Treasurers and Controllers

Finance

Level 6685 of 1200 points

Job description

Treasurers and Controllers

Job purpose

To direct the financial activities of all or part of the organisation — financial planning, budgeting, the procurement of funds and the investment of surpluses — and to establish the internal controls and reporting that govern them, so that funds are safeguarded, legal obligations met and management soundly advised.

Skills

Authoritative command of economics and accounting: financial statement preparation and position forecasting, budget administration, cash and credit management, treasury work covering banking, funds procurement and the investment of surpluses, internal control design, audit and taxation. Requires current knowledge of accounting standards, organisational policy and federal and state directives, with business management and applied mathematics. A bachelor's degree is the norm and a substantial minority hold a master's, with several years of related experience.
Advises management on short-term and long-term financial objectives, policies and actions, and directs other organisational units on accounting and budgeting policy and the control of financial resources — advice that must be intelligible to non-financial colleagues. Develops relationships with banking, insurance and external accounting personnel and leads staff training in financial management.
Analyses the financial detail of past, present and expected operations to identify development opportunities and areas needing improvement, weighs the case for procuring funds or investing surpluses, and monitors cash flow and reserve levels against regulatory requirements. The questions are open and the evidence incomplete: whether a control is adequate, what depreciation rate applies, whether to buy or lease. Standards frame such judgements without making them, and the consequences of error fall on the organisation.
Coordinates and directs financial planning, budgeting, procurement and investment activity, and prepares or directs the preparation of financial statements, position forecasts and regulatory returns — a calendar of statutory deadlines alongside ongoing treasury and control work. Sets the priorities of the function and works under time pressure at reporting points.
Office and screen-based work, with the handling of cash, cheques and financial instruments and the making of deposits. No manual handling.

Responsibilities

Heads the financial function: supervises employees engaged in financial reporting, accounting, billing, collections, payroll and budgeting, evaluates their performance and recommends and implements personnel actions including promotions and dismissals. Leads their development, directs their work and answers for the outcomes and results of other workers. Represents the organisation to banks, insurers, external accountants and regulators.
Directs the money: evaluates the need to procure funds and invest surpluses and recommends accordingly, receives, records and authorises requests for disbursement in accordance with company policy, and delegates authority for the receipt, disbursement, banking, protection and custody of funds, securities and financial instruments. Develops the internal control policies governing budget administration, cash and credit management and accounting, prepares or directs the preparation of annual budgets, and creates budgets for benefits and workers' compensation. Receives cash and cheques and makes deposits, and undertakes tax returns and planning. Financial discretion is broad and exercised across the function, though decisions on procuring funds and investing surpluses go to management as recommendations and disbursements are authorised within established policy.
Advises management on the purchase, lease or disposal of capitalised items, determines the depreciation rates applied to them, and handles employee insurance, benefits and casualty arrangements. Ordinary care of a workstation and the systems of the function, custody of funds and securities being delegated.
Accountable for the integrity of the organisation's financial information: statements, activity reports, position forecasts, budgets and regulatory returns. Conducts or coordinates audits of company accounts and transactions to confirm statutory compliance. Sets what the accounting records contain and how they are structured, and error here carries consequences beyond the function.

Effort required

Sustained analytical concentration on financial detail, forecasting and control design, where being exact is essential and the figures are relied on by others. Decisions are frequent, taken under time pressure and on incomplete information, and reach co-workers and company results.
Carries personal accountability for the financial position reported and for the controls protecting the organisation's funds. Conflict situations arise, and performance decisions on staff — including dismissals — must be taken and communicated in a competitive environment where error carries consequences.
Predominantly seated office work through a long day. No lifting or exertion.

Working conditions

An indoor, environmentally controlled office with no physical hazards. The volume of contact is heavy — face-to-face discussion, telephone and e-mail with colleagues, external parties and customers — and psychosocial demand comes from accountability for the financial position, conflict situations, competitive pressure and the consequences of error.
Most incumbents work a regular established schedule, small proportions on irregular or seasonal patterns, and the great majority work more than a standard week. Autonomy is wide: the postholder sets the tasks, priorities and goals of the function within accounting standards, regulatory requirements and organisational policy, and directs others in doing so.

Skills

40% · 301 points▾

KnowledgeLevel 6 of 8
108 of 144 points
Advanced knowledge of a field of work with a deep understanding of theories and principles. The job requires high-level knowledge, showing expertise and practical knowledge, to solve complex and unexpected problems within a specialised area.
Interpersonal and communication skillsLevel 3 of 5
58 of 96 points
Effective communication and interpersonal relationships. The job holder is required to adapt communication to different audiences and foster trust, cooperation and positive working relationships.
Problem-solving skillsLevel 4 of 5
77 of 96 points
Non-standard problems. The job involves solving complex, non-standard problems involving multiple factors to consider. Solutions often require careful analysis and the adaptation of current methods.
Planning and organisational skillsLevel 4 of 5
58 of 72 points
Advanced organisational skills required. The job requires planning and managing complex, often overlapping tasks or schedules. The job requires a degree of autonomy and joint planning, and managing interdependencies across teams or departments.
Physical skillsLevel 0 of 5
0 of 72 points
Not applicable. The job does not require any particular physical skills (although there is likely to be some physical activity).

Responsibility

35% · 269 points▾

PeopleLevel 4 of 5
115 of 144 points
High level of responsibility for people. The job involves significant responsibility for the well-being and development of others. This includes making decisions that affect others' jobs, tasks or welfare, such as managing teams, providing care, teaching or ensuring psychological safety. It can also include hiring, evaluating, motivating, coaching and leading workers.
Goods and equipmentLevel 0 of 5
0 of 84 points
Not applicable. The job does not involve any responsibility for goods or equipment.
InformationLevel 4 of 5
77 of 96 points
Considerable responsibility for information. The job manages large amounts of valuable or sensitive information, deciding what is needed and how it is used and ensuring it is protected.
Financial resourcesLevel 4 of 5
77 of 96 points
Considerable responsibility for financial resources. The job involves managing large budgets or financial portfolios, making decisions on allocations, or overseeing the financial integrity for a department or organisation. The job may include liaising with auditors or financial officers.

Effort

15% · 91 points▾

Mental effortLevel 4 of 5
48 of 60 points
Very high level of mental effort. The job requires continuous high-level mental concentration, with few or no breaks, involving intellectually demanding tasks that require continuous focus.
Psychosocial and emotional effortLevel 3 of 5
43 of 72 points
Moderate psychosocial and emotional effort. The job requires the regular management of emotional responses, such as dealing with sensitive or challenging individuals or situations.
Physical effortLevel 0 of 5
0 of 48 points
Not applicable. The job does not require any physical effort.

Working Conditions

10% · 24 points▾

Environment (physical, psychological or emotional)Level 1 of 5
17 of 84 points
Minimal exposure to hazards or stress. The job involves little or no exposure to physical hazards (e.g. chemicals, moving equipment, noise) and minimal emotional or psychological risks (e.g. occasional routine tasks with no emotional burden). There is minor exposure to dust, dirt, fumes, noise, waste, poor lighting, etc.
Organisational environmentLevel 1 of 5
7 of 36 points
Minimal organisational demands. The job requires standard working hours with no night shifts or irregular schedules. There is little or no need for travel or digital connectivity beyond typical working hours.