Finance Manager and Strategic Financial Analyst

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Job End Date

Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the Posting End Date.

Please note: This is a 3 year term ending November 30th 2029.

At UBC we believe that attracting and sustaining a diverse workforce is key to the successful pursuit of excellence in research innovation and learning for all faculty staff and students. Our commitment to employment equity helps achieve inclusion and fairness brings rich diversity to UBC as a workplace and creates the necessary conditions for a rewarding career.

Job Summary

The Finance Manager and Strategic Financial Analyst provides analytical expertise to support strategic planning financial analysis and institutional initiatives across the university. The position conducts financial operational and institutional analyses; develops forecasting and scenario models; performs benchmarking and comparative analysis; and prepares reports and presentations to support senior leadership discussions and decision-making for the campus as a whole.

Working closely with Finance leadership this position supports strategic initiatives and special projects through research analysis modelling and synthesis of findings. The role transforms complex financial and institutional information into meaningful insights decision-support materials and presentations that help inform planning resource allocation and organizational priorities.

Organizational Status

Reporting to the Associate Director Finance with a dual reporting relationship to the Senior Finance Manager the Finance Manager and Strategic Financial Analyst works closely with the Senior Manager Strategic Decision Support and members of the Okanagan Finance team. The Finance Manager and Strategic Financial Analyst also works closely with members of the VPFO Transformation & Strategy team and is expected to build and maintain effective working relationships with key stakeholders across the University community including data and information partners such as PAIR and Enrolment Services and the Provost office.

Work Performed

Provides strategic financial leadership for am Okanagan Finance portfolio overseeing all aspects of financial management and planning:

• Acts as a member of the portfolio leadership team participating in strategic budget resource and staffing decision-making.
• Develops short and long-term financial plans to support portfolio and campus objectives and coordinates and reviews annual budgets across all portfolio units.
• Advises portfolio leaders and staff on financial strategy and best practices evaluates financial effectiveness and recommends improvements in collaboration with leadership
• Leads the creation and management of financial reports from transactional details to executive summaries
• Provides financial mentorship and education to portfolio staff
• Identifies and resolves financial issues supports special projects with analysis and recommendations and ensures internal controls are effective efficient and continuously improved
• Acts as the primary liaison between the portfolio and central Finance on all financial matters

Provides strategic financial analysis & decision support for the Okanagan campus:

• Conducts financial budget operational and institutional analyses to support strategic planning resource allocation and executive decision-making.
• Supports finance-led strategic initiatives and special projects through research analysis and synthesis of findings.
• Develops current-state assessments using financial operational and institutional information from multiple sources.
• Synthesizes complex data and information into concise analytical summaries reports briefing materials and discussion papers.
• Collaborates with academic and administrative stakeholders to gather information validate assumptions respond to complex information requests and support analytical requirements for strategic initiatives planning activities and special projects.

Undertakes financial modelling benchmarking and scenario analysis:

• Develops and maintains financial operational enrolment and scenario models to support planning and strategic initiatives.
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• Assesses the financial and operational implications of proposed initiatives funding approaches and organizational changes.
• Supports the analysis and ongoing evaluation of institutional funding methodologies and resource allocation models.
• Researches and analyzes information from CAUBO peer institutions U15 universities and other relevant sources to identify trends benchmarks and comparative practices.
• Conducts environmental scans and comparative analyses to provide context for institutional planning and strategic initiatives and develops comparative analyses that help Finance leadership understand UBC Okanagans performance relative to peer institutions.
• Assesses the applicability of external metrics methodologies and leading practices within the UBC Okanagan context and prepares benchmarking analyses reports and presentation materials to inform planning resource allocations and leadership discussions.
• Provides analytical support and backup capacity related to institutional planning models.

Develops reports presentations and supporting materials for Finance leadership Executive Senate Board and other governance discussions:

• Translates complex financial operational and institutional information into clear concise and accessible formats for diverse audiences.
• Develops presentation materials that communicate analytical findings assumptions options and potential impacts through a cohesive narrative.
• Creates visualizations charts and graphics that support understanding and informed decision-making.

Consequence of Error/Judgement

The Finance Manager and Strategic Financial Analyst is expected to be able to obtain the required information and create the analysis without supervision. Errors in analysis modelling reports and presentation could lead to incorrect decisions by Executives and Leadership which could have significant effects on University standards and operations.

Supervision Received

Works with a high degree of independence on strategic and operational work under the broad direction of the Associate Director Finance.

Supervision Given

No direct supervision given.

Qualifications

Minimum

• Undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline. Completion of the CPA accounting program (CA CGA or CMA). Minimum of seven years of related experience or the equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Willingness to respect diverse perspectives including perspectives in conflict with ones own.
• Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing ones own awareness knowledge and skills related to equity diversity and inclusion.

Preferred

• Undergraduate degree in Finance Accounting Economics Data Analytics Business Administration or a related field.
• Experience in financial analysis forecasting modelling planning decision support or related analytical functions.
• Experience in higher education the public sector or another large complex organization.
• Experience supporting strategic initiatives through research analysis modelling and reporting.
• Strong experience with business intelligence and reporting tools such as Power BI Tableau or similar platforms.
• Experience designing developing and maintaining reports dashboards visualizations and other analytical products to support decision-making.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze interpret and synthesize complex financial operational and institutional data into meaningful insights and decision-support materials.
• Demonstrated ability to identify trends patterns and key drivers within large and complex datasets and communicate findings in a concise and professional manner.
• Strong understanding of financial planning budgeting forecasting financial reporting and management analysis principles.
• Experience developing and maintaining financial operational forecasting and scenario models to support planning and decision-making.
• Strong research and benchmarking skills including the ability to evaluate external data metrics methodologies and leading practices and assess their applicability within the UBC context.
• Demonstrated ability to build effective working relationships and collaborate with stakeholders to gather information validate assumptions and support analytical initiatives.
• Advanced analytical problem-solving planning and organizational skills with strong attention to detail and accuracy.
• Excellent verbal written presentation and interpersonal communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to develop reports briefing materials presentations and data visualizations that communicate complex analytical findings through a clear and compelling narrative.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment discretion tact and diplomacy when working with confidential or sensitive information.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities adapt to changing requirements and work effectively under pressure to meet deadlines.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel PowerPoint and other analytical tools.
• Experience with enterprise financial systems such as Workday SAP Oracle or similar ERP systems is an asset.