Public Services and Procurement Canada
Financial officer recruitment and development program

The Financial Officer Recruitment and Development (FORD) Program recruits eligible university graduates for full-time, entry-level positions in finance across government. The program is managed by the Office of the Comptroller General (OCG) at the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat.

• Benefits of the Financial Officer Recruitment and Development Program
• Eligibility requirements of the Financial Officer Recruitment and Development Program

Financial officer recruitment and development program at Public Services and Procurement Canada

PSPC's FORD Program is designed to allow FORD trainees to acquire work experience and to develop competencies and abilities through work assignments and training as financial officers in indeterminate positions at the Financial Management (FI)-01 level.

Training assignments

Work assignments and graduate placements are administered based on operational requirements, taking into consideration trainee preference where possible. There is no set pattern for trainee assignments as operational requirements change frequently; trainees must be flexible in accepting assignments.

Trainees will have assignments within the Finance and Administration Branch, the Accounting, Banking and Compensation Branch or any other branch requiring FI resources. They will be placed into a 24 or 30 month training program, divided into three eight or ten month assignments.

Learning and development

The department invests in trainee development by supporting multiple learning activities. In addition to on-the-job assignments, the program allows time and financial support to attend corporate learning activities, skill training and OCG orientation sessions. All of these training courses must be on the trainee’s personal learning plan. It is important to note that the program supports its trainees in acquiring a professional designation.

Are you interested?

Once you have been notified by the OCG that you are in the FORD Program inventory, we will:

• contact you for an interview
• request three names for reference checks, proof of your citizenship and your diploma
• schedule second language testing
• ask you to complete a security clearance form

You must be successful at each step to advance to the next.

Bilingualism

We emphasize a bilingual work environment and take pride in enriching a diverse community. If we schedule you for second language testing, you will be assessed in reading, writing and oral proficiency. To be considered for a training assignment at PSPC, you must test at a minimum proficiency level of BBB.

Security clearance

Before you begin your assignment at PSPC, we will ask you to complete a security clearance form, as employees will often need to access secure information to do their jobs. After you submit the form, security personnel will conduct a background check to make sure that you may work here.