by Glen Korstrom
Northern News Services

NNSL (Feb 04/98) - Shaven but casually dressed, Giant Mine financial controller Yvon Jeannotte takes a break from his working Saturday to describe the post-layoff atmosphere at the company.

"It causes low morale," he says, swivelling in his chair to better reach a financial report. "You never know when you're going to be told 'that's it.' So it's always on the brain."

Two members of the financial team were laid off in December and that has caused some anxiety on those who remain.

But with the price of gold and the Canadian dollar at extraordinary lows, the mine must operate with a lean and effective team.

"We can't have an army of people working here," says the leader of the now five-person unit doing day-to-day bookkeeping, budgets and financial reports.

A Yellowknife resident for 10 years, Jeannotte has worked with Giant Mines about a year. Before that he worked with the GNWT.

Jeannotte's job is not strictly financial.

For example, when the now-closed Colomac mine had to terminate its computer link he helped reconfigure the network.

"There's never a dull moment," he says beaming with a smile. "It's always challenging and there can be spontaneous needs to address."

Though he frequently works weekends, Jeannotte is a family man with a wife and two young daughters, with whom he would undoubtedly rather spend his weekends.

"It causes a problem but you've got to be able to manage your home life, your work life and friends and a personal life."

He also juggles school. Currently nearing the end of a correspondence version of a five-year certified management accounting association program, Jeannotte says he has been studying for "a long time."

And if the 42-year-old has any advice for future accountants or financial managers, it would be to finish schooling first before heading into the field to get the valuable work experience.