About Spark

TELUS Spark Science Centre (Spark), a registered educational charity, exists to entertain and inspire people of all ages through creative encounters with science, engineering, technology, math and art. Spark exists to lift people up with the power of curiosity through creative encounters with science!

Calgary’s science centre is a pioneer in science entertainment and programming, with roots dating back to 1967. Home to one of Western Canada’s largest dome theatre, the Digital Immersion Gallery, VR experiences, and innovative spaces like Steven’s Lab, where interactive experiments unfold before your eyes. From the robot-dog Flint to Canada’s first robot-coa5ter, R05iE, and a 15-acre park surrounding the science of the developing brain, Spark is a hub for creative encounters.

Position Overview

Spark is currently recruiting a part time Project Accountant on a temporary basis (4 months). The Project Accountant will report to the Manager of Finance and work closely with the other members of the Finance and Operation teams. Duties include assisting with the financial reporting requirements for funded projects, assisting with accounting process including account reconciliations, journal entries and government filings.

Key Responsibilities

• Coordinate the collection and submission of documentation required for reporting on various grants.
• Communicate reporting information and interpretations with leadership.
• Tracking project costs, progress, forecasts, and completion status with the appropriate team.
• Performing variance analyses, facilitating the tracking against budget to ensure cost align with funding, and providing early warnings when variances are outside of set thresholds.
• Key player in system and data governance, monitoring data input and outputs, suggesting corrections and process improvements as required.
• Month end journal entries, accruals and allocation journal entries related to projects and grants.
• Assist with month-end reconciliations, including but not limited to GL accounts and sub-ledger balances, credit cards, bank statements, vendor statements.
• Assist with daily cash count verification and reconciliations.
• Reconcile the fixed assets, tangible capital assets and WIP schedules and prepare year end transfer schedule of WIP assets to fixed assets.
• Assist with the interim and year-end audit cycle including providing documentation and supplementary financial reports for external accountants.
• Collaborate with the Finance team and work on various departmental projects.
• Model high performance, flexibility and kindness in a rapidly changing growth environment.
• Other duties as required and assigned.
• Assist/support the accounting team as needed, along with ad hoc requests and projects as assigned.

Qualifications & Knowledge

• A minimum of 5 years’ experience in accounting is required.
• Experience in the non-profit sector and project accounting is preferred.
• A professional accounting designation (CPA, CA, CMA or CGA) or substantially complete.
• A solid understanding of full cycle accounting including accounts payable and accounts receivable processes, financial reporting, account and bank reconciliations and PO management.
• A solid understanding of accounting standards for non-for-profit organizations (ASNPO).
• Knowledge of Xero (ERP system) and highly skilled in Microsoft Excel, Outlook, and Word.
• Willingness and ability to learn new systems relating to business functions.
• Exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Strong time management skills and ability to prioritize to meet deadlines.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work with minimal supervision.
• Strong ethics and ability to manage confidential data if required.
• A proven track record of adding value to an organization’s culture and initiatives.
• Desire to work on a high performing team with a continuous upgrading culture to achieve high impact results.
• Willingness to learn and adapt to change.

We thank all applicants for their interest. Only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that women, people of colour, and persons with disabilities are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At Spark, we are dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive workplace so if you are excited about this role, please apply! Excitement and passion for science can go a long way here so you may be just the right candidate for this or other roles at Spark.