JOB OPPORTUNITY – Bookkeeper Contract Position

The Nova Scotia Choral Federation is located within Mi’kma’ki, the ancestral and unceded territory of the Mi’kmaq People. This territory is covered by the “Treaties of Peace and Friendship”. We acknowledge and honour the Mi’kmaq people who have cared for and continue to care for this land. The Nova Scotia Choral Federation is continuing to learn and evolve, to walk together with Mi’kmaq peoples in the preservation and celebration of cultural traditions.


The Nova Scotia Choral Federation is the provincially recognized organization whose mandate is to encourage, promote, celebrate and advocate for choral music in Nova Scotia.  We provide programs and services for the choral community and manage our Choral Library which is available as a member benefit.

Nova Scotia Choral Federation is seeking to hire a motivated, experienced individual to oversee and coordinate the bookkeeping and overall accounting services for the organization.

 Are you an experienced Bookkeeper/ Accounting professional interested in working in the creative sector?

This position will:

  • Maintain and balance the general ledger in an accurate, complete, and up-to-date manner
  • Perform all activities related to the accounts payable function including reviewing, coding, and processing payments
  • Perform account receivable functions including invoicing, deposits, conduct reconciliation of all accounts on an as needed basis
  • This position will perform payroll functions in an accurate and timely manner, and submit payroll taxes as necessary
  • Issuing T4’s and T4A’s as required annually before February 28th and submit HST returns as required
  • Prepare financial reports through collection, analysis, and summarization of data
  • Compile financial information and reporting required for grant reporting, including regular financial reports to funders.
  • Provide all information to auditor annually as needed
  • Recording all year-end entries  in Accounting software as per auditor
  • Work closely with the Executive Director to prepare regular financial reports, and analysis of related statistics to support organizational reporting and decision making.
  • Interpret and apply accounting policies, rules, and regulations to all work in order to ensure compliance with applicable standards

QUALIFICATIONS

  • Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting, Finance, or equivalent related experience and training
  • 3-5 years’ experience working in accounting and bookkeeping
  • Experience working with not-for-profit organizations
  • Thorough knowledge and understanding of GAAP
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills
  • Proficient skills in Simple Accounting/SAGE 50, Microsoft Excel
  • Experience with accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll and general leger
  • High degree of accuracy and attention to detail

WORKING ARRANGEMENT

This position offers flexible hours, with a hybrid remote/work from home arrangement (COVID dependent).
Occasional attendance at meetings to assist in providing financial reports and information. (Infrequently)

COMPENSATION

$20-$35/hour  To be determined based on qualifications and experience
Total hours per week are estimated between 8-10 hrs.

TERM This is a contract position.

CLOSING DATE February 14, 2022

Qualified applicants are invited to submit their cover letter and resume as a single document to tim@nscf.ca Please send with Bookkeeper in the subject line.
We wish to express our appreciation to all applicants for their interest and effort in applying for this position. However, only candidates selected for interviews will be contacted.

VOICE YOUR CONCERNS

As you know, singing and wind instrument playing are fully banned in our Nova Scotia schools, but did you know that students are allowed to participate in physical education classes unmasked, without gathering limits. It is vital that students have access to music programs, including singing in school and significant research has proven it can be done safely. The impact of the bans that have been imposed off and on throughout the pandemic will be long lasting and we need to see this policy reversed for the sake of our students.

Quick background:

We are asking you to lend your voice to these efforts. We know you’re busy, so we’ve created a template for you to use below. If you would like to add personal details or experiences, please feel free.

Music is not an extra. Music is a core component of our education system. This need is urgent. Please take a moment from your day to make a difference in Nova Scotia schools. You represent students whose lives have been forever changed by music and your voice really CAN make a difference.

A message from the Nova Scotia Music Education Council – NSMEC:
In Nova Scotia schools, children aren’t allowed to sing their ABCs, bands and choirs cannot practice let alone perform, and students are missing the safe place music making provides in school. Singing and playing wind instruments are banned for all students.
Visit the Nova Scotia Choral Federation’s website for a ready-to-go template you can use to speak up for Nova Scotia students: https://bit.ly/3r5HIkx
Speak up for music education in Nova Scotia!
Please use the letter template below to speak out for Nova Scotia students and send to ALL contacts listed at the bottom.I am a parent of children attending Nova Scotia schools. I am emailing to oppose the current ban on singing and wind instrument playing in school. My children, like many others, rely on access to music education in schools. It is a vital part of our public education system and singing and playing are necessary for students to experience music making.

Nova Scotia students are in school because it is the best place for their well being. Our children rely on music making in school for their mental health and well being. This ban on singing and playing is negatively impacting Nova Scotia students and music programs, and these impacts will be long lasting.

I have heard interviews and read Letters to the Editor outlining the inequity in school policies for music students and I agree: students should be allowed to sing and play in school, especially considering that students are able to participate in physical education class without any gathering limit and without masks.

I have read the open letter sent to you and other government elected officials and employees on January 10, 2022 by national and provincial organizations, including the Nova Scotia Band Association and Nova Scotia Choral Federation. The letter cites current research and outlines the many reasons singing and playing can and should be allowed in schools. I encourage you to review its contents and ensure students are able to return to music making through singing and playing in our schools.

I request a personal reply to my email on this very serious matter.

Name

SEND TO:

educmin@novascotia.ca,Educ-DM@novascotia.ca,steve.machat@novascotia.ca,chris.boulter@novascotia.ca,ardith.haley@novascotia.capwozney@staff.nstu.ca, sbrooks@staff.nstu.ca, jmacnutt@nstu.ca, Health.Minister@novascotia.cajeannine.lagasse@novascotia.caRobert.Strang@novascotia.caKelly.Dean@novascotia.caVanessa.Chouinard@novascotia.ca, PREMIER@novascotia.ca

Who else do I contact?

Below you will find recommendations for the most effective avenues of communication in order to have your concerns addressed. The NSCF and NSMEC thank you for your support on behalf of all Nova Scotia choral community – we are stronger together.

AND YOUR LOCAL REGIONAL CENTRE CONTACTS:

Regional Centres for Education Avenues of Communication:

Annapolis Valley Regional Centre for Education executivedirector@avrce.capat.murphy@avrce.camaria.carty@avrce.ca
Cape Breton Victoria Regional Centre for Education susankelley@cbvrce.calcrawford@cbvrce.camurquhart@cbvrce.caandrewla@cbvrce.ca
Chignecto Central Regional Centre for Education adamsgs@ccrce.cacallaghana@ccrce.caduguays@ccrce.ca
Halifax Regional Centre for Education eleroux@hrce.caaking@hrce.cajchaulk@hrce.capdanyluk@hrce.caMBreen@hrce.ca
South Shore Regional Centre for Education pash@ssrce.cajdewolfe@ssrce.cabwoodfordcollins@ssrce.ca
Strait Regional Centre for Education cheryl.macpherson@srce.capaul.landry@srce.cadarrell.leblanc@srce.cawanda.fougere@srce.ca
Tri-County Regional Centre for Education jared.purdy@tcrce.ca

It is recommended that you voice your concerns to your regional representatives in the following sequence:

Fellow Parents (Music/Band Auxiliary, Home & School, School Advisory Co
Local School Principal
Local Family of Schools Supervisor
Regional Program Coordinator
Regional System Supervisor
Regional Executive Director of Education

You can find contact more information for your Regional Centre for Education here.

Political Avenues of Communication:
Minister and Deputy Minister of Education – Contact Information
Opposition Parties’ Education Critic – Liberal,  New Democratic Party
Local Member of the Legislative Assembly – Find your MLA

For concerns related to community choral programs the NSCF recommends contacting the following public officials:
Local Municipal Councillor
Local Municipal Chief Administrative Officer
Local Municipal Department of Recreation and Culture
Local Mayor

You can find contact information for your local municipality here.
Local Member of the Legislative Assembly – Find your MLA
Minister of Communities, Culture and Heritage – Contact

FOLLOW and SHARE Nova Scotia Choral Federation with your friends and followers. Spread the word that #MusicMatters!!

#LetThemSing: Singing and Wind Playing in Nova Scotian Schools


On Monday, January 10th, Choral Canada, the Canadian Band Association, the Nova Scotia Band Association, the Nova Scotia Choral Federation, the Nova Scotia Music Education Council, the Kodaly Society of Nova Scotia, and the Kodaly Society of Canada shared a letter advocating for fair and informed decision-making in relation to restrictions on music education. This letter highlights the research and studies that show that, with the appropriate measures, singing and wind playing can be done safely. It is discouraging to see a return of restrictions on singing and wind playing when there has been no reported spread of COVID-19 linked to music education in Canada. Meanwhile, despite the reported spread of COVID-19 during sport, school sports activities have continued with minimal restrictions.

Though this letter has already been shared with a large and comprehensive list of government contacts in Education, Health, and Culture, we ask music educators and our membership to share this letter with school principals, parent support groups, and on your social media platforms.

Here are links to the Singing & Wind Playing letter as both a PDF and three separate PNGs:

 

Dalhousie Collegium Cantorum presents The Joy of Singing

Monday, November 29, 7:30 p.m.
St. Andrew’s United Church, Coburg & Robie, Halifax

Admission: By donation

Since the beginning of the COVID pandemic in March of 2020, the question every musical ensemble had to consider was: How do we keep going? Because choristers are inherently creative people, the answer kept changing to suit the requirements of the moment. Some rehearsals included eight members only, live-streamed to the rest of the choir. Other rehearsals were for larger groups, but always distanced, always masked. As anyone who has tried it knows, singing through a mask is difficult at the best of times. But everything becomes easier when you approach the task with positivity and a sense of humour.

And now, for the first time since the fall of 2019, we’re able to perform for you again. This performance is titled “The Joy of Singing”, because throughout these difficult times, it is the joy we feel being in each others’ presence, singing beautiful music, that has sustained us. Our performance will include excerpts from J.S. Bach’s B Minor Mass and the opening chorus of BWV 61:Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland. We will also perform two choruses each from “Solomon” (Handel) and “Higgaion: Images of Hope and Fear” (Ewer), as well as Morten Lauridsen’s beautiful “Lux Aeterna.”

For more information, please contact Laurie Ewer: ewer.laurie@gmail.com

Jubilate Singers and Friends – Christmas at Home Again

December 12, 2021 @7:00 p.m.

A live-streamed version of our annual Festival of Carols to raise funds for Christmas food boxes for families in need. Free will offering.
Featuring
• The Jubilate Singers, under the direction of Terry Hurrell with piano and organ accompaniment by Gregory Doyle
• Ardyth & Jennifer, with Pam Mason and Clara Whitman
• The Halifax Horn Quartet
• Storytellers: Jamie Bradley and Gillian Fowler
To get updated and receive the link to the virtual concert:
• Like our Facebook page (Jubilate Singers & Friends https://www.facebook.com/Jubilate-Singers-Friends-115401170368076) or
• Subscribe to St. Mark’s YouTube channel
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCE_TZGafQql_pmktU-akA-w or
• Email jubilatesingers2020@gmail.com to get e-mail updates!
If you wish to donate in advance, you may do so
• By e-transfer: jubilatesingers2020@gmail.com, Include your name and address for tax receipt in the “message” field.
• By cheque: to St. Mark’s Food Box Committee and mailed to or dropped off at St. Mark’s Church, 5522 Russell Street, Halifax N.S. B3K 1X2
• By credit card or Pay Pal through Canada Helps
https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/m/67072.
Any support, small or large, is gratefully accepted! Tax receipts are issued for donations of $15 or more.

AVHC Concert – Shine Like Stars

The Annapolis Valley Honour Choirs are thrilled to be back in person and are ready to sing you into the holiday season once more! Come hear these wonderful singers raise their voices together in “Shine Like Stars!” – Saturday, December 4th, 2:00pm and 7:00pm at the Wolfville Baptist Church.

“Shine Like Stars!” will feature all three AVHC choirs singing uplifting, fun, sparkly music that celebrates finding those bright lights in the darkness and moving forward together! A laugh and a good cry is just what we all need, and this concert will not disappoint. This event also marks the return of our bake sale where you can pick up all your holiday goodies!

As singing communities of all sorts begin to reconnect across the country, please join the AVHC for this concert and make our return to live performance an event to remember!

Best reserve your seat now, as seating is limited to allow for some audience distancing and we are 80% sold out! Proof of vaccination and masks will be required. We are also offering you the opportunity to watch a live stream of the concert from the comfort of your own home! This is a wonderful opportunity to include those who may be isolating due to health reasons, people who live too far away to attend! (2pm show will be broadcast but link will be available to watch for 48 hours)

Tickets: In-Person $20/$5 (students). Live Stream $15. Available online or at the door (if available).

GET YOUR TICKETS HERE!