Senior Officer, Finance and Budgeting

University of Alberta SCI Dean Of Science

Senior Officer, Finance and Budgeting

Competition No.  -  A104833608

Closing Date  -   Sep 11, 2017

The Faculty of Science at the University of Alberta is ranked as one of the top 100 such Faculties in the world, and is an international leader in scientific research and a national leader in teaching. The Faculty is home to 6,100 undergraduate students, 1,100 graduate students, and over 100 post-doctoral fellows. With a $100 million operating budget and $70 million research budget, the Faculty employs over 600 faculty and staff, and hires almost 1,000 students.

The Senior Officer, Finance and Budgeting (SOFB) is an integral part of the Faculty of Science’s leadership team as it moves forward with an ambitious strategic plan to raise the research and teaching excellence to the next level. Reporting to the Dean, Faculty of Science this position is responsible for the financial, budgetary, and related strategic leadership for the Faculty.

The successful candidate will:

  • Be responsible for the financial risk, planning, record-keeping, and reporting of the Faculty
  • Support the Science leadership team on all strategic and tactical matters as they relate to budget management, cost-benefit analysis, forecasting needs, and securing of new funding
  • Be accountable to initiate, develop, and maintain a business mapping of all the financial and accounting processes to ensure that those processes align with the faculty objectives, values, and capabilities
  • Have direct report(s) and seven dotted-line reports (one for each of the seven Science departments)
  • Consult with unit and department budget owners in the Faculty of Science to establish effective mechanisms to obtain formal and informal feedback, exchange ideas, and ensure that the financial team is maintaining a strong service orientation in supporting the collective needs of the Faculty’s financial requirement

Specific responsibilities include:

Financial Leadership

  • Ensures overall responsibility for financial management in the Faculty and provides financial advice, analysis, and recommendations to the faculty and departmental senior executive (Dean, Vice and Associate Deans, Assistant Deans, and Chairs)
  • Provides leadership and direct supervision for financial staff who are responsible for the accurate and timely processing of financial transactions on behalf of the entire Faculty

Financial Quality Control

  • Manages the development, implementation, and enhancement of efficient financial operations for all Faculty funds (operating, research, special purpose, and endowments)
  • Manages the year-end processes, including accruals, in accordance with Financial Services, and completes all necessary reporting and compliance requirements as required

Forecasting and budgeting

  • Directs budget planning for the Faculty; plans, prepares and implements modifications to existing financial and budgeting structures as necessary to align with both the short and long term academic priorities of the Faculty
  • Supports units and departments in the preparation and management of their budget and prepares budget variance plans approved by the Dean

Analysis and Decision-making

  • Collaboratively with the other senior officers in the Faculty, reviews funding levels, academic and support staffing, and develop proposals regarding the distribution of all permanent and temporary resource allocations within the Faculty
  • Provides recommendations to the senior management team, departments, and units in the Faculty to determine the feasibility of proposed initiatives

Qualifications

  • Undergraduate degree (Accounting, Finance, or related field)
  • Professional accounting designation (CPA level designation) and any designation in a quality improvement approach (such as Six Sigma or Lean)
  • 10 or more years of progressively responsible management and administrative leadership experience
  • 5 or more years in experience in initiating and implementing new processes and complex changes
  • High-level critical thinking and excellent analytical and problem-solving skills
  • Commitment to building a high-trust, professional community
  • Ability to easily navigate within a complex decentralized work environment
  • Ability to act decisively and exercise a high degree of initiative and judgment on a wide range of issues and an ability to work in a high pressure multi-faceted environment to make critical decisions in a short-timeframe
  • Extensive knowledge of the University of Alberta policies, procedures and operating requirements and demonstrated ability to deal with ambiguity and handle sensitive material appropriately
  • Superior verbal, written, and interpersonal skills, and experience working with a diversity of people
  • Experience with PeopleSoft and proficiency in software such as Word, Excel, and Access

In accordance with the Administrative and Professional Officer Agreement, this full-time continuing position offers a comprehensive benefits package found at www.hrs.ualberta.ca and salary commensurate with experience and qualifications.

Interested candidates are asked to submit a cover letter that describes your leadership philosophy and outlines why you feel you are the right candidate for this position, along with a resume with a list of three professional references. Applications without a cover letter will not be considered.

Interested applicants may apply to:

http://www.careers.ualberta.ca/Competition/A104833608/

The University of Alberta is committed to an equitable, diverse, and inclusive workforce. We welcome applications from all qualified persons. We encourage women; First Nations, Métis and Inuit persons; members of visible minority groups; persons with disabilities; persons of any sexual orientation or gender identity and expression; and all those who may contribute to the further diversification of ideas and the University to apply.