During a city council meeting on March 29, Mayor Tim Johnston, who was attending a symposium on gangs in Winnipeg at the time but joined via telephone - and the rest of city council passed a resolution to approve a new project specialist position within the city.
Carol Taylor, chief financial officer with the City of Thompson, says the city will be advertising the position this week. She notes the new position is a result of an overwhelming amount of work for city employees in the financial department.
Taylor holds a Bachelor of Arts majoring in administration studies and has had 22 years of accounting experience. The new position will report to her and be responsible for the full implementation of finance and accounting software including coordinating with other departments. The individual who successfully gets the job will make changes in procedures when required and ensure software is working properly and managed in a strategic way. They will also be responsible for creating recommendations for policy, procedures, controls or actions in the financial process and software areas.
The specific task descriptions the new employee will do were detailed in a handout at the city council meeting. The tasks include coordinating and implementing special projects and software; reviewing departmental policies and procedures regarding finance issues and recommending appropriate change; coordinating, developing and updating written policies and procedures; reviewing and recommending appropriate changes regarding procedural efficiencies within all city departments; assuming the duties of the assistant financial officer in his or her absence; developing financial reports; reviewing and establishing financial controls and policies; and providing training, support and documentation to staff about technology projects. The person will also be responsible for training all staff on new software enhancements and upgrades and will help with trouble shooting.
According to the City of Thompson, the position requires a degree in accounting, five years of experience and a "significant understanding" of accounting software.
According to Taylor, the city has been short-handed with employees for awhile in the finance department.
"Our auditor has said for many years we need more people in finance," she explains. "This person will take on some of the responsibilities."
Taylor told city council that the money required for the new position would be "re-profiled" from the policy analyst position, which is currently vacant.
