Senior Financial Analyst - Vancouver, Canada - The University of British Columbia

Description

Job Summary

The Senior Financial Analyst is responsible for providing senior level accounting, financial management and forward thinking strategic support to the academic administrative units within the Provost portfolio that include not exclusively, Planning and Institutional Reporting (PAIR), Strategic Decision Support (SDS), UBC Emeritus College, Sustainability Hub, International Portfolio and ISI. The Senior Financial Analyst also provides financial expertise to the overall operations of these units and is expected to participate in management and operational discussions based on Unit Head s needs. The Senior Financial Analyst develops and implements the monthly/quarterly and annual financial reporting and budgeting processes for those units and provides monthly financial analysis to the management team and contributes to the strategic planning process. The combined annual GPO and revenue operating budget of the above units is approximately $60M.

Organizational Status
The Senior Financial Analyst reports to the VP Academic Portfolio Finance Director and functionally to each Unit Head. This position may also represent the Units through participation on various UBC committees. This position works with those from Central Finance and will liaise with internal and external auditors, and finance staff from the various units. Works closely and provides direction and overall management to departmental finance staff which may include clerical positions. The position is also required to work closely with the Administrative Managers in each Unit to provide operational support to the Unit Heads.

Work Performed
A. Planning, Budget and Control
1. Developing recommendations for overall budgeting and financial planning for the Units in conjunction with senior administrative personnel;
2. Developing recommendations on budget initiatives, assessing alternatives and consequences, and providing leadership in the implementation of budget policy and priorities;
3. Developing budget projections, monitoring and assessing performance and assessing impact of surpluses/deficits
4. Overseeing the general purpose operating budget for the various units (i.e. monitoring accounts, overseeing the preparation of transfers of cash and charges, overseeing the reconciliation of ledgers, providing cash flow projections, tracking commitments and ensuring timely and accurate financial reporting.
5. Overseeing the tracking and reconciliation of funds external to the general purpose operating budget, including but not limited to: endowments, contracts, grants, special purpose funds, equipment and lease payments, and externally-funded programs.
6. Performs complex analytical assignments that require thorough understanding of the University s financial information and its relationships to the accounting standards.
7. Participating in the unit s strategic planning process
8. Preparing the unit s Budget Presentation based on the collaborative input from unit managers/heads during the annual budget process

B. Financial Reporting
1. Reviewing and advising senior management (Dean, Directors, Associate Directors, Administration Managers) of causes of large variances between budget and actual expenditures;
2. Preparing quarterly reporting and annual reporting as required by Central Finance 3. Advising the Dean, Directors, Associate Directors on any financial matters that affect the Unit s financial position;
4. Managing the year-end reconciliation of accounts for the Units;
5. Managing the integrity of the Unit s budgets, identifying shortfalls and making recommendations to resolve deficits;
6. Build financial models as required to assess the financial viability and impact of new and existing strategic initiative projects;
7. Analyze, prepare and assist with preparing forecast results for current and future years by building assumptions, coordinating input from various sources and compiling results.

C. Policy Development and Establishment of Standards and Support
1. Implementing new financial processes and internal controls to improve the efficiencies of the financial information workflow within the Units and integrating with the University s financial system;
2. Developing and overseeing systems and processes to identify and resolve problems with the view of improving management of the Unit s financial resources;
3. Ensuring that all current and new University financial policies and procedures are implemented, fully comprehended and communicated effectively in a timely manner;
4. Ensuring that all account expenditures under the realm of the Units are in accordance with the policies and guidelines of the University and are in financial order at all times and that any discrepancies are addressed and immediately corrected;
5. Maintaining full understanding and expertise of all UBC and GAAP financial policies and procedures to ensure compliance by all account holders;
6. Providing strategic support and guidance to senior management, administrators and staff concerning budget, accounting and financial matters, accounting policy interpretation and sound business practices, to ensure effective financial management, through developing and implementing financial reports/systems and financial reporting structures.
7. Developing and preparing ad hoc financial and analytical reports as requested (e.g. comparative budget analysis of multiple year expenditure/revenue patterns, etc.).
8. Promote continuous improvement of processes and service delivery and identify potential streamlining or changes for enhancing efficiency and effectiveness.
9. Works with senior management in identifying areas of risk and opportunity and develop and advise mitigating strategies for resolution.
10. As a member of the Provost Finance Portfolio team, the Senior Financial Analyst also provides finance and budgeting operational support for other units within the portfolio as required.
11. Performs all other duties as required.

Consequence of Error/Judgement
With the responsibility to oversee the budgets and financial reporting of the various units within the Provost portfolio, the decisions of the Senior Financial Analyst has broad and extensive implications for the success of the units and more generally that of the Provost office and the Institution. Reports developed by this position must be correct, contain the appropriate, complete information, and present the information in a manner that enables them to be easily understood by Faculty leaders. Errors in the information/reports prepared by this position could result in poor financial decisions by Senior Management and may negatively affect the reputation of UBC. Errors in judgment can also negatively impact the integrity of the units and compromise future successes. Compromises of this sort can result in loss of budgets for future projects.

Supervision Received
Reports directly to the VP Academic Portfolio Finance Director but works closely with the Dean/ Directors/Administrators of the Units it supports. The role is expected to work independently in a collaborative and professional environment.

Supervision Given
The Senior Financial Analyst will manage direct/indirectly and assign work to various finance staff (M&P and CUPE 2950) located within each of the individual units within the Provost portfolio as required.

Minimum Qualifications
Undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline. Completion of the CPA accounting program (CA, CGA or CMA). Minimum of five 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

• Accounting experience in both profit and non-profit settings is an asset. - Excellent written and verbal communication, conflict resolution, problem-solving and organizational skills.
• Extensive experience in producing financial and budgetary reports and narratives.
• Advanced computer skills, especially in spreadsheet Excel and financial applications and systems analysis. Computer experience in the following would be an asset e.g. FMS, nVision, PS Query, P-Card/OPT, Position Management and Hyperion/Oracle.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently with minimum supervision and in a team environment.
• Ability to manage and prioritize one s work to meet the long-term strategic goals of the organization.
• Ability to develop and maintain cooperative and productive working relationships.
• Ability to interact professionally, effectively and tactfully with both internal and external clients.
• Ability to maintain accuracy and attention to detail.
• Ability to adapt to changing priorities, work under pressure and meet deadlines.
• Ability to exercise tact and discretion when handling sensitive and/or confidential matters.
• Ability to provide training and mentoring others as required.