Jilia Finch - Classification talk

As you probably know, my name is Julia Finch I am a mother of three boys and I live in Port Sydney. I am a Chartered Professional Accountant. This is my Rotary Classification also. My father was also an accountant and while growing up, it always amazed me the things that people would ask of him. Even if it is something he could not provide for them, they trusted him to steer them in the right direction. Having the ability to offer and provide that trust is one of the main reasons that I became an accountant and later wanted to join rotary. • While in university, I changed my path and decided to become an economist. • Once I completed my BA, I realized that there would be limited, if any, economist positions available in Muskoka so I thought that I had better find a career that I could move around with so that I could eventually end up in Muskoka. • My first accounting job was with a firm in Toronto. From there, I moved to work in Kelowna, Bracebridge, and finally, Huntsville where I currently hold the position of Treasurer of the Town of Huntsville. • My job has many rewards but it also has its challenges. Rewards - One of my favorite parts of my position with the town is that I am always being challenged with something new - There are always new legislations, laws or accounting guidelines, that I have to keep up with - It is always rewarding to be part of some of the bigger events that have taken place in the town that have had large accounting components. - Some of the bigger events that I have been associated with are the G8, the infrastructure funding for the G8, and the flood of 2013. Challenges - We face many challenges in the finance department at the Town. - One of the biggest challenges that I personally face in my position is reminding, conveying, and sometimes having to convince people of the importance of accounting rules and why they are needed and useful - I also find it challenging to be involved in so many different activities. - Where most businesses only have a few different product lines or services, we are involved in many functions that are all very different. - This means that the finance department has to be well versed in several types of software programs and legislation, as well as understand the operations of each department - Specifically, I have a couple of more recent changes that we are currently working on. 1. Historically budgets were prepared on the basis of the amount of cash coming in must equal the cash going out, since 2009 the rules have been changing so that Municipalities are reporting on the accrued basis of accounting. This causes confusion because the budgets are prepared on a modified accrual basis, and the financial statements are prepared on an accrual basis. So we are trying to find ways to budget and report on information so it is more useful to the staff, councillors and the public 2. The second big challenge is that Municipalities are being mandated to prepare capital asset plans, and although the Town has met the initial requirement, there is still more work to be done on developing better inventories and plans to replace its aging infrastructure The vision of the Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada is to be the pre-eminent, internationally recognized Canadian accounting designation and business credential that best protects and serves the public interest. This vision or requirement and my training as a Chartered professional accountant together have provided me with a solid foundation for dealing with many ethical issues that I will face at work and throughout my life. For those considering entering this field, I would suggest that they prepare themselves for lifelong learning that will include constantly updating legislation along with technological advancements. Finding a mentor or other seasoned colleague to help guide them would be invaluable.

The Rotary 4-way Test and the Rotary Code of Conduct aid in working through ethical issues that I face at work, in that they have been integral in my personal and professional development. I have worked to maintain high ethical standards throughout my life and career but the Code of Conduct and 4 way test that I been exposed to during my time with Rotary have given me the confirmation that I needed when I questioned actions. For example, in my current line of work, I am faced with ensuring that accurate and truthful information is being provided and that we are all accountable for the decisions that are made. A large part of this is ensuring that our decisions are fair to all involved by applying one standard to all tax payers and customers. Additionally, we work to provide useful and beneficial information for the councillors, staff, and public in order for them to make informed decisions. As a department, we work to make relationships work for all parties before, during, and after transitions. I have been striving to build strong relationships with other people, departments, agencies and organizations and to be seen as approachable and helpful. When John Tomlinson, Past District Governor, shared his stories a couple of weeks ago, one story in particular struck a chord with me. I have been thinking about the story of him walking down the street and a stranger asking him for help because he trusted him as a Rotarian to give him good advice. It is this trust, the ethics and trust that are expected, displayed and offered by those in my profession that show very similar core values. It is these core values that exemplify why I enjoy being part of Rotary.