Associate Director – Finance

Associate Director – Finance

Requirements

• Undergraduate degree, major in Finance or Accounting is preferred.
• Minimum 5 years’ related experience.

Responsibilities

• Responsible for leading the planning, management and reporting of all financial activity within the Faculty of Science.
• Create and implement best-in-class financial framework, including rolling comprehensive financial forecasting, budgeting and analysis.
• Analyze overall Faculty financial performance in line with University goals and objectives.
• Oversees the multi-year and multi-fund planning and budgeting process.
• Provide leadership in the creation, implementation and clear and effective communication of financial information to the organization and programs.
• Support implementation of important projects that require the involvement of the financial component and participate in the implementation of sound internal control procedures.
• Partner with all senior academic staff (Chairs, Associate Deans, Program Directors) to provide financial guidance.
• Manage a team of financial staff (Faculty Finance Unit) as well as provide leadership and guidance on financial matters to departments/peers.
• Responsible for the professional development of all Faculty finance staff, setting team goals and objectives, implementation of team-building activities, employing outcome measures to evaluate goal attainment, evaluating individual and team productivity, recognizing and rewarding staff achievement, and taking corrective action when needed.
• Represent the Faculty at internal and external meetings/committees – related to financial matters.
• Liaises with finance counterparts within the University and/or at other institutions to share expertise across all areas of the organization and advance Faculty priorities.
• Acts as the primary financial liaison between all units within the Faculty and the Offices of the Budget and Vice-Principal Administration and Finance.
• Embed a culture of continuous improvement and the achievement of a truly valued partnership with our department heads and teams.

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience in leading and managing financial activities, including planning, reporting, and aligning financial plans with academic and operational priorities.
• Ability to analyze financial performance and provide advice to support decision-making and align with University goals.
• Proficiency in creating and implementing comprehensive financial frameworks, including multi-year budgeting and forecasting.
• High level of interpersonal and communication skills, essential for effectively guiding and managing teams.
• Strong team player with the ability to collaborate effectively with diverse cross-functional groups.
• Effective communication skills to clearly convey information and provide financial guidance to all levels of staff.
• Bilingual; excellent verbal and written communication skills, in both English and French.
• Excellent project management skills with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously using methodologies and tools.
• Commitment to embedding a culture of continuous improvement and fostering valued partnerships across departments.