Staff - Non Union

Job Category

M&P - AAPS

Job Profile

AAPS Salaried - Accounting, Level E

Job Title

Senior Finance Manager

Department

Senior Management | Research Support Services

Compensation Range

$8,785.08 - $13,703.08 CAD Monthly

The Compensation Range is the span between the minimum and maximum base salary for a position. The midpoint of the range is approximately halfway between the minimum and the maximum and represents an employee that possesses full job knowledge, qualifications and experience for the position. In the normal course, employees will be hired, transferred or promoted between the minimum and midpoint of the salary range for a job.

Posting End Date

December 22, 2023

Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the day prior to the Posting End Date above.

Job End Date

This position is expected to be filled by promotion/reassignment and is included here to inform you of its vacancy at the University

At UBC, we believe that attracting and sustaining a diverse workforce is key to the successful pursuit of excellence in research, innovation, and learning for all faculty, staff and students. Our commitment to employment equity helps achieve inclusion and fairness, brings rich diversity to UBC as a workplace, and creates the necessary conditions for a rewarding career.

Job Summary

UBC is a major research-intensive university in Canada, with an annual research award around $750 million. The Institutional Programs Office (IPO) manages the full cycle of Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) and BC Knowledge Development Fund (BCKDF) research infrastructure awards as well as large-scale institutional projects (LSP) such as the Canada First Research Excellence Fund (CFREF) grant.

The Senior Finance Manager leads the LSP team in developing financial plans to meet the strategic goals of the IPO, VPRI portfolio and UBC research community. The Senior Finance Manager is a key member of the leadership team in IPO and provides advice to the VPRI senior management on a variety of financial and business operation matters, and on the interpretation of funding agency and UBC guidelines, the financial management systems and all aspects of executive level financial management including budgeting, planning, forecasting, reporting and control systems. The Senior Finance Manager manages a team of financial analysts and project accountants and oversees the LSP portfolio.

Organizational Status

This Senior Finance Manager reports to the Managing Director, Research Support Services. This position works independently and in collaboration with the senior management team and provides strategic financial advice for the leadership.

Work is done in collaboration with the VPRI Office, Treasury Office, Budget and Reporting Office, Finance & Integrated Services, IT Services, Office of Enterprise Risk and Assurance, and external customers and funding agencies, provincial and federal governments, municipalities, internal and external auditors.

Work Performed

• Leads and manages the LSP portfolio and the full cycle financial management support for all LSP projects from application stage (pre-award), project implementation, monitoring spending, financial reporting to project close-out.
• Advises, consults and guides VPRI senior management team in identifying strategic financial opportunities and risks, including risk mitigation options, and facilitating financial discussions with various stakeholders.
• Provides strategic financial advice on fiscal and budgetary matters to the Managing Director, Research Support Services and VPRI senior management team.
• Leads the development of a streamlined process for the financial assessment and viability of LSP through modeling of various financial scenarios.
• Advises, directs, and provides guidance to senior management to ensure that all areas of LSP are in compliance with internal and external audit requirements. Assists in the conduct of comprehensive risk-based audits to ensure compliance with agency guidelines.
• Oversees the preparation of financial reports, financial models, estimates and summaries of results, variance analysis and other operational strategic performance measures.
• Provides advice to researchers and LSP team on the application of financial policies and procedures, and ensures internal controls are operating effectively.
• In consultation with the Associate Director of Institutional Programs, and Manage Director of Research Support Services, hires, trains, evaluates, disciplines and discharges finance staff.
• Leads business process reviews or process streamlining projects and performs special analytical and ad hoc projects to increase efficiency and effectiveness of processes as required and in response to regulatory changes or University agreements.
• Provides Managing Director, Research Support Services and VPRI senior management team with financial information that is relevant, timely, accurate, and complete.
• Maintains a current knowledge of financial policies and procedures to ensure all parties are adhering to University and external agency policies and procedures; leads change implementation as required;
• Maintains current knowledge of and ensures compliance to Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, University policies and procedures, Canada Revenue Agency and funding agency regulations and guidelines.
• Reviews and advises on the financial terms of the Inter-Institutional Agreements (IIA) for LSP projects. Oversees the administration of the IIA including billings, accounts receivable and payable.
• Plans the worktag structure and oversees the budget establishment of LSP.
• Liaises with internal and external audit groups including providing information, answering queries and providing explanations to ensure success of the financial audits.
• Performs other related duties.

Consequence of Error/Judgement

Due to the senior level of this position, the decisions or recommendations made will have a significant effect on University standards, operations and finances. Inaccurate financial modelling, projections, and forecasts may lead to mismanagement of resources, which could result in significant financial losses and negatively impact the reputation of VPRI, as well as UBC’s overall reputation. Ineffective systems may result in errors, delays and costs to users. Reporting errors could cause serious inaccuracies in the University‘s records perhaps resulting in errors in the financial statements and a potential loss of research funding to the University. Failure to provide sound strategic advice and effective leadership on financial policy and systems, including timely and accurate financial information, would seriously interfere in the VPRI executive leadership decision making and resource allocation.

Supervision Received

Works with high degree of independence under broad direction from the Managing Director, Research Support Services.

Supervision Given

The Senior Finance Manager manages a team of financial analysts and project accountants of LSP.

Minimum Qualifications
Undergraduate degree in relevant discipline. Completion of the CPA accounting program (CA, CGA or CMA). Minimum of eight years of related experience, or the equivalent combination of education and experience.

- Willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives in conflict with one’s own

- Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing one’s own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusion

Preferred Qualifications

Five years experience in a senior accounting position, budgeting financial planning and analysis. Experience in a high volume large scale service organization. Proven management experience in a large, multi-functioning complex organization. Experience with and ability to consolidate and interpret financial data and present findings. Demonstrated experience and ability to assist non-financial manager to understand financial issues and reports. Experience in financial analysis and in developing tracking and reporting systems. Familiarity with UBC financial and accounting systems an asset. A high degree of familiarity with computerized financial systems and applications is essential. Ability to work with and develop complex computer applications. Strong strategic planning and leadership skills. Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing. Ability to analyze problems, identify key information and issues, and effectively resolve. Ability to conduct needs analyses, plan, organize, manage, monitor, complete, and evaluate projects within allocated time and resources. Ability to simultaneously manage a diverse range of complex projects and activities.