Director, Business Services

About Olds College of Agriculture and Technology

Founded in 1913, Olds College of Agriculture & Technology has been offering high quality hands-on education for over a century. Through our core programming including continuing education, online and blended programming, we provide accessible educational opportunities within Alberta and beyond. We are passionate about the Agriculture industry. Through our applied research and integrated learning, we are proud to be Canada’s Smart Agriculture College, specializing in agriculture, agrifood, horticulture, land and environmental stewardship. We work closely with industry to advance and adapt our programming to ensure our graduates have the skills to succeed.

The Opportunity:

The Director, Business Services provides senior leadership oversight to the Business Services team at Olds College and all related functions. This includes accounting operations (A/P, A/R, and payroll), budget planning and financial reporting. This role provides Institutional leadership, departmental direction, development, maintenance and continuous improvement of quality systems. The Director, Business Services provides internal consultation services, which support the College’s need to plan for, measure, preserve, enhance, and safeguard its financial and physical assets. The position requires that the institution’s financial systems, policies and procedures comply with, and be responsive to industry standards, Public Sector Accounting Standards, and support the College’s strategic goals.

Key Job Functions:

Financial Leadership & Policy Development

• Provide leadership to the Business Services team, ensuring their contributions align with the College’s strategic goals. This involves priority setting for policies, procedures, and internal controls.
• Provide relevant and proactive information on financial policies, processes, internal controls, and planning frameworks to support informed decision-making to individuals with budget and/or operational oversight responsibilities.
• Recommend, develop, and enhance financial policies for the College, categorizing them appropriately for ease of access and understanding.
• Lead a College-wide internal control program for all business processes to effectively manage financial reporting risks and inform enterprise-wide financial risk management.
• Ensure the timely preparation of financial statements for external users in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), or directed deviations from donors or grantors.Ensure the preparation of working papers to support the audit of the Financial Statements for the Minister of Advanced Education, as required by the Auditor General of Alberta.
• Act as the primary contact and liaison with the Auditor General’s Office in the completion of their annual financial audit of the College.

Financial Operations & Management

• Oversee and provide direction on appropriate accounting and policies for College-wide revenues, including government funding, tuitions, contract billings, learning enterprises, research, and grant funding.
• Manage and oversee cash and cash flow functions to ensure an optimal cash position.
• Provide expert advice to the Executive Team for short-term and long-term investment and debt management functions for Olds College.
• Oversee and ensure continual enhancements of all aspects of the financial processing functions of the organization. This includes accounts receivable, accounts payable, expense claims, payroll, inventory control, and capital asset inventory control.
• Oversee finance and accounting operations with College-wide business partners to ensure transactional integrity and advance a culture of service and support.
• Direct the timely and accurate recognition of revenues, including appropriate revenue deferments, ensuring compliance with accounting standards.
• Direct accounts payable operations to ensure vendor and creditor obligations are paid accurately and on schedule.
• Direct the client billing and receivables process to ensure prompt invoicing and optimize cash collections.
• Evaluate and manage banking and payment service relationships to ensure they align with organizational needs, internal controls, and industry best practices.

Budget Planning and Reporting

• Working with leaders and budget managers across the College, assisting with the budget development cycle and related internal reporting requirements, including forecasting processes, to enhance internal decision-making.
• Oversee College-wide asset management program for capital asset acquisitions, tracking, disposals, and associated reporting.
• Represent Olds College at Senior Accounting Control Officers (SACO) meetings.

Leadership and Team Management:

• Responsible for building your team through effective hiring practices.
• Provide direct and indirect supervision and mentorship to your team.
• Set clear team goals and objectives aligned with the organization's vision and strategy and ensure effective execution and achievement of targets.
• Manage team performance by setting and tracking key performance indicators, conducting performance reviews, and addressing any performance issues or gaps.
• Champion and foster a positive and inclusive work culture, promoting teamwork, collaboration and open communication within the team.
• Champion a customer-focus and safety mindset within the team ensuring exceptional service delivery and internal/external stakeholder satisfaction.
• Creates team spirit and helps to direct individuals toward achievement of team and organizational goals. Inspires others to do their best, develop professionally, and contribute to the success of the leadership team.

Risk Management, Compliance & Internal Controls

• Design, document, and monitor internal controls to safeguard the College’s financial and physical assets.
• Ensure financial systems and policies are compliant with all relevant industry standards and regulatory requirements.
• Coordinate and support external audits by providing necessary documentation and explanations.

Operational Effectiveness and Continuous Improvement Leadership

• Develop, maintain, and continuously improve quality financial systems, processes, and reporting.
• Identify gaps and bottlenecks in current processes and recommend changes to enhance operational efficiency.
• Oversee the implementation of process and system upgrades or changes within the Business Services area.

Budget Owner

• Ensure compliance with the role of a Budget Owner as outlined in College Policy.
• Allocate resources to maximize outcomes of the strategic plan.

Education/Experience/Skills/Knowledge Required:

• Post-secondary degree in Business, Finance, or Accounting. An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.
• Designated member in good standing, of a Canadian accounting profession. Please include a copy of your certificate as part of the application.
• Minimum of 8 years of progressive experience in an accounting or finance leadership role, including experience in budget planning, financial reporting, and compliance with accounting standards.
• Previous experience managing a diverse team.
• Experience establishing systems and internal controls and related policies and procedures to ensure efficient operations.
• Experience in budget development, monitoring and reporting.
• Experience in financial statement preparation in a complex and diverse organization.
• Experience serving as the primary point of contact for audit engagements, coordinating requirements and ensuring compliance. Previous experience working with the Office of the Auditor General of Alberta, or a similar provincial or federal auditing body, is highly preferred.
• Proficiency in managing setup, maintenance, and optimization of computerized accounting systems to ensure accuracy and efficiency.●Makes decisions with the College’s interests in mind, while demonstrating inclusivity, openness, transparency, civility, and respect.
• Acts ethically, openly, honestly, and respectfully to build and maintain an environment of trust, safety, and well-being.
• Demonstrate a strong dedication to promoting inclusivity and diversity by actively seeking out and valuing diverse perspectives, fostering a welcoming and supportive environment for individuals of all backgrounds, and continuously striving to create a culture of respect and understanding.
• Actively promote and reinforce practices that prioritize the well-being and security of all individuals at Olds College and show a proactive attitude towards safety measures, continuously striving to enhance safety

Conditions of Employment:

• Current Criminal Reference check that is free of any offenses.
• Must respect and actively promote health and safety policies.

The statements contained in this job description reflect general details as necessary to describe the key job functions of this position, the level of knowledge and skill typically required and the scope of responsibility. It is not an all-inclusive listing of work requirements. Other duties may be assigned.

Olds College offers a competitive benefit plan:

• Defined Benefit Pension Plan (LAPP)

• Extended Health, Dental, and Prescription Drugs benefits

• Health/Personal Spending Account

• Generous Vacation Leave

• Paid Holiday Closure

• ‘Olds College in the Community’ volunteer leave

• Professional development and opportunities for growth

Open until suitable candidate found.

We thank all individuals for their interest in this position. We appreciate the time involved for candidates in the application process. At this time, please note only those selected for interviews will be contacted.

Olds College is committed to an equitable, diverse, and inclusive workplace. We welcome applications from all qualified persons. We encourage applications from women, Indigenous Peoples, racialized persons, persons with disabilities and persons of any sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression.