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My Co-op Experience at PSPC: When Financial Strategy Meets Public Service

During my term at Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC), I had the opportunity to work with the Price Advisory Group, where finance, policy, and procurement come together. My role gave me exposure to projects that blended financial analysis, data-driven research, and policy development — all aimed at supporting government procurement decisions. It was a unique experience where financial insights shaped strategy and contributed directly to public value.

Bridging Finance and Procurement

At PSPC, my contributions ranged from updating financial benchmarks and supporting contract pricing models to researching industry practices and assisting in policy updates. I also gained exposure to financial statement reviews through the Financial Capability (FinCap) project. These experiences gave me a well-rounded perspective on how finance and procurement intersect, while strengthening both my technical and analytical skills.

For a closer look at the projects I worked on — including the Rate Card, Pricing Framework, policy guidance, and FinCap — see the detailed sections below.

Policy Guidance

I played an active role in proofreading and enhancing internal guides, including updates to the Pricing Framework and Policy Notifications. I interviewed guide users, gathered feedback, and incorporated their suggestions to ensure the documents were practical and easy to use. All of my published contributions can be found on the Pricing Framework page on CanadaBuys.

Strengthening Procurement Policy and Training Support

At PSPC, I contributed to the Procurement Support Services Sector by researching modern accounting practices, pricing methodologies, and technical financial issues to improve procurement operations. I reviewed financial rates, cost benchmarks, and pricing models that shaped departmental decision-making. I replicated third-party rate structures with public data to reduce reliance on external providers and improved the department’s independence in setting contract benchmarks. This policy research-informed updates to procurement practices and gave me a deeper understanding of how financial analysis supports government accountability. I contributed to training materials and documentation that supported the department’s procurement operations, making technical content more accessible to staff.

(Highlighted: My contribution in the project in 2024.)

The Rate Card Project, Building Tools and Improving Processes

I also worked on the Rate Card Project, which was used as a departmental standard for pricing transparency. My team had to enter thousands of real contracts into an Excel document. A key part of my role was to develope tools to make this process more efficient. I customized Excel templates with advanced functions, auto-fill codes and VBA automation to cut down repetitive work and improve accuracy. I completed the full automation in several steps so I made sure my team was using the best version while I work to improve it. I also integrated PivotTable, ERP to help output visuable numerical results into these tools, streamlining reporting and enabling stronger financial analysis for my team.

(Picture: Showcase of what the Rate Card looks like. For illustration purposes only as project is internal.)

Financial Capability Assessment

I supported the FinCap project, analyzing corporate financial statements to evaluate a vendor’s financial health and ability to meet revenue targets. This work gave me valuable experience in applying financial analysis in a risk-assessment context, while also showing how government evaluates vendor capability before awarding large-scale contracts.

Transferable Skills I’ll Carry Forward

From financial research and rate modeling to policy development and training support, my time at PSPC gave me exposure to a wide range of procurement finance work. I developed stronger skills in Excel, ERP/database integration, and policy research while also learning how to communicate complex financial information to different stakeholders. Most importantly, I saw firsthand how transparent, data-driven analysis can make procurement more efficient and accountable.

Final Thoughts

My time at PSPC gave me a real-world perspective on how financial analysis supports public procurement. It taught me how to use financial tools to support policy goals, and it deepened my interest in the intersection of finance, data, and public service. I’m excited to take these lessons forward into future roles—and maybe back into government one day.