Financial Director, Provost and VP Academic

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

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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 Description Summary

The Provost Portfolio Finance Director is accountable to the Comptroller for financial strategies, budget, management reporting and capital planning within the areas of the Provost and Vice President Academic portfolios. A member of the Comptroller's Team comprised of the Faculty Business Officers of each Faculty and five portfolio Finance Directors who are responsible for the financial strategies and operations of nine Vice President portfolios: Vice President Finance Resources and Operations, Vice President Students, Provost and Vice President Academic, Vice President Research and International, Vice President, Development and Alumni Engagement, and Vice President Communications and Community Partnerships, Vice President Health, Vice President HR and Office of the University Counsel.

This position is also accountable to the Provost and Vice President Academic for supporting the attainment of UBC's mission by providing financial leadership, vision and direction to the units within the Provost and Vice President Academic portfolio. The Portfolio Finance Director is responsible for providing strategic financial leadership as a member of the various senior management teams within the Provost and Vice President Academic portfolio. The position also manages the operations and performance effectiveness of the finance units within the portfolio. The scope includes major academic support units such as, but not limited to: 1) IT Services, 2) Enrolment Services, 3) Library Services, 4) Center of Teaching and Learning, 5) Extended Learning and 6) Faculty of Grad and Postdoc Studies 7) Student Financial Aid as well as other strategic initiatives like Indigenous, Equity and Diversity and Climate Sustainability. The stewardship of annual budgeted funds covered by this role exceed over $250M.

This position also has stewardship and oversight of two major strategic funds totaling over $125M.

• The Academic Excellence Fund (AEF) supports strategic initiatives that will enhance and amplify current efforts in key strategic areas of the UBC Strategic Plan, including recruiting and retaining exemplary faculty members, students and staff; building and supporting world class research infrastructure; and providing an excellent student learning experience for all students.

• The President's Academic Excellence Initiative (PAEI) is an initiative aimed at elevating the research impact of UBC. It is focused on professors who conduct the research, and on the various support and infrastructure, both professional and personal - that the University provides them with, to aid in their intellectual leadership.

The Office of the Provost and Vice President Academic are responsible for the academic mandate of the University's Vancouver campuses. The Office provides leadership in planning, policy development and management of resources to ensure the fulfillment of the University's mission through the achievement of strategic goals. The Provost is the Senior Vice President, serves as Chief Budget Officer for the campus, and serves as Acting President in the absence of the President.

Organizational Status

Reports to the Comptroller along with a dotted line to the Provost and Vice President Academic. Is a member of the Comptroller's team and the Provost Office Leadership team, working with each of the unit leads within the portfolio providing strategic financial, business planning and reporting expertise.

Works in collaboration with the Vice Provosts, Associate Vice Presidents, Deans/Principals/Unit Directors and their Financial Officers. Acts as a resource for the Provost and Vice President Academic with other units such as FP&A, Comptroller's Team, Strategic Decision Support, Human Resources, Treasury, and Faculty Business Officers and external agencies, internal/external auditors, provincial and federal governments, and others as required.

Work Performed

1. Integral member of the senior leadership team(s) within the diverse and complex units of the Provost and Vice President Academic portfolio

2. Key contributor in setting the overall strategic plan within each unit, including working with the Provost and Vice President Academic executive team to specify the business unit s objectives, develop policies and plans to achieve these objectives and allocate resources to implement the plans

3. Responsible for directing the financial planning (including budgeting, forecasting, analysis, reporting, accounting, and business processes) for the operating business units within the Provost and Vice President Academic portfolio, Student Financial Aid, Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies, AEF and PAEI.

4. Leads strategic financial planning, direction, leadership and management related to the finance units within the Provost and Vice President Academic portfolio

5. In charge of reviewing and establishing management reporting within the units to ensure effective presentation of key data required for operational management

6. Coordinates the annual budgeting process for the Portfolio to ensure best practices are followed

7. Provides a leadership role in establishing improved work processes & customer service

8. Manages finance resources/staff to deliver timely and efficient financial advice and support pertaining to the Provost and Vice President Academic portfolio units

9. Directs the financial operations in such a way as to capitalize on business opportunities and challenges and positions the Provost and Vice President Academic units for success and institutional effectiveness

10. Leads Continuous Improvement (CI) initiatives to improve business processes at UBC

13. Keeps abreast of changes / updates to legal issues involving accounting standards and is current in terms of changes or new directions affecting the accounting profession

14. Understands and promotes consistent application of the University s finance and purchasing policies and procedures

15. Represents Provost and Vice President Academic interests in negotiations concerning financial management and resource allocations

16. Leads discussions regarding financial matters pertaining to Provost and Vice President Academic units including rate setting, cost recovery strategies and charges

17. Manages debt repayments, debt restructuring and debt review for Provost and Vice President Academic units

18. Review and recommend on budget models, costing models, and summarized reports for the units within the Provost and Vice President Academic portfolio which include options and recommendations with respect to new and ongoing academic initiatives through the use of costing models for specific projects, assess reasonableness of scenario modeling through the use of simulation modeling techniques.

19. Ensures adequate controls are in place to safeguard the University's assets

20. Other duties as required.

Consequence of Error/Judgement

Given the importance of assessment and advice of the financial impact and viability of programs established or being considered by the Provost Office, errors in assessment could materially impact the support provided by the Provost Office to the Faculties and academic support units in the Provost portfolio. Failure to provide sound strategic advice and effective leadership on financial policy and systems together with timely and accurate financial information would make it difficult for the Office of the Provost and Vice President Academic to effectively represent the University and would interfere in decision-making and resource allocations. Failure to provide adequate short and long term strategic financial planning documents would undermine the ability of the Office of the Provost and Vice President Academic to set and implement priorities for allocation of resources, making it difficult to achieve the educational and research mandate of the University. Failure to oversee budgetary procedures in individual academic support units would make it difficult to monitor the overall budgetary situation and would lead to a lack of accountability.

Supervision Received

Works independently with broad parameters set out by the Provost and Vice President Academic and the University Comptroller.

Supervision Given

The Portfolio Finance Director will supervise and oversee the work of the Associate Director Finance, Sr. Finance Manager for the Provost Portfolio and will work closely with the Unit Directors and their Finance Officers in each of the individual academic support units in the Provost portfolio.

Minimum Qualifications

- Undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline and/or completion of an accredited Accounting program (CA, CGA or CMA).

- Minimum of ten years of experience with more than 3 years in a related senior financial role or the equivalent combination of education and experience. Experience in a university environment and/or private/public sector.

- 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

- Knowledge in financial and records management systems and in spreadsheet analysis methods.

- Thorough knowledge of UBC financial systems and related information technology systems is required.

- Excellent written and verbal communication.

- Ability to work creatively, resourcefully and effectively with a strong leadership group

- Ability to identify as well as resolve problems and to take initiative in improving the work and reputation of the Office of the Provost and Vice President Academic

- Ability to effectively lead other finance and administrative staff

- Skill in conflict resolution an asset

- Extensive skill-set and understanding of multiple business models and budgeting processes is required

- Ability to interpret financial data at a high level and to present findings developed from a compilation of complex and possibly disparate financial data is desired.

- Strong strategic planning and leadership skills is desired

- Ability to exercise tact and discretion as required in implementing new policies and solutions to sensitive problems.

- Ability to influence others to choose the most beneficial option when several exist is an asset.

- Strong organizational skills, ability to manage and prioritize the work of others and adhere to schedules.