Comptrollership Award

2012 award recipients of the Award of Excellence for Comptrollership in the Public Sector

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) & Natural Resources Canada (NRCan)
Joint team nomination

AAFC nominees:
Erna Burns - Design Team Advisor
Paul Drolet - Director, Financial Management Application
Gord Godfrey - Chief Technical Infrastructure
Angus Howieson - Director General, Application Development
Georgina Karlis - Interface Team Manager
Catherine West - SAP Security Manager

NRCAN nominees:
Mary Bond - Training and Technology Manager
Sylvie Letellier - Director General, Corporate Renewal Office
Michel Nault - Director Business Design
Nathalie Paradis - Project Delivery Manager
Marie-Claude Pilon - Design Team Manager
Marc Primeau - Director, Change Management
Joanne Tubman - Conversion and Interfaces Manager

This project is a ground-breaking collaboration of two departments, Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC), to implement a modern financial, materiel and project management system for NRCan.

The partnership is founded on the principle of adopting an existing SAP system and all associated standard business practices already in place at AAFC. Under this partnership, AAFC operates the SAP system and provides system and user support by pooling together existing resources from both departments under a single service organization. Under the partnership governance there will be many opportunities to further collaborate on system development and cost share its collective investment plans. This is timely considering the current reduction trend in departmental resources.

This project truly represents the essence of the overall Government of Canada strategic direction of promoting the reduction of expenditures on administrative systems; leveraging existing IT infrastructure; and encouraging shared partnerships between departments as stipulated in the Clerk of the Privy Council’s report and the 2010 Budget.

With this partnership, the savings to the Crown was approximately $12M in start-up costs and $3M annually in maintenance fees when compared to traditional go-it-alone implementation of a new system.

Nominated by Pierre Corriveau, Assistant Deputy Minister, Corporate Management, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, and Bill Merklinger Assistant Deputy Minister, Corporate Management and Services Sector, Natural Resources Canada.

2012 award recipient of the CMA-CIPFA Lifetime Achievement Award

Rod Monette, FCA, MBA, B.Sc.

The selection committee, at its discretion in any given year, may also identify a recipient for a lifetime achievement award. This year, the committee determined that the CMA-CIPFA Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented at the dinner to Rod Monette, FCA, MBA, B.Sc., and former Comptroller General of Canada.

Rod began his career in the Government of Canada in 1981, as a policy analyst in the Office of the Comptroller General. In following years, he held various positions in the former Indian Affairs and Northern Development Canada and in Western Economic Diversification Canada. In 1992 he was appointed to the level of Assistant Deputy Minister, and subsequently worked at Western Economic Diversification Canada, Revenue Canada, Environment Canada,Treasury Board Secretariat, Public Works and Government Services Canada, and the Department of National Defence. In 2007 he was appointed to the level of Deputy Minister, as Associate Deputy Minister of National Defence and then Comptroller General of Canada. As Comptroller General he was responsible for providing government-wide functional direction and assurance for financial management and internal audit, as well as supporting the professional development of the financial management and internal audit communities.

2012 award recipient of the CMA-CIPFA Lifetime Achievement Award

Ronald C. Thompson, FCA

Ronald C. Thompson had a long a distinguished career in the public service of Canada, serving with the Office of the Auditor General of Canada (OAG) for over 31 years before being elected Chair of CCAF’s Board of Governors in 2009.

Ron received a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Carleton University in 1968 and became a Chartered Accountant in 1971. He joined the OAG Canada in 1977, becoming Assistant Auditor General in 1985.

As Assistant Auditor General, Ron was responsible for that annual audit of the Government of Canada’s summary financial statements, as well audits of a number of federal departments including the Department of Finance and the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat. Ron accepted the position of Interim Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development in 2007 before his retirement from the OAG in 2008. Ron also managed the OAG’s International Relations Program and was involved with the International Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions (INTOSAI).

Outside the OAG, Ron played a key role as founding Chair of the Audit Committee at Statistics Canada and serving as a member of the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants’ Public Sector Accounting Board. In 2002, he received the Queen’s Golden Jubilee medal for meritorious public service, and in 2006 was granted the FCA designation by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ontario.

2011 award recipients of the Award of Excellence for Comptrollership in the Public Sector
SMALL DEPARTMENTS/AGENCIES

Public Service Commission
Mariana Teodora Barbunca - Senior Financial Analyst
Vincent Gilbert - Manager, Policies & Accounting Architecture
Maxime Rousselle - Financial Analyst
Marie-Andrée Vézina - Financial Analyst

The Public Service Commission (PSC) contributed to innovation in modern comptrollership through its work in implementing the Internal Control over Financial Reporting (ICFR) portion of the Policy on Internal Control (PIC). By adapting a private sector ICFR software solution to fit the realities of financial management and accounting in the Government of Canada, the PSC was able to implement the policy faster, with fewer resources; is able to respond quickly to management and auditor requests; and can more readily manage the large volume of information on controls on a long term basis. The PSC took a leadership role by demonstrating its system and its approach to a number of departments through individual presentations and through the Deputy Chief Financial Officer PIC Advisory Committees—a process which has resulted in uptake by a number of departments and savings to the Government of Canada.

Nominated by Richard Charlebois, CFO and Vice President Corporate Management Branch, Public Service Commission.

Public Service Commission Award Winners with honourary guests
From left to right: Steve Freer, Chief Executive, CIPFA; Marie-Andrée Vézina; Mariana Teodora Barbunca; Maxime Rousselle; Vincent Gilbert; Joy Thomas, President and CEO, CMA Canada; Cassandra Dorrington, Vice Chair, CMA Canada National Board of Directors; James Ralston, Comptroller General of Canada.

2011 award recipients of the Award of Excellence for Comptrollership in the Public Sector
LARGE DEPARTMENTS/AGENCIES

Public Works and Government Services Canada
Richard Inomata - Strategic Advisor, Financial Management
Stéphany Laperrière - Financial Officer, Cost Accounting
Gregory Licandro - Financial Advisor, Cost Accounting
Keith I. MacLeod - Manager, Cost Accounting (Activity Costing)
Minou Nguyen - Financial Advisor, Cost Accounting and Performance Measures
Daniel J. Simard - Manager, Cost Accounting (Cost Accounting Model)
Riadh Thlibi - Financial Advisor, Cost Accounting
Man-Lai Wong - Director, Cost Based Management

Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC) developed a cost recovery framework after having concluded that cost recovery was required to fund the additional support required by departments. The strategy was based on the requirement to enable clear and consistent decision criteria to assess the legitimacy of cost recovery proposals and to determine the appropriate funding regime. The objectives of the Cost Recovery Framework are to ensure:

the department has a sound approach for both existing and future cost recovery programs and initiatives;
services are delivered within the appropriate funding options (Appropriation, Net Voting or Revolving Fund);
the full cost associated with producing products or delivering services is known and understood, and;
recoveries from clients are in accordance with government policy, legislation and decisions.

This framework provides PWGSC with a consistent and transparent approach for both existing and future cost recovery programs and initiatives. The Cost Recovery Framework is based on the principles that cost recovery must be: practical, simple, fair, sustainable and predictable, and controllable.

Nominated by Alex Lakroni, Chief Financial Officer, Public Works and Government Services Canada.

PWGSC Award Winners with honourary guests
From left to right: Steve Freer, Chief Executive, CIPFA; Joy Thomas, President and CEO, CMA Canada; Daniel Simard; Stéphany Laperrière; Gregory Licandro; Keith MacLeod; Man-Lai Wong; Cassandra Dorrington, Vice Chair, CMA Canada National Board of Directors; James Ralston, Comptroller General of Canada (absent: Richard Inomata; Minou Nguyen; and Riadh Thlibi).

2011 award recipient of the CMA-CIPFA Lifetime Achievement Award

Click here to view the video (MPEG-4 video format)

Moyez H. Somani, MBA, FCMA
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Farm Credit Canada

The selection committee, at its discretion in any given year, may also identify a recipient for a Lifetime Achievement Award.This year, the committee determined that the CMA-CIPFA Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented at the dinner to Moyez H. Somani, MBA, FCMA, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Farm Credit Canada

Moyez has over 25 years of senior management experience in the financial services industry, including Vice President, Investments at Saskatchewan Opportunities Corporation. He is also actively involved in the local community, has served as president of CMA Saskatchewan’s provincial council and was a member of CMA Canada’s Council of Chairs. In addition, Moyez was Chair of the audit committee and a member of the Board of Directors for the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency; a honourary board member of the Financial Management Institute of Canada; and a member of the Aga Khan Economic Planning Board for Canada.

As Chief Financial Officer and executive management team member, Moyez has contributed to the remarkable growth and financial success of Farm Credit Canada, Canada’s leading agriculture and agribusiness lender with a portfolio of more than $20 billion and 17 consecutive years of portfolio growth.

Canada Revenue Agency
Section 5970 Project: Audited Reports on Internal Controls

Michel Bernard - Deputy Chief Financial Officer and Director General, Financial Administration Directorate, Finance and Administration Branch
Mary-Lee Clarke - Manager, TCA-5970 Team, Internal Controls Division, Financial Administration Directorate, Finance and Administration Branch
Joan Reade - Director, Internal Controls Division, Financial Administration Directorate, Finance and Administration Branch

2010 award recipients of the Award of Excellence for Comptrollership in the Public Sector

To maintain the trust of the Provincial and Territorial ministries on whose behalf the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) administers income tax legislation, the CRA became the first federal government department to provide service users with audited reports on controls. This represents a significant step forward in responsiveness and accountability for providing reliable and accurate financial information to clients and stakeholders, and reflects the CRA’s commitment to maintaining a leadership role in sound financial management and reporting. In undertaking this type of rigorous reporting on controls over financial reporting, the CRA is on the forefront of the movement within the federal public sector to strengthen deputy head and CFO accountability for ensuring the maintenance of an effective system of internal control.

Paul J. Gauvin, FCMA
2010 award recipient of the CMA-CIPFA Lifetime Achievement Award

Click here to view the video (QuickTime movie)

The selection committee, at its discretion in any given year, may also identify a recipient for a Lifetime Achievement Award. This year, the committee determined that the CMA-CIPFA Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented at the dinner to Paul J. Gauvin, FCMA.

A native of Moncton, New Brunswick, Mr. Gauvin began his career as an accountant with Blue Cross/Blue Shield. Since that time, Mr. Gauvin has dedicated over 30 years to public service, in increasingly senior financial and program management positions, including in the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency where he served as Senior Vice President, Policy, Planning and Programs, as well as in some of the largest, most complex federal government departments, including Employment and Immigration Canada, Transport Canada, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), where he served as the Chief Financial Officer. He was also the architect and Chief Government negotiator for the privatization of the Air Navigation System (NAVCAN). His most recent assignment was Special Advisor to the Commissioner of the RCMP. He is also a past President of the Financial Management Institute.

Jim Quinn, CMA
Chief Financial Officer
Indian and Northern Affairs Canada

2009 award recipient of the Award of Excellence for Comptrollership in the Public Sector (Innovation)

Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) supports Aboriginal people (First Nations, Inuit and Métis) and Northerners in their efforts to improve social well-being and economic prosperity; develop healthier, more sustainable communities; and participate more fully in Canada’s political, social and economic development. INAC is one of 34 federal departments and agencies involved in Aboriginal and northern programs and services.

With Jim Quinn’s guidance and leadership INAC has implemented some innovative and practical solutions to INAC’s complex environment including:

CFO model implementation — Working with the Office of the Comptroller General, Jim developed a blue print model for roll out of the CFO model at INAC. Other departments are building off of INAC’s success in this area.

Blue Ribbon Panel — Jim provided leadership in the development of action plans related to the implementation of the new Policy on Transfer Payments and assisted Treasury Board Secretariat with presenting the new policy to Federal Councils and recipient groups.

First Nations and Inuit Transfer Payment System (FNITP) — In 2008, Jim led the completion of INAC’s FNITP that provides overall systems management of $6 billion in grants and contributions, as well as providing First Nations Communities with access to INAC’s transfer payment system.

Financial Policy Suite Renewal — Providing advice on the implementation of the government wide financial policy suite renewal.

Oracle Cluster Group Single Shared Financial System Project — As the lead for five departments participating in this initiative, Jim is building on the work done under the Government of Canada’s Shared Service Initiative, to develop a single instance for Oracle Financials.

Enterprise Data Warehouse/Integrated Financial System Projects — As the champion and sponsor, Jim has demonstrated the value/power of a business intelligence tool in providing accurate and integrated financial information to support decision making.

Rear-Admiral B.M. Weadon, CMM, CD, CMA, PLog
Assistant Deputy Minister
Finance and Corporate Services, Department of National Defence

2009 award recipient of the CMA-CIPFA Lifetime Achievement Award

The selection committee for the Award of Excellence for Comptrollership in the Public Sector, at its discretion in any given year, may also identify a recipient for a Lifetime Achievement Award. This year the committee determined that the first CMA-CIPFA Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented to Canadian Forces Rear-Admiral Bryn Weadon, CMM, CD, CMA, PLog.

His lifetime of service to Canada in the Canadian Forces and his exemplary career providing financial management and comptrollership for one of the largest, most challenging and most scrutinized public budgets makes him a very worthy recipient of this honour.

At the Department of National Defence (DND), Rear-Admiral Weadon exercised exemplary leadership through a number of significant challenges, including the evolving implementation of accrual accounting and the development of accrual budgeting principles, financial support to deployed operations, ongoing preparatory work in support of the Audited Financial Statements project, responding to Federal Budget initiatives affecting Defence directly or indirectly, financial guidance underpinning the Canada First Defence Strategy, and the transition to the CFO model under the Accountability Act.

His successful implementation of accrual budgeting in a complex landscape has contributed significantly to sound financial management and comptrollership at both DND and in the Government of Canada.