreign currency translation
• Demonstrated ability to work efficiently under pressure and tight deadlines
• Advanced Excel skills

Other Information

Eseentiel requirements

Knowledge:

• Knowledge of Microsoft Excel – Intermediate /Advanced Level required
• Excellent understanding of accounting practices and principles
• Ability to navigate and understand the Canada Post Decision Making Matrix

Abilities:

• Ability to prepare letter of direction for review and approval by supervisor/manager.
• Ability to analyse and interpret complex financial information using Excel and other tools
• Able to prepare and present financial information to Managers and Executives in a clear and succinct manner
• Strong Business acumen, ability to analyse financial statements and ability to time manage effectively are essential to this role
• Able to effectively communicate

Personal Suitability:

• Good judgment, organizational skills, analytical and decision-making skills and recognized for problem solving.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to build and maintain relationships. Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Able to work under pressure and within tight timelines Maintains a positive attitude in the work environment
• Acts with tact and diplomacy when dealing with investment group or custodian Fosters cooperation within the team and with other stakeholders
• Big picture orientation and strong attention to detail Results and performance driven