Financial Officer, Faculty Accounts

About us:

The Faculty of Arts & Science is the heart of Canada’s leading university and one of the most comprehensive and diverse academic divisions in the world. The strength of Arts & Science derives from our combined teaching and research excellence in the humanities, sciences and social sciences across 29 departments, seven colleges and 46 interdisciplinary centres, institutes and programs.

We can only realize our mission with the dedication and excellence of engaged staff and faculty. The diversity of opportunities and perspectives within the Faculty reflect the local and global landscape and the need for curiosity, innovative thinking and collaboration. At Arts & Science, we take pride in our legacy of innovation and discovery that has changed the way we think about the world.

The Planning, Budget & Finance Office provides strategic and operational advice on the financial and budget management of the Faculty, as well as internal institutional and Faculty research data and business support services to all of the Faculty’s units. The Office models, plans, and implements the Faculty’s operating budget and provides Faculty-wide support and advice on the management of research, restricted and trust funds; financial analyses and forecasting; strategic planning and budget analysis; policy compliance and develops and delivers finance and business training seminars for A&S academic administrators and administrative staff.

Your opportunity:

Under the general direction of the Senior Financial Officer, Financial Analytics, the incumbent is responsible for the fiscal management and full budget cycle for the faculty accounts, including budgeting, forecasting, monitoring, and reporting. The incumbent will reconcile all accounts of the portfolio, resolve discrepancies and report material misstatements to senior management.

The incumbent will be responsible for managing the Faculty’s infrastructure accounts including a broad array of accounts that fund renovations, major capital projects, leases and mortgages, maintenance costs, capital renewal of undergraduate labs. They manage the accounts for small renovation project undertaken in the Faculty of Arts & Science, working closely with the Director and Designers from the Department of Infrastructure and Planning to implement budget, monitor their expenditures and ensure that procurement and expenditures are in compliance with the University’s policies and guidelines. They will maintain repository of data on the Faculty’s major capital project accounts ensuring that commitments are accounted for against faculty resources, allocated and recovered according to approvals.

Additionally, the incumbent is responsible for the financial management and administration of the various faculty recruitment reimbursement programs, works closely with academic units on the reimbursement of costs according to policy, and also works closely with the Treasury Department on the issuance of forgivable or interest-free loans according to the current banking instruments and agreements. The incumbent will manage the Faculty’s one-time funding agreements and commitments and also prepare various cyclical and ad- hoc summary reports to present to management for important decisions.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Forecasting and planning financial activities incorporating budgets with multiple sources of revenue and/or recoveries
• Monitoring, recording, reconciling and/or reporting on funding accounts for grants and contracts
• Identifying and resolving individual financial discrepancies
• Keeping well-informed on changes to policies, procedures, collective agreements, and applicable legislated requirements
• Advising staff on accounting practices and University financial policies and procedures
• Interpreting and applying policies and procedures when making independent decisions
• Serving as a resource on specific issues to a group of specialists
• Providing formal job-related training

Qualifications:

Essential Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting or business administration, or an acceptable equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Minimum four years of recent and related experience in an accounting position within a complex organization preferably in a post-secondary or research-intensive institution.
• Experience with Funds Accounting, specifically with university trust accounts and adhering to complex contracts and terms of agreements.
• Knowledge of university accounting and payroll principles and guidelines.
• Experience working with a SAP-based system. Knowledge of the University’s Financial Information System (FIS) and Human Resources Information System (HRIS) or other related financial and payroll systems.
• Knowledge of and experience with interpreting policies and procedures of the University of Toronto or other related educational institutions.
• Experience conducting financial trend analysis and proposing effective strategies and working with databases, analyzing financial data and statistics and producing complex reports.
• Analytical ability and aptitude for numbers, details and follow through.
• Excellent communication (oral and written) skills.
• Advanced organizational and planning skills.
• Ability to manage conflicting priorities, multi-task, and have excellent attention to detail and accuracy.
• Ability to work with complex and/ or technical information (e.g. grants, statistical information, financial statements, donor reports).
• Advanced skills with Microsoft Office 365 (e.g. Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, Access, SharePoint, Teams)
• Demonstrated strong client service orientation.

Assets (Nonessential):

• Advanced standing in a recognized accounting program considered an asset.
• Financial and administrative experience with the Faculty of Arts and Science.

To be successful in this role you will be:

• Accountable
• Communicator
• Efficient
• Meticulous
• Multi-tasker
• Resourceful