Associate Director, Finance

Position Summary

BCIT’s Financial Services department is seeking a regular, full-time (1.0 FTE) Associate Director, Finance. This position acts as a strategic financial advisor/partner to the School/Department’s financial planning function in partnership with the School/Department leadership and ensures alignment with the Institute/School’s Strategic and Educational Plan. Participates as a member of the assigned School/Department’s leadership team, advising and making recommendations on key financial decisions. Supports the development, implementation, maintenance, evaluation and improvement of budget, planning (including enrolment planning), forecasting, capital, business cases and financial functions in accordance with Financial Services standards, BCIT policies, collective agreements and statutory requirements in consultation with the Senior Director Financial Planning & Business Intelligence. Implements the necessary controls to identify and mitigate risks and alerts School/Department Leader and Senior Director to critical issues as they emerge. Duties & Responsibilities KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES:

• Participates as a member of the assigned School/Department’s leadership team, providing input to development of strategies.
• Acts as a key strategic advisor to the Dean/Leader and department leadership on financial matters, identifying potential concerns and opportunities and provides key information and concepts to facilitate discussion and decision making. Provides input on improvement initiatives aimed at optimizing operational efficiency, increasing revenues, and managing costs.
• Develops and implements financial strategies and business cases, standards, practices, and processes for the School/Department’s financial function in consultation with the Senior Director. Ensures the necessary controls are implemented to mitigate risks and alerts School/Department Leader and Senior Director to critical issues as they emerge.
• Leads budget planning, and monitors the School/Department’s financial performance and status and assists budget owners to make financial decisions. Involves analysis of revenues and expenditures, specialized reporting and cash flow projections.
• Leads the delivery of accurate financial forecasts and plans ensuring all identified risks are quantified and appropriately recorded. Collaborates with budget owners to develop robust plans for mitigation of risks identified.
• Executes month end and year end activities for closing the accounting period in a timely manner. Reviews accounting entries and transactions for the period for completeness of financial information, follows month and year end close processes and identifies and escalates any accounting or reporting issues.
• Prepares, provides and reviews regular financial performance reports and provides accurate and timely financial information to budget owners. Provides commentary explaining the variances against budget, forecast and prior year performance. Supports budget maintenance and prepares financial analysis associated with the Institute’s position control and School Educational Plans.
• Leads integration of enrolment plan to the School’s budget, in collaboration with School Operations Manager and Institutional Research to collectively make recommendations to mitigate challenges and support BCIT’s financial goals.
• Supports preparation of robust business cases, capital investment plans and new program proposals for ministry funding submissions from a financial perspective, testing the underlying assumptions and quality assuring the cost, benefits, risks and funding solutions.
• Participates in the design and development of new and ad hoc financial information for internal use, government reporting and other external bodies.
• Oversees the School/Department’s day-to-day transactions related to accounting, co-ordination of procurement activities, and contract administration where there are financial implications. Performs all related analysis, data integrity, metrics and reporting.
• Ensures compliance with financial processes and requirements, such as Institute policies, internal processes, industry best practices, and provincial and federal regulatory requirements.
• Manages directly and indirectly reporting staff, overseeing and participating in selection, coaching, mentoring, development, performance management and all other people-management practices.

Qualifications QUALIFICATIONS & REQUIREMENTS:

• Bachelor’s degree in business or commerce with a focus on finance, accounting, and business management.
• Professional accounting designation (CPA).
• Minimum 8 years’ experience at progressive levels of responsibility, involving financial planning and management in a large, complex organization.
• An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.
• Advanced knowledge of the concepts, theories, practices and methods of financial planning and analysis, and decision support, with expertise in budgeting, forecasting, analysis, and related reporting.
• Strong business acumen with advanced skills in development of financial and capital plans, project management, change management.
• Advanced communication, interpersonal, and presentation skills with ability to act as strategic financial planning advisor and facilitator to leaders at all levels across the Institute.
• Excellent analytical skills, critical thinking, and ability to apply sound judgment in interpretation of analytical findings, problem solving, evaluating courses of action, and making decisions on financial matters.
• Advanced Excel skills and high level of proficiency in Microsoft office programs as well as the ability to learn and understand other key corporate enterprise applications and systems.
• Experience using ERP’s and business intelligence tools.
• Advanced people leadership skills with ability to build and manage teams in a unionized, public sector environment.

Additional Information Benefits – Why you’d love working with us

• Competitive pay
• Minimum of twenty-five days of vacation
• Competitive employer-paid extended health and dental plan including access to a Health Care Spending Account of up to $500 if eligible!
• Defined benefit pension plan with employer contributions
• Flexible hybrid work arrangements available
• Professional Development funds and resources
• Access to most BCIT Flexible Learning courses free of charge
• Wellness and Employee Assistance programs
• Complimentary membership with free access to the Fitness Centre, Gymnasium, and more
• Eligibility requirements apply, benefits may vary depending on the employee group the position belongs to and whether the position offered is temporary or part-time. For more information on our generous benefits, click here!

BCIT is committed to the principles of equity, diversity & inclusion and to promoting opportunities in hiring for systemically oppressed groups who have been excluded from full participation at BCIT and the larger community. This includes Indigenous Peoples, women, racialized persons, persons with disabilities and those who identify as 2S/LGBTQIA+. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadian citizens and permanent residents will be given priority.

Persons with disabilities who require accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should contact us using our contact form. Please note that all applications must be submitted via the careers page portal. Applications submitted through the contact form will not be accepted. For additional information, please visit our frequently asked questions (FAQs) page and see how we hire.
The British Columbia Institute of Technology acknowledges that our campuses are located on the unceded traditional territories of the Coast Salish Nations of xwməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səl̓ilwətaɁɬ (Tsleil-Waututh).