Finance Business Partner

Role Overview

• Provide high-quality strategic financial leadership and advisory services to a portfolio of internal clients across the College
• Enable informed decision-making through sustainable budgeting, forecasting, variance analysis, and financial insight
• Ensure departmental financial processes and procedures comply with college policies, regulatory requirements, and stewardship obligations
• Oversee expenditures and revenues, ensuring compliance with regulatory, granting agency, and donor requirements
• Lead and manage year-end financial processes, including accurate accruals, variance analysis, and maintenance of audit documentation
• Provide ad hoc financial reporting and analysis to support timely, evidence-based decision-making
• Mentor and train administrative professionals and support staff in financial and budgetary practices
• Build and maintain strong working relationships with Deans, Directors, and staff, supporting navigation of financial systems, policies, and processes
• Meet monthly with Deans and Directors to review operating results and key business performance drivers
• Support leaders in maintaining the College’s contract management system
• Review contract language for new initiatives and provide recommendations related to financial risk mitigation
• Provide technical financial guidance and advice to executive and management teams
• Assist in the development of program costing models for new and existing programs
• Advise leaders on identifying budgetary risks and opportunities
• Lead preparation of annual operating budgets and forecasts
• Provide expert advice on public-sector accounting practices and PSAS standards
• Produce and explain financial reports, ensuring stakeholders understand impacts, risks, and opportunities
• Test and support budgeting systems, liaise with external consultants, and deliver training as required
• Work closely with academic leadership and VPA on government program proposals
• Prepare monthly variance analysis in collaboration with Deans and Directors
• Monitor the effectiveness of budgeting and forecasting policies, systems, and processes; recommend improvements
• Lead departmental operational budgeting, forecasting, and planning activities
• Manage financial change initiatives and recommend corrective actions
• Support development of business cases and proposals through financial modeling and sensitivity analysis
• Develop regular and ad hoc financial reports for senior leadership to support strategic decision-making
• Provide high-level variance analysis and forecasting to identify emerging issues
• Support risk management, internal controls, and legislative compliance initiatives
• Monitor and recommend improvements to college financial policies and procedures

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, Economics, or a related discipline (Master’s degree or MBA preferred)
• Minimum 7 years of progressively senior experience in accounting, budgeting, forecasting, and financial analysis
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain effective working relationships with diverse stakeholders
• Proficiency with enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, business intelligence tools, data warehousing, and advanced spreadsheets
• An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered
• Professional accounting designation (CPA, CPA-CA, CPA-CGA, CPA-CMA, ACCA) (preferred)
• Experience in a technical finance role with cross-functional stakeholder engagement and supervisory responsibility (preferred)
• Strong background in business case development and advanced financial modeling (preferred)
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and critical-thinking skills (preferred)
• Advanced technical skills in integrated financial systems (preferred)
• Proven leadership capability and experience providing direction to staff (preferred)
• Knowledge of not-for-profit accounting and post-secondary education environments (preferred)

Tech Stack

• ERP

Benefits

• Diversity and Inclusion Commitment