AVP, Finance

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Founded in 1910, Mount Royal College opened its doors a year later to 179 students. Since then, Mount Royal has grown into a renowned University and a beloved Calgary institution, welcoming some 15,000 students each year. 

 

Reporting to the Vice President, Finance & Administration, the Associate Vice President (AVP), Finance leads the overall financial strategy for the University to ensure long term financial sustainability.  The AVP, Finance provides leadership and management of financial operations and reporting, modernizing and streamlining the University’s budgeting, reporting, procurement, internal controls and financial systems. The AVP, Finance provides strategic and tactical insight to assist in the development of the University’s annual and long-term operating and capital budgets. The AVP, Finance has management accountability for the financial operations of the organization.  

 

The AVP, Finance operates in a complex environment with multiple stakeholders while exercising accountability for the overall financial posture of the organization. The AVP, Finance ensures that the Vice President has access to timely, meaningful, and accurate financial information for executive leadership and governing bodies. 

 

The AVP Finance is accountable for:

  • Developing, mentoring, coaching and leading a high performing finance team.
  • Fostering a positive and collegial team culture.
  • Budgets and resource allocations. 
  • Financial reporting including the successful completion of the year-end audit and external granting agencies reporting. 
  • Financial systems and continuous improvement. 
  • Financial operations, procurement and supply chain management. 
  • A robust framework of internal controls and risk management to ensure University finances, operations and assets are protected against fraud and misappropriation.  

 

As a member of the University’s leadership team, the AVP, Finance participates fully in the University’s strategic planning and development together with the President and Vice Presidents. The AVP, Finance works collaboratively with other senior leaders and financial administrators to ensure advocacy, management and support of the broad spectrum of the financial portfolio of the University. 

 

The AVP, Finance leads the finance team with a collaborative and consultative approach across the University in providing resource allocation and budgeting related services efficiently, effectively, and aligned with strategic directions of the University to support teaching, research, and student experience. It is the AVP, Finance’s responsibility to ensure that the finance team is regarded as a trusted partner and advisor at all levels, ensuring MRU makes efficient and effective use of resources, is mindful of long-term financial sustainability, and seeks to manage risk in all dimensions of the University’s operations.

 

The AVP, Finance functions in a highly demanding environment that requires the foresight to balance a multitude of needs, demands and strategies, constant vigilance for issues and challenges and prioritization of limited resources. The work is dynamic and fast-paced, requiring the ability to handle a high volume of complex tasks and problems. Success in this role involves managing tight timelines with accuracy and making decisions that range from routine to critical on a regular basis. 

 

This position requires confidentiality, discretion, a high level of integrity and independent judgement, and requires the management of unpredictable events in a sensitive and timely manner. The nature of the work requires the ability to assess and address the needs of multiple stakeholders, both internal and external, in order to achieve positive outcomes. The position requires a strong commitment to accountability, transparency, governance and continuous improvement. 

 

Qualifications and Attributes

  • An accounting designation is required. A chartered professional accounting (CPA, CA) is preferred. 
  • Experience with finance function transformation and shared services in the public sector is desirable. 
  • At least ten years of progressive experience in a senior financial position within a large and complex organization. Prior experience in the public post secondary sector is preferred. 
  • Strong analytical and data-driven decision-making skills. 
  • Strategic, financial and operational expertise in leading a multi-faceted fiscal sustainability program. 
  • Strong administrative acumen to guide, influence, collaborate and lead in a complex operational environment. 
  • A strong and demonstrable understanding of how value is created through teaching and research in a University context. 

 

Email a cover letter and tailored resume to calgary@leadersinternational.com to the attention of Shalini Bhatty or Chelsey Howarth indicating the job title in the subject line of the email.