Airlines - Corporate Operations

Description:

Position: Executive Vice President, Finance & Chief Financial Officer

Company: WestJet, an Alberta partnership (“WestJet” or “the Company”)

Location: 22 Aerial Place NE Calgary, AB Canada T2E 3J1

Employment type: Full-time permanent



Reporting to WestJet’s Chief Executive Officer, Gregg Saretsky, the Chief Financial Officer is a full-time role and will be responsible for all aspects related to the financial strategy of the Company. The CFO will be a critical component of the executive team in leading WestJet to continuously improve and evolve the way the business operates.

This executive will take on a highly visible and strategic role for the corporation as the financial leader for a business which generates nearly $4 billion in annual revenue and employs over 10,000 people. He or she will play a visible role in representing WestJet externally and will help to further develop WesJet’s relationships with the financial markets and investment community.

On a day-to-day basis, he or she will be a trusted and highly valued advisor to the CEO and other executives to help drive the organizational change and ensure continued top line revenue growth, profitability and a strong capital structure is achieved.

In addition, the Chief Financial Officer will manage the finance function and will effectively recruit, develop, manage, motivate, and retain a world class finance staff, while still maintaining and building on the culture that WestJet has thoughtfully developed.

The Chief Financial Officer is accountable for the overall governance of WestJet’s finance function and will also ensure alignment with public company governance and standards. The CFO will contribute to setting strategic business priorities, capital allocation, and provide expertise on all financial matters affecting WestJet.



Specific responsibilities include the following:



· Participate actively as one of the key leaders in the organization to help develop and execute around the corporate strategy and act as a key interface with internal and external stakeholders, including the Board of Directors.

· Provide leadership in the finance area and across the organization; be a true financial and strategic contributor – develop and maintain a strong working relationship with the Board, Chair of the Audit Committee, CEO, and the entire senior executive team to lead a proactive approach to the financial function.

· Play a key role in the growth and success of WestJet, ensuring the appropriate capital structure and balance sheet is in place to fund the Company’s growth. Manage and direct all financial requirements associated with being a publicly traded company, including preparation and release of timely, accurate financial statements and all regulatory financial reports; ensure that internal and external accounting and reporting is in accordance with generally accepted principles, and that the Company is in compliance with all regulatory reporting requirements.

· Provide strategic analysis of acquisitions and support structuring, negotiating and financing of deals.

· Develop key relationships with bankers and the broader investment community, including investors, analysts and credit rating agencies.

· Establish and maintain appropriate internal controls in compliance with IFRS requirements.

· Direct the annual financial planning process.

· Analyze and provide information to management pertaining to cash flow, cost controls and expenses.

· Recruit, train and lead a high performance finance team.

Requirements:

Specific Experience & Qualifications:

· Proven “classic” CFO experience within a public company of scale – capital markets savvy.

· Exceptional intellect and high cognitive function, with a balanced emotional quotient.

· Deep technical competence with a foundation in public accounting ideally possesses a CA/CPA accreditation.

· Strong communicator – capable of articulating the corporate financial strategy both externally and internally across multiple levels in the organization.

· Highly commercial executive capable of contributing to the strategy and direction of WestJet.

· A strategic thinker who must be able to translate trends in finance to the changing business environment which will require an ongoing awareness of what is occurring on a national and worldwide basis in general, and in the airline industry in particular.

· Must positively contribute and be effective in a collegial and team oriented atmosphere with a desire to be a part of a fast-moving, dynamic management team.

· Open and inclusive. Active in developing and promoting diverse workforce.

· Experience motivating highly skilled groups of individuals toward teamwork and a common purpose; assigning clear authority and accountability; integrating efforts across units and functions; monitoring results; and tackling problems directly.

· An individual of highest personal and professional integrity as demonstrated through strong personal values as well as consistent words and actions. The ideal candidate must be able to balance a personal agenda and goals with those of WestJet while cultivating an active network of relationships inside and outside of the airline.

· Possesses the capacity and potential to take on responsibilities beyond the traditional finance function.

· Sharp focus and drive toward managing a financially fit organization.

· Gets things done, can manage within a fast paced environment.

· Developer of others – keen focus on building a sustainable bench for succession.

· Minimum of 5 years of relevant experience at the executive level



Education:



· An undergraduate degree is required. A Chartered Accounting / Certified Professional Accounting designation or advanced degree and/or a professional designation (i.e. MBA or CFA) is highly desirable.



Compensation:



A competitive compensation package will be negotiated based on experience and qualifications with a base salary in excess of $198,900 annually. This position is eligible for a performance bonus as per WestJet’s compensation policy and the Total Rewards program that includes the following: extended health, emergency travel medical, dental, vision, short-term disability (STD), long-term disability (LTD), life insurance, accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D).



WestJet has retained the services of Korn Ferry, executive search firm. To express your interest or for more information, please contact the Korn Ferry team at CalgaryApplications@KornFerry.com.

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