Senior Financial Analyst

Job Summary

The Office of the Provost and Vice President Academic (VPA) is responsible for the academic mandate of the University’s Vancouver campus and oversees the University Budget of $3 billion. The Office provides leadership in planning, policy development and management of resources to ensure the fulfillment of the University s academic mission through the achievement of strategic goals. The Provost is the Senior Vice President and serves as Acting President in the absence of the President. The strategic academic funds under the oversight of the Provost is over $150m and growing.

The Senior Financial Analyst position manages the academic strategic funds of the Provost Portfolio (which include Academic Excellence Fund/AEF, President’s Academic Excellence Initiatives/PAEI and the newly formed Provost Strategic Fund/PSF). The value of all funds is estimated to be $150m annually. The position develops and implements financial models, reports and schedules to meet the strategic goals of the Provost/VP Academic, and the Provost leadership team. This position is a key member of the VP Academic financial management team, provides counsel on strategic direction and performs senior level accounting functions in the Provost and VPA office. The position plays a significant role in supporting the Portfolio Finance Director in providing financial leadership, strategic guidance and support in budgeting, accounting, reporting, and financial management systems pertaining to the University strategic funds. This position provides critical financial and forecasting expertise that supports and ensures accuracy and efficiency of strategic decision-making and financial planning of the unit and the University.

This position provides critical financial and forecasting expertise that supports and ensures accuracy and efficiency of strategic decision-making and financial planning for the University. Ensures the Portfolio Finance Director, VP Academic and the senior staff of Office of the Provost and VP Academic are supported in strategic and operational decision making by ensuring accurate reporting of financial information is presented to management in appropriate format with proposed recommendations on the use of the UBC Strategic Funds.

Organizational Status
The Senior Financial Analyst reports to the Associate Finance Director, VP Academic Portfolio. This position works in close collaboration with VP Academic Portfolio leads (VPA Finance Director, VPA Associate Strategic Director) and with many internal departments including: the Comptroller’s office, Financial Planning & Analysis, Financial Reporting, Financial Operations, Treasury, all academic faculties, VP Research and external parties including the Killam Trustees and external auditors.

Work Performed

• Providing detailed analysis in assessing the impact of the centrally-funded strategic initiatives through the contributions related to the development of a specialized multi-year forecasting model. The main funds are Academic Excellence Fund (AEF), President’s Academic Excellence Initiatives (PAEI) and a new VPA Strategic reserve fund (SRF).

• Developing and maintaining an accurate summary of Strategic initiatives funded from strategic funds under the oversight of the Provost. Providing business support to various units and stakeholders across the community by applying technical expertise, process management and business acumen. Identifies and prioritizes yearly budget and quarterly activities. Identifies problem areas, calculates financial impact and provides advice and follows up with corrective action, guidance and advice.

• Develops and recommends financial policies, practices and governance frameworks related to strategic fund management.

• Manages the UBC Killam General and Salary Fund and partners with Financial Reporting and Analysis in preparing specialized annual external financial and university wide initiative reporting to Killam trustees.

• Manages the program and financial administration of the Leading-Edge Endowment Fund (LEEF) chair program and is the main University liaison representative with the external LEEF organization.

• Designs and prepares reports and models with data from the existing financial management system and budgeting system, to analyze the current fiscal year’s funding distributions and forecasted future year’s activities from the strategic funds.

• As part of the modelling processes for the various funds will develop, create, plan and monitor complex scenarios on the annual and five-year plan for the strategic funds.

• Interprets accounting procedures and reporting guidelines and provides financial and planning advice to the portfolio and other finance related colleagues.

• Assesses and analyzes the effects of campus community changes on the financials and provides recommendations to address impacts.

• Prepares and presents comprehensive financial planning reports and forecasts with multiple scenarios to support senior management decision making.

• Reviews and analyzes the quarterly and annual financial statements and management reports including those which require senior management and Board approval. This includes thorough analytical reviews of actuals and projections and the identification of variances from budget; action items from the management team, red flags, growth areas, etc. to ensure future business decisions are sound.

Continuous Improvement/Operational Excellence

• Leads business process reviews and reengineering to enhance and improve reporting efficiencies and effectiveness. Makes changes in process and procedures that will yield a more accurate and timely financial analysis, annual and multi-year forecast.

• Develops new reporting and functionality that will impact the Strategic funds reporting that is unique and customized compared to the regular University financial reporting needs. Prepares specialized annual Board reporting to report on the effectiveness of use of funds to meet the President’s Priorities.

• Facilitates the implementation of administrative and forecasting process improvement to enhance financial reporting and monitoring tools for the University administrators.

• Improves existing modelling and analysis towards key strategic initiatives with broad and significant financial outcomes.

• Performs other duties as required.

Consequence of Error/Judgement
Any errors in assessment could materially impact the planning, decision making and financial viability of central operations, faculties, and departments. Inaccurate financial modelling, projections and forecasts may lead to mismanagement of resources, which could result in significant financial losses and negatively impact UBC’s ability to perform and uphold its reputation as a world class institution. Failure to provide adequate short and long term strategic financial planning guidance and advice would undermine the ability of the senior leadership to set and implement priorities for allocation of resources, making it difficult to achieve the educational and research mandate for the University.

Supervision Received
Works with wide latitude and will plan and execute their own deliverables based on internal, board and ad hoc deadlines for special projects. Supervision takes the form of periodic discussions with the Associate Finance Director.

Supervision Given
This position currently has no direct reports, although it will indirectly assign work/tasks to other staff in the Associate Finance Director’s team.

Minimum Qualifications
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 one’s own

- Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing one’s own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusion

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working within Public Sector Accounting Standards is an asset.

• Financial and forecasting experience, including work with modelling of complex long-term financial forecasts, and computerized financial management systems. Advanced working knowledge of spreadsheet modelling (MS Excel).

• Strong working knowledge of financial management and forecasting software packages, preferably Workday. (Workday, Adaptive Planning and Calumo).

• Strong understanding of GAAP principles and ability to apply knowledge to UBC.

• Demonstrated strong interpersonal, problem-solving, planning and organizational and analytical skills.

• Business acumen, understanding the strategic story and demonstrated ability to implement operational actions in a complex environment

• Effective oral and written communications skills.

• Work both independently and in a team environment.

• Ability to work well under pressure, prioritize tasks to meet deadlines and demonstrate a high degree of accuracy.

• Contributes in building strong relationships at all levels of the department and the University.