Finance Service Partner

This position is a part of the Association of the Academic Staff of the University of Alberta (AASUA).

In accordance with the Temporary Librarian, Administrative and Professional Staff (TLAPO) Agreement , this position offers a comprehensive benefits package found on our Benefits Overview page and annual salary range of $67,731 – $112,811. This position has an initial appointment of two years.

Location – This role is hybrid with a mix of remote and in-person. Work primarily takes place at North Campus Edmonton.

Working for the University of Alberta

The University of Alberta acknowledges that we are located on Treaty 6 territory, and respects the histories, languages and cultures of First Nations, Métis, Inuit and all First Peoples of Canada, whose presence continues to enrich our vibrant community.

The University of Alberta is teeming with change makers, community builders, and world shapers who lead with purpose each and every day. We are home to more than 40,000 students in 200+ undergraduate and 500+ graduate programs, over 13,000 faculty and staff, 260,000 alumni worldwide and have been recognized as one of Canada’s Greenest Employers for over a decade.

Your work will have a meaningful influence on a fascinating cross section of people—from our students and stakeholders, to our renowned researchers and innovators who are quite literally curing diseases, making discoveries and generating solutions that make the world healthier, safer, stronger, and more just.

Position 

Are you an ambitious, collaborative and service-focused professional who loves to work in a dynamic and challenging environment? Someone who is excited by change and new challenges? We are looking for highly motivated and experienced individuals to join our Finance Partnership team.  Under the leadership of a Senior Finance Partner, the Finance Service Partners are responsible for the delivery of strategic financial solutions and advice to the leaders, faculty and staff within their client portfolios across the faculties and service units.

As a Finance Service Partner, you will act as a strategic professional advisor to various stakeholders across the University including senior leadership within your portfolio. You will collaborate with your fellow service partners, the Centres of Expertise (COE’s) within Finance, Procurement & Planning and the Shared Services Centre to foster collaborative relationships, leading and delivering on strategic initiatives while managing a large breadth of client services.

Duties 

• Provide professional financial advice to senior leadership, general managers, chief of staff, directors, managers, and supervisors on financial matters including interpretation of University financial policies and procedures
• Participate in the strategic planning process in the assigned area(s)
• Provide and support the training on financial policies, procedures, and processes
• Monitor key financial data and analytics for assigned areas and alert the Senior Finance Partner of potential issues
• Develop regular financial reporting and ad hoc reporting to assist senior management in the strategic decision making process; financial reporting to include high level variance analysis and forecasting to highlight issues
• Work with academic and senior leadership to set the financial plan and budget for the area
• Coordinate the annual budget planning and allocation process for assigned area(s) ensuring alignment with short term and long term priorities
• Support the preparation and incorporation of budgeting assumptions, targets, contingency plans and risk mitigation
• Coordinate the area’s year end processes including accurate accruals, performance of variance analysis and maintenance of appropriate documentation and audit trail
• Maintain productive relationships with colleagues in the Service Centre/Processing Hub, Finance Centres of Expertise, and across the Partnership team including continuous collaboration with the Senior Finance Partners
• Support with the development of processes and internal controls for the area(s), based on University wide practices, to ensure that all financial transactions are subject to appropriate review and oversight
• Provide cost estimates for new activities or changes to programs or services
• Work closely with the Finance Centres of Expertise to ensure consistency and implementation of organizational initiatives
• Financial reporting for external sponsors for grants
• Ad hoc reporting as required

Qualifications

• Degree in business or related field with a professional accounting designation (CA, CMA, CGA, CPA).  Equivalent combinations of education and experience will be considered.
• 3-5 years of related experience
• Strong analytical, problem solving and critical thinking skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Self-motivated with the ability to work both independently as well as play a role within a cohesive team of professionals
• Extensive knowledge of financial reporting and budgeting especially as it pertains to financial performance measurement
• Ability to perform financial functions within an organization subject to various internal and external policies, procedures and regulations
• Ability to communicate fluently in French and English is an asset
• Experience in building financial models would be considered an asset
• Experience in project cost analysis would be considered an asset

At the University of Alberta, we are committed to creating an inclusive and accessible hiring process for all candidates. If you require accommodations to participate in the interview process, please let us know at the time of booking your interview and we will make every effort to accommodate your needs. 

Note: Online applications are accepted until midnight Mountain Standard Time of the closing date.