Employees

Executive Director/SFO

Employee Name:

Brad Gundy

Title:

Executive Director/SFO

Ministry:

Ministry of Housing and Social Development

Background:

Education: Bachelor of Business Administration (SFU); Chartered Accountant and Certified Internal Auditor designations
Member of the BC Public Service Since: 1994

My Role

I'm the finance guy for the Ministry of Housing and Social Development. I support a hard working team that has responsibilities for accounting, budgeting, reporting, risk management, business continuity management, emergency management, security management and facilities and vehicles. I lead a team of 100 folks, split between two offices. I provide advice, guidance and recommendations to ministry executives and help to set strategic direction and to get income assistance cheques out. In addition, I work with accounting professionals and other analysts to deliver results.

Career Path:

I started my career as a Financial Officer working in the Home Owner Grant Branch. After a year I moved into the Internal Audit and Advisory Services Branch. I took a two-year leave to volunteer with CUSO in El Salvador. It was really nice to know I had something to come back to. I moved from Internal Audit and Advisory Services to the Ministry of Human Resources as the Chief Risk Officer and from there I was the Senior Financial Officer of the Ministry of Agriculture and now I am the Senior Financial Officer with the Ministry of Housing and Social Development.

What I Like Best:

I like the sense of contribution. Although I'm the finance guy and often a ways away from the customer service end of government, I like the feeling that I get from contributing to a better British Columbia. I like the scope of the work; because it deals with the flow of funds, you get to be curious. There are people in our society that require support and I am glad to be part of that. I also like the great work/life balance that the BC Public Service provides. Not many employers would allow you to take a long leave of absence and come back to your job.

Ideas At Work:

I support the almost 1,500 staff members that provide vital services to some of British Columbia's most vulnerable citizens. Ensuring that those staff have the tools to get the job done, the resources to support their work, buildings to work from and systems to assist gives me a warm fuzzy. We've increased welfare rates to clients and looked at ways to provide them with additional support to enhance their quality of life.

Advice:

If you are looking for a career in the financial stream in any organization, you cannot go wrong by getting an accounting designation (CA, CGA, CMA). They require a significant up-front investment but they do pay off. There are a wide range of jobs available that require financial acumen; the challenge is to throw your net broader rather than narrower, as you never know where one job might lead. You can probably do more than you think in the BC Public Service. Don't be afraid to mold and shape your job.