Finance Director and PDG

Department : Finance

Employment Type : Full Time / Hybrid / Term (3-year fixed term contract)

Language Designation : English Essential

Tourism is the heartbeat of communities from coast to coast to coast. Our mission is to influence supply and build demand for the benefit of locals, communities and visitors through leading research, alignment with public and private sectors, and marketing Canada nationally and abroad. We seek diverse, ingenious thinkers teeming with intellectual curiosity and a deep desire to grow Canada's tourism industry – strengthening the socio-cultural, environmental and economic vitality tourism brings to Canada.

We are seeking a senior finance leader to fundamentally modernize and elevate Destination Canada's finance function.

This role carries a clear and deliberate mandate to transform a finance organization that must evolve rapidly from manual, fragmented, and compliance-heavy processes into a modern, automated, data-driven function, while preserving the discipline, accuracy, and governance expected of a Crown corporation.

This is a senior, hands-on Executive Director role, grounded in deep technical accounting expertise, strong operational discipline, and a proven ability to execute change. Strategic insight and business partnership matter, but success in this role will be defined by clean books, strong controls, scalable systems, and tangible progress in finance transformation.

This is an opportunity to rebuild and future-proof the finance function of a national institution. You will help ensure that Destination Canada's financial operations are not only compliant and trusted, but also modern, intelligent, and capable of supporting Canada's tourism sector in an increasingly complex and competitive world.

Finance Transformation Mandate

Over the next phase of Destination Canada's evolution, the Executive Director, Finance will lead a step-change in how finance operates:

Rebuild core finance processes that are overly manual, spreadsheet-dependent, or difficult to scale

Accelerate close, reconciliation, and reporting cycles through automation and system redesign

Introduce AI-enabled finance capabilities such as anomaly detection, forecasting support, and intelligent reconciliations that are explainable, auditable, and aligned with public-sector risk and governance expectations

Elevate finance from a reporting function to a trusted, real-time source of insight for executive decision-making

Establish modern finance standards that are resilient, transparent, and built to support Destination Canada's long-term strategy

Accounting and Financial Operations

Own all accounting functions, including general ledger, accounts receivable, accounts payable, payroll, fixed assets, and program accounting

Maintain the integrity of financial records in accordance with Canadian public-sector accounting standards and applicable GAAP requirements

Lead internal and external financial reporting for executive leadership, the Board, and government stakeholders

Deliver accurate monthly and quarterly financial statements with clear, decision-oriented analysis

Prepare financial reporting, analysis, and briefing materials for the Board and Audit and Risk Committee

Lead external audits and ensure consistent accounting policies, documentation, and controls

Oversee treasury activities, including cash management and Crown-specific funding and drawdown processes

Controls, Compliance and Risk

Design, implement, and continuously strengthen internal controls and financial governance frameworks appropriate for a Crown corporation

Ensure compliance with the Financial Administration Act, Treasury Board policies, and other applicable Crown corporation requirements

Oversee tax, payroll, and statutory compliance, coordinating with external advisors where required

Lead financial risk management activities, including insurance, contractual financial review, and exposure assessment

Finance Systems, Automation and AI Enablement

Own the finance function's ERP and financial systems, with accountability for modernization, data integrity, and scalability

Lead automation of core finance processes, including close, reconciliations, reporting, and transactional workflows

Own and deliver AI-enabled finance capabilities that materially improve accuracy, speed, and insight within clear governance frameworks

Build standardized, high-quality financial data structures that support real-time visibility and advanced analytics

Partner closely with Technology and Data teams to align finance transformation with Destination Canada's broader digital and AI strategy

Lead and develop the finance and accounting team, building capability in modern finance practices, automation, and analytics

Foster a culture of accountability, stewardship, curiosity, and continuous improvement

Lead the people and change aspects of finance transformation, ensuring adoption, capability uplift, and sustainability

Act as a hands-on leader who can engage in technical detail while maintaining executive-level perspective

Partner with leaders across the organization to support program delivery, investment decisions, and resource allocation

Provide practical, accounting-grounded financial guidance that improves decision-making and performance

Support financial analysis and due diligence related to initiatives, investments, and program design

Translate improved systems and data into clearer insights on performance, risk, and value creation

10 or more years of progressive finance and accounting leadership experience, including senior-level accountability

• Deep technical accounting expertise, including audit, controls, and compliance
• Demonstrated experience modernizing finance functions, including automation, ERP optimization or implementation, and process redesign
• Experience introducing AI or advanced analytics into finance environments with strong governance expectations
• Strong judgment, precision, and a clear commitment to public-sector stewardship

Please note starting salaries for new hires typically fall between the minimum and mid-point of the range, to support internal equity and allow room for progression as employees grow and excel in their roles. The range above reflects base pay only and does not include the competitive at-risk pay program and benefits that we offer!

Extended health and dental benefits

Minimum 4 weeks of accrued vacation plus other paid time off

Employee assistance program

Defined contribution pension plan

Flexible working options like compressed workweek and hybrid model

Support towards your professional growth with learning and development opportunities, mentorship and more.

This is a three-year term role, consisting of an 18-month maternity leave cover followed by an additional period of continuing to lead Finance transformation initiatives.

This role follows a hybrid work arrangement, where work is performed onsite at least 3 days per week. At Destination Canada, we believe that Canada's diversity is its greatest asset and is what touches travellers' hearts most deeply. Destination Canada is an equal opportunity employer committed to reflecting Canada's diversity through fair and accessible hiring and employment practices. Personal information collected in relation to your application is collected pursuant to the Canadian Tourism Commission Act and the Privacy Act . Providing your personal information is voluntary. Personal information provided by you will be used to evaluate your application, verify accuracy of the information provided (references and credentials) and to maintain an inventory of candidates for work opportunities and staffing, all in accordance with Destination Canada's personal information banks PSU 911 and PSE 902. By submitting your application, you consent to the use of your personal information as indicated above and agree to the terms of our Privacy Notice. SIN numbers, other personal identifying numbers, (Driver licence, CRA and BIN), medical information and candidate photographs are not required for the purposes of this application.