Senior Director, Research Financial Services

Union: non-union
New or Replacement Position: Replacement
Site: 700 University Avenue- Hydro Building
Department: Research Financial Services
Reports to: Deputy Chief Financial Officer
Hours: 37.5 hours per week
Status: Permanent Full-time
Closing Date: March 31 2026

Position Summary  

The Senior Director Research Financial Services provides executive leadership for all aspects of financial management planning and oversight for the Research Portfolio and its Institutes within Canadas largest hospital network. This role is accountable for the strategic and operational leadership of research financial services ensuring financial integrity sustainability and alignment with institutional priorities regulatory requirements and sponsor expectations.

Reporting to the Deputy CFO the role serves as a critical bridge between Finance and Research enabling effective stewardship of public private philanthropic and industry-sponsored research funding. Together the Research portfolio spends over $600M annually to deliver world class research. As a trusted advisor to the Executive Vice President of Research senior research operations leadership and institute leaders the Senior Director RFS delivers expert financial and business advice to support decision-making across a highly complex multi-institute portfolio.

Duties:

Strategic and Innovative Financial Leadership

• Lead the overall financial strategy for the Research Portfolio within UHN ensuring alignment with organizational academic and clinical priorities
• Provide expert financial and business advice to the EVP Science and Research to the Deputy CFO and senior leaders on long-term sustainability resource allocation and investment decisions
• Lead research and organizational business innovation and technology initiatives to work smarter adapt faster and deliver better outcomes and integrate research financial planning into enterprise-wide financial strategies

Research Financial Operations

• Responsible for a team of 60 finance staff that provide financial and business support to over 1200 principal investigators and researchers who receive funding from over 900 research sponsors.
• Oversee all aspects of research financial services including financial accounting budgeting forecasting financial reporting preparation and management of operating and capital budgets research balance sheet activities and cash flows.
• Ensure effective financial oversight across a diverse portfolio of funding sources (tri-council foundations philanthropy industry international sponsors) and compliance with all funding agency guidelines
• Lead mentor and develop a high-performing team of research finance professionals

Governance Risk & Compliance

• Establish and maintain robust financial controls policies and processes to support complex operations
• Ensure compliance with sponsor requirements institutional policies and applicable legislation and regulations.
• Identify and manage financial risks related to research funding contracts and operational complexity.
• Support audits and financial reviews related to research activities

Leadership & Stakeholder Engagement

• The Senior Director works with many internal and external stakeholders including auditors granting and reporting agencies commercialization entities UHN-affiliated Foundations and others
• Build strong partnerships with institute leadership researchers research operations legal procurement and corporate finance teams

Continuous Improvement & Innovation

• Drive continuous improvement in financial systems reporting near real-time analytics and AI adoption to enhance decision making transparency and efficiency
• Support modernization initiatives and process standardization

Qualifications :

• Undergraduate degree in Finance Commerce Business Administration or a related field; CPA or equivalent professional designation required.
• Minimum 10 years of progressive senior financial leadership experience within a large complex organization; experience in healthcare research or public-sector environments strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated experience managing complex funding models large budgets and diverse stakeholder groups.
• Strong strategic thinking executive presence and ability to influence at the senior leadership level.
• Proven senior leadership skills with demonstrated ability to inspire and motivate others and create an environment conducive to team building
• Experience in developing and sustaining effective and collaborative professional working relationships and partnerships
• Experience interacting with and presenting to Senior Management and Board Committees
• A proven track record of creating and maintaining large high performing teams
• Exceptional service orientation and strong interpersonal and verbal/written communication skills required

Key Competencies:

• Reputation for strategic financial leadership and sound judgment
• Deep understanding of health system and research funding and compliance environments
• Exceptional communication and advisory skills
• Change leadership in complex matrixed organizations
• Commitment to accountability integrity and public stewardship

Additional Information :

In addition to working alongside some of the most talented and inspiring healthcare professionals in the world UHN offers a wide range of benefits programs and perks. It is the comprehensiveness of these offerings that makes it a differentiating factor allowing you to find value where it matters most to you now and throughout your career at UHN.

• Competitive offer packages
• Government organization and a member of the Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan (HOOPP access to Transit and UHN shuttle service
• A flexible work environment
• Opportunities for development and promotions within a large organization
• Additional perks (multiple corporate discounts including: travel restaurants parking phone plans auto insurance discounts on-site gyms etc.)

Current UHN employees must have successfully completed their probationary period have a good employee record along with satisfactory attendance in accordance with UHNs attendance management program to be eligible for consideration.

All applications must be submitted before the posting close date.

UHN uses email to communicate with selected candidates.  Please ensure you check your email regularly.

Please be advised that a Criminal Record Check may be required of the successful candidate. Should it be determined that any information provided by a candidate be misleading inaccurate or incorrect UHN reserves the right to discontinue with the consideration of their application.

UHN is an equal opportunity employer committed to an inclusive recruitment process and workplace. Requests for accommodation can be made at any stage of the recruitment process. Applicants need to make their requirements known.

We thank all applicants for their interest however only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.

Remote Work :

No

Employment Type :

Full-time