Are you a strategic, hands-on finance leader who enjoys leading teams and working in an operationally driven organization? As Director, Finance and Administration, you will play a pivotal role in keeping the supply chain moving and supporting Canada’s economic prosperity.
Reporting to the CFO, you will work closely with the CFO and leadership team to shape financial strategy, manage risk, and ensure robust internal controls and accurate financial reporting. This multifaceted role is a senior leadership position responsible for overseeing Pacific Pilotage Authority’s (PPA) day to day financial operations, ensuring compliance with federal regulations, and supporting the organization’s mandate of providing safe and efficient pilotage services on a financially self-sustaining basis.
Who we are:
- A federal Crown Corporation based in downtown Vancouver, PPA provides safe and efficient marine pilotage services in the coastal waters of British Columbia, including the Fraser River.
- PPA oversees dispatch and launch operations at stations in Vancouver, Victoria, Steveston and Prince Rupert.
- A progressive employer with a mandate critical to the economy of Canada. The PPA is wholly self-funded, complex, small and nimble. PPA employs a diverse workforce of approximately 125 people.
- PPA generates revenue through collection of pilotage service charges paid by marine transportation companies who access the coastal waters of British Columbia enabled by licensed pilots.
- PPA is governed by a Board of Directors appointed by the Government of Canada.
- PPA offers a dynamic environment and competitive compensation and benefits for full-time employees, including a defined benefit pension.
- We were named one of BC’s top 100 employers in 2026
- For more information about PPA, please visit https://www.ppa.gc.ca/
Supervision
- Positions supervised: Accounting and Finance Team including Accounting Clerks, a Payroll Administrator and Financial Analyst
Primary Function
In this role, you will:
- Manage the general accounting function and financial reporting in accordance with the Authority’s policy and legislative requirements.
- Maintain the PPA’s financial records to a professional standard.
- Be responsible for all accounting, financial reporting and operational data analysis activities.
- Manage the month-end process through collaborative planning to meet deadlines.
- Liaise with external/internal auditors to coordinate interim and year end attest audits.
- Prepare management payroll and oversee union payroll for correctness and completeness.
- Manage extended benefits and pension with support of Payroll Administrator.
Major Responsibilities
- Direct accounting activities such as billing, accounts payable and receivable, payroll, credit and collection, general ledger, bank deposits and month end summaries. Prepare monthly general ledger.
- Lead, coach, and mentor the accounting team, delegate work to the accounting team based on their competency levels. Provide technical accounting support, training, and instruction to accounting staff.
- Manage the monthly and annual financial statement close process for full-cycle accounting including account reconciliations and accruals. Review the monthly operating results.
- Key point of contact for external auditors. Liaise with external/internal auditors to coordinate interim and year end attest audits including all working papers and plans. Organize and coordinate the year end closing process.
- Manage projects that extend beyond recurring financial responsibilities.
- Check union payroll and payroll entries prepared by the payroll administrator, approves union payroll and prepares EFT to the bank. Provide direction to the payroll administrator.
- Answer payroll, pension and retirement queries from employees and retirees including appropriate paperwork and ensures PPA compliance of Superannuation (pension) reporting to Federal Government Guidelines.
- Drive process improvement initiatives across the accounting department.
- Assist in the preparation of documents and report for the PPA’s Board of Directors,
- Prepare management payroll, management payroll entries, year-end pension adjustments, and T4’s. Provide guidance to all managers relating to payroll matters.
- Develop and implement policies, procedures and quality standards for financial accounting in accordance with IFRS. Monitor to ensure compliance.
- Recruit accounting team members, conducts performance reviews, and updates job descriptions.
- Perform ad hoc tasks as assigned by the CFO or CEO.
Additional Responsibilities
You’ll also:
- Provides interpretation of Collective Agreements on wages, overtime & benefits and assists with collective agreement negotiations.
Qualifications/ Knowledge/ Skills
Required
What you’ll bring:
- University degree in Accounting, Business Administration or Finance
- Certified Public Accountant (CPA) required
- 7-10 years of accounting experience, with 3 years in a leadership role
- Ability to achieve deadlines within tight timelines while managing multiple priorities and adhering to accuracy standards
- Excellent attention to detail, numeracy, and the ability to review financial documents and identify anomalies
- Capability, drive and initiative to learn, adapt and execute new projects/ assignments as they are assigned by senior management
- Excellent analytical skills and applies creative approach to problem solving, strategic ability to results-oriented approach
- Proficient in Microsoft Excel, Accounting software, and Payroll software
- Great interpersonal and communication skills, ability to interact effectively with all levels of employees and management
- Ability to coordinate across departments to gather information, ability to liaise with a variety of stakeholders at all levels
Preferred
The following qualifications are assets but not required:
- Payroll knowledge and experience
- Payroll Compliance Professional designation with National Payroll Institute
- Experience working in a unionized environment
- Project management experience
- Federal Crown corporation experience
- Maritime industry experience
Compensation & Benefits
We invest in our people:
- PPA time off benefits designed to enhance work life balance including a compressed work week, vacation benefits starting at 4 weeks, a flex-hybrid schedule (minimum 60% in office requirement but can fluctuate based on business needs) and flexible start times
- Benefits include comprehensive company paid benefits, onsite gym, health and wellness allowances, transit allowance, and a defined benefit pension plan
- Target starting salary will be approximately $175,000 but will vary depending on the candidate’s experience and qualifications
Applications
- We’d love to hear from you. Please submit your application via LinkedIn or by email to [email protected] . if applying by email, please include “Director Finance” in the subject line.
- If you require accommodations at any stage of the hiring process, please let us know. All information shared will be kept confidential.
- This position will remain open until filled, so we encourage you to apply early. An initial review of applications will be completed the week of September 21, 2026.
Employment Equity
- We are committed to building a diverse workforce and inclusive work environment and encourage applications from women, Indigenous Peoples, persons with disabilities and visible minorities.
