In 1986, a small group of human rights activists and mental health workers gathered in Vancouver to support the flood of refugees arriving from the armed conflicts in South and Central America. They founded the Vancouver Association for Survivors of Torture (VAST), and this dedicated group of volunteers built what would become BC’s largest center for refugee mental health. Today, VAST works with refugees from over 100 countries in Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, and Latin America. Our programs and services are offered in over a dozen languages, including Arabic, Farsi, French, Mandarin, and Spanish. We support the mental health of refugees who arrive in British Columbia with psychological trauma as a result of torture, political violence, and other forms of persecution on the basis of race, religion, gender identity, and sexual orientation.

We facilitate the healing process for 1,000 survivors of torture each year, and their families, by providing accessible and culturally appropriate individual and group counselling and therapeutic services. We also provide psycho-legal documentation and support refugee claimants through the asylum process, and are called in to work with Temporary Foreign Workers in Canada when their particular situation requires our support. Canada is a signatory to the UN’s Convention Against Torture (1985), and the Refugee Convention (1951), both of which oblige us to protect the rights of survivors of forced displacement, including the Right to Rehabilitation, and to provide safe haven to those who at risk of persecution. VAST is an active member of the International Rehabilitation Council for Victims of Torture (IRCT), the Canadian Council for Refugees (CCR), and the Canadian Network for Survivors of Torture and Trauma (CNSTT).

Founded on the conviction that ‘healing is an act of resistance’, for 35 years VAST has employed a province-leading model of trauma-informed mental health service provision. Our work has created and sustained a resilient, inclusive community amongst newcomers, and over More than half of our team identify as survivors themselves, and their voices are represented at all levels of our organization. We do not believe in working alone, and our mission supports a range of advocacy and capacity building activities to strengthen BC’s mental health sector for newcomers, and encourage understanding of our work amongst government institutions. In so doing, we relieve demand on the BC healthcare sector, especially in dense urban and more isolated rural areas of BC. VAST is more than a healthcare provider and is known throughout BC as a convener of voices with lived experience of torture and trauma, and an influential advisor to multiple levels of policy makers and practitioners.

Job Description

We are looking for candidates for a PT Bookkeeper position in our Trauma Recovery & Torture Rehabilitation organization. We are looking for candidates with a background in Finance and Accounting, and who are comfortable in a trauma-related or forced migration related environment. Lived experience of forced migration, or Fluency in a second language is an asset. Applicants must be eligible to work in Canada. Hybrid role, in person at least 50%.

Part Time 15 hours/week, can increase based on performance.

Rate of Pay: Commensurate with experience

This position includes a comprehensive health benefits package

Duties and Responsibilities:

- Participate in staff meetings and workshops

- Support VAST’s Associate Director with administrative and financial tasks as needed

- Record day-to-day financial entries including sales, purchases, receipts, and payments.

- Follow up on receiving invoices and payments.

- Process received invoices: check the accuracy of the information, prepare them for approval, submit to the accounting firm, and make payments.

- Make e-transfer payments and payroll.

- Prepare cheques when possible.

- Deposit received cheques.

- Assist with recording financial transaction information.

- Assist with invoice preparation.

- Collaborate with the Development Coordinator to provide and receive information for invoices.

- Assist with the preparation of financial reports.

- Assist with the preparation of program budgets.

- Organize and maintain financial files and records.

- Respond to vendor and client inquiries related to billing or payments.

- Support general office tasks as needed, especially those related to finance

- Attend meetings as needed.

- Perform other tasks as required.

- Additional language skills are helpful

Education & Certification:

• Certificate or diploma in bookkeeping, accounting, or related field required
• Minimum [1–3] years of bookkeeping or accounting experience