Accounting Officer Full-time Job

The Accounting Officer reports to the Senior Manager, Finance & Analytics and is responsible for or is back up for timely and accurate processing, control, and tracking of all accounting entries for a wide range of activities, including all Canadian branch rent, realty taxes and utility (electricity, gas, oil, propane and water) payments and utility consumption reporting. The incumbent is expected to accurately record and pay these costs in all areas and notify senior managers when overruns or other discrepancies occur.  The incumbent is responsible for ensuring that the administration of accounts and records are maintained to the highest professional standard.

 

Accountabilities 

1. Process rental payments (recurring and non-recurring), utility bills, and realty tax invoices for Canadian branches and office locations in PeopleSoft in a timely manner by:

• Ensuring that all required supporting documents are received with the invoice along with appropriate authorizations prior to initiating the cheque/EFT request.  

• Recording all transactions in the appropriate transit number, GL account number and with the appropriate HST/GST/PST/QST tax amount.

• Checking invoice costs, HST, PST (self-assessing if necessary) and GST calculations, freight and forwarding charges, etc., for accuracy and reasonability, and initiating and responding to queries, as necessary.

• Scanning backup of all invoices and supporting documentation as required.

 

2. Accurate and timely recording of utility consumption – electricity, gas, oil, propane and water in a separate utility consumption reporting database.

 

3. Ensuring the correct unit of measurement is captured.

 

4. Provide supporting utility bills for utility consumption reporting and verification of consumption.
 

5. Maintain the confidentiality of sensitive invoices and transactions. 
 

6. Processing data and maintaining accurate information on other specialized areas by:

• Responding to vendor enquiries quickly and accurately by following up with Occupancy Cost Control & Leasing Managers and others to ensure timely payment of rent, adjustments, utilities and realty taxes.

• For all accountabilities, ensuring regular follow-up on all outstanding items.

• For properties that have closed, ensuring rentals, utilities and property taxes are stopped at the appropriate time (termination of lease or sale of property).

• Being involved in internal and external audits as required and ensuring that changes required due to the audit findings are implemented.

• Responsible for the procedures of the above outlined duties and process improvements.

• Responsible for other duties such as: vendor set-ups in PeopleSoft and cheque(s) distribution.

• Performs troubleshooting and resolution of any processing problems.

• Getting involved in other responsibilities as assigned.

 

 

Dimensions

• Number of employees / span of control
• Countries / regions  / business units supported
• Financial dimensions (e.g., capital budget, annual project cost, operating budget, etc.)
• Number of projects / Number of systems
• Regulatory bodies and special requirements

 

 

Education / Experience / Other Information 

• This position requires a sound understanding of accounting principles, the Bank’s General Ledger and general understanding of PeopleSoft and SmartBuy is an asset. Specific system training will be given.  

• The incumbent requires good interpersonal and communication skills in order to resolve questions and problems with Landlords, utility service suppliers and municipalities and to communicate with Occupancy Cost Control Managers, Leasing Manager and other Bank staff on accounts payable processers and procedures.  Tact and delicacy is required, as information and transactions are often of a sensitive and confidential nature.

•  Organizational and prioritization skills of a higher order are prerequisites to successful task completion, as deadlines are inflexible, payments are critical to Branch operations, workloads are high, and accuracy is essential.

• 1-2 Years full-time accounting experience, preferably in accounts payable/general ledger transactions 

• MS Office including working knowledge of Excel

 

 

Working Conditions

• Work in a standard office-based environment; non-standard hours are a common occurrence.

• Hybrid, with expectations to be in the office two to three days per week. 

• Location: 4 King St West, 17th floor, Toronto

The Bank of Nova Scotia, operating as Scotiabank, is a Canadian multinational banking and financial services company headquartered in Toronto, Ontario. One of Canada's Big Five banks, it is the third-largest Canadian bank by deposits and market capitalization. In 2023, the companys seat in Forbes Global 2000 was 88