NLC-2278R: Finance Business Partner

Additional Information:

For over 50 years, the Northern Lakes College vision has been to increase accessibility to educational opportunities. With 25 locations across northern Alberta, program sites throughout Alberta, and a unique Supported Distance Learning model, students can access quality educational opportunities without leaving their community. Students can study from the comforts of home, work, on the road, or from one of the many College locations. Northern Lakes College offers a variety of university transfer, diploma, and certificate programs, including Academic Upgrading, Business & Administrative Studies, Health & Human Service Careers, Pre-Employment & Apprenticeship Trades, Resource Technology, University Studies, and Continuing Education & Corporate Training certificates and courses. The college supports and promotes professional development and wellness opportunities and provides employees with an attractive benefits plan and competitive salaries. The College service region offers numerous recreational activities for the entire family to enjoy!

Northern Lakes College has the following ongoing position available:

Finance Business Partner
Salary: $80,988 to $108,480 per year
Location: Slave Lake
September 1, 2026 to Ongoing

Qualifications

• Business Diploma in Finance or related education
• 3–5 years of experience in financial analysis, capital accounting, or financial reporting
• Experience working in a public accounting firm and/or in public sector, post‑secondary, or not‑for‑profit environments is considered an asset
• Exposure to capital projects, deferred revenue, and grant accounting is strongly preferred
• A combination of education, training, and experience may be considered

Assets

• Bachelor’s degree in business, Finance, or other related field
• CPA designation or in progress

Major Job Function:

Reporting to Manager, Financial Planning & Reporting, the Finance Business Partner plays a key role in supporting the financial planning, reporting, capital asset management, and deferred revenue activities of the institution.

The position is responsible for capital asset accounting and reporting, and assists with grant and deferred revenue management, including related tracking and reporting. It also supports internal, external reporting and year-end processes. In addition, the role provides cross-functional support to the Finance Department, ensuring compliance, accuracy, and strong financial controls across both operational and capital activities.

This role serves as a critical liaison, ensuring effective coordination between Financial Services, Facilities, and other internal departments.

Duties and Responsibilities

Financial Planning, Analysis, Reporting & Capital Accounting

• Support annual budgeting, forecasting, and financial planning activities, monitor and report on approved operating and capital budgets, including internal capital projects, contingencies, utilization, and remaining balances
• Track, reconcile, and report on capital projects and initiatives, including trades and technical equipment, ICIP-funded projects, and Facilities-led capital work
• Prepare financial, capital, and CMR reports, including analysis to support management, committees, financial control, and accountability
• Assist departments with financial aspects of grant funding, capital funding, and related reporting requirements
• Support monthly and quarterly financial reporting cycles and provide reporting and analysis support to the Manager, Financial Planning & Reporting
• Maintain and report on capital assets and capital projects in compliance with Public Sector Accounting Standards and institutional policies
• Prepare and maintain Work‑in‑Progress (WIP) continuity, amortization schedules, funding summaries, and related accounting entries, including reconciliation, holdback tracking, and operating versus capital expenditure review

Deferred Revenue & Grant Support

• Ensure executed agreements are in place for all deferred revenue, grants, and restricted funds
• Set up new projects, funds, and accounting processes for new grants or funding agreements
• Work with budget officers / external grant providers on grant expenditure deadlines, allocations, approved expenditures and required action for remaining funds
• Collaborate with External Relations and Student Awards on new donations and awards, existing donor-funded awards, required documentation, agreements, and disbursements
• Provide deferred revenue support to the Director, Finance Services as required

External Reporting

• Prepare and submit external financial reports, including: Statistics Canada reporting Charity Information Return CMR reporting (in coordination with Facilities) Other reports assigned including; Provencial, OAG, CRA
• Ensure consistency and reconciliation between internal financial records and external submissions

Year-End Financial Statements & Audit Support

• Assist with year-end financial statement preparation and reporting
• Conduct capital asset counts and verification checks, including reconciliation to the general ledger
• Coordinate and support inventory counts, including: Bookstore inventory Laptop inventory (coordination and reconciliation)
• Perform reconciliation of assigned balance sheet and income statement accounts like prepaid accounts
• Assist with year-end audit preparation, schedules, and responses to audit queries
• Support the Manager, Financial Planning & Reporting with CCEC Financial Statements

Procurement & Financial Operations Support

• Manage the procurement process for goods and services, ensuring: Compliance with institutional procurement policies, Alignment with approved budgets
• Provide administrative oversight for: Moneris VISA / US Bank programs
• Provide backup support for: Bank reconciliations Core finance operational activities as required

Process Improvement & Departmental Support

• Analyze financial processes and internal controls, recommend efficiency improvements, and support updates to related policies, procedures, and regulations
• Provide cross‑functional and departmental support during peak periods, including budget preparation, year‑end, and audits, and perform other duties in support of Finance objectives, as required

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Ensures compliance with applicable policies, procedures, regulations, and accounting standards
• Knowledge of Public Sector Accounting Standards (PSAS) and their application to capital and financial reporting
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel; experience with ERP systems (Unit4 preferred)
• Strong understanding of capital accounting, deferred revenue, and financial controls
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and critical‑thinking skills
• High attention to detail, accuracy, and data integrity
• Ability to manage competing priorities and meet reporting deadlines.
• Strong relationship‑management skills and ability to collaborate effectively across departments.

Contacts:

Internal contacts

• Senior Leadership Team
• Deans
• Chairs
• Information Technology
• External relations
• Facilities
• Others where necessary

External contacts

• Statistics Canada
• Government of Alberta
• Bank
• Moneris
• Others where necessary

Successful candidates must provide College or University transcripts and a clean Criminal Record Check to Human Resources prior to commencement.

Note: Northern Lakes College thanks all applicants for their interest in employment; however, only those candidates selected for interviews will be contacted.

• Competitive salaries
• Vacation time ranging from three to eight weeks
• Excellent health and dental benefits
• Life and disability insurance
• Pension plans with employer contributions
• Comprehensive employee and family assistance program
• Professional development opportunities