Manager, Finance & Procurement

Organization: College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO)

Position Title: Manager, Finance & Procurement

Reports to: Director, Business Services & Chief Financial Officer

THE ORGANIZATION

The College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO) is the regulatory body for nursing in Ontario and exists to protect the public by promoting safe nursing practice. Through registration, standards, quality assurance, education oversight, and professional conduct processes, CNO helps ensure that Ontarians receive safe, ethical, and high-quality nursing care.

Today, CNO regulates more than 200,000 nurses across the province and plays an increasingly influential role within Ontario’s health care system. As health care delivery continues to evolve, CNO has established itself as a progressive regulator focused on advancing public safety, fostering system-wide collaboration, and enabling evidence-based decision‑making. The organization works closely with government, employers, educators, health system partners, and regulatory counterparts across Canada to support a responsive, modern, and sustainable health care environment.

As Ontario's health care system continues to evolve, CNO is undertaking significant modernization initiatives, including a major CRM transformation, advancing enterprise project governance capabilities, strengthening organizational planning processes, and completion of the current strategic plan while preparing for the implementation of the new strategic plan. The organization is committed to ensuring that regulation continues to evolve alongside changing technologies, workforce dynamics, and the needs of Ontarians.

THE OPPORTUNITY

Our client, CNO, is seeking an accomplished and people‑oriented Manager, Finance & Procurement to lead two critical enterprise functions and serve as a trusted partner to the Director, Business Services & Chief Financial Officer. The Manager will oversee an integrated team of approximately 14 employees, including 10 professionals within Finance and 4 within Procurement. This role provides leadership and oversight for the organization's finance and procurement functions, supporting the financial stewardship, operational effectiveness, and long‑term sustainability of the College.

This opportunity extends beyond traditional finance management. CNO is seeking a leader who can combine strong technical expertise with leadership presence, sound judgement, communication skills, and the ability to build trust across teams and interested parties. The successful candidate will help strengthen team cohesion, improve processes, modernize procurement practices, and provide the confidence and direction required to support a high‑performing Finance & Procurement function.

A central expectation of the role is to act as a trusted extension of the CFO, capable of independently leading key budgeting activities, procurement initiatives, interested party engagement, and operational priorities while maintaining appropriate alignment with organizational objectives. The successful candidate will be expected to bring the analytical depth, attention to detail, and critical thinking required to support an operating budget of approximately $90‑100 million and deliver high‑quality insights, advice, and support for the leadership team and Finance & Risk Committee.

Additionally, the organization sees an opportunity to strengthen procurement governance, and processes, improve vendor relationship management, and enhance support for business parties. The successful candidate will bring practical experience leading the full procurement lifecycle, including RFP development, evaluation methodologies, supplier selection, contract negotiations, and vendor management.

As CNO advances enterprise initiatives, including CRM modernization, strategic planning, and evolving organizational priorities, the Manager, Finance & Procurement will play an essential role in helping the organization make informed, evidence‑based decisions regarding investments, resource allocation, procurement strategy, and project prioritization. The position sits at the centre of some of the organization’s most important operational and strategic decisions and will help ensure financial resources are aligned with CNO’s long‑term objectives and public‑interest mandate.

In the first 12–24 months, the successful Manager, Finance & Procurement will have:

• Established themselves as a trusted and credible partner to the Director, Business Services & CFO, taking meaningful ownership of operational, budgeting, procurement, and interested party responsibilities.
• Strengthened accountability, communication, and team cohesion across both Finance and Procurement.
• Successfully led and supported the annual budgeting process for CNO’s approximately $90–100 million operating budget.
• Improved procurement governance, vendor management practices, contract administration and procurement processes.
• Provided Finance and Procurement leadership for enterprise initiatives, including a CRM implementation, strategic planning priorities, and other significant organizational projects.
• Enhanced Finance & Procurement’s role as a trusted business partner supporting evidence‑based decision‑making and organizational effectiveness.

The successful candidate will thrive in an environment that values accountability, professionalism, inclusivity, continuous improvement, and meaningful collaboration in pursuit of CNO's public protection mandate.

IDEAL SKILLS & EXPERIENCE

The ideal candidate will possess the following experience, qualifications, knowledge, skills, and attributes:

Education & Professional Qualifications

• Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) designation.
• Progressive leadership experience spanning both finance and procurement functions.

Technical & Functional Expertise

• Experience leading finance functions with responsibility for budgeting, forecasting, financial reporting, audit support, accounting operations, and internal controls.
• Demonstrated experience supporting complex annual budgeting processes and financial planning activities, ideally within a mid‑sized or large organization.
• Experience managing procurement and contract administration functions, including vendor management, RFP processes, evaluation methodologies, negotiations, and governance.
• Strong understanding of financial controls, risk management, compliance, and policy development.
• Ability to establish and improve processes, systems, controls, and reporting frameworks that enhance organizational effectiveness.

Leadership & Interpersonal Capabilities

• Demonstrated success leading teams through change, building trust, and creating high‑performing and collaborative work environments.
• Leadership presence, confidence, and credibility to influence peers and interested parties across varying levels of the organization.
• Ability to communicate complex financial and procurement concepts clearly and effectively to both financial and non‑financial audiences.
• Strong presentation and interested party management skills, including experience working with executive leaders, boards, committees, or governance bodies.
• A coaching‑oriented leadership style focused on employee development, engagement, and accountability.

Personal Attributes

• Strategic thinker with strong business acumen and sound judgment.
• Collaborative and relationship‑oriented leader who builds partnerships across the organization.
• Results‑oriented and proactive, with the energy and drive to improve processes and achieve outcomes.
• High degree of integrity, professionalism, and accountability.
• Comfortable operating in a structured, public‑interest environment while balancing competing priorities and interested party expectations.

To better serve the diversity of its community, CNO is dedicated to creating an inclusive and equitable environment for both clients and staff, and to the representation and hiring of all ethnicities, races, sexual/gender identities, cultural backgrounds, abilities, and beliefs. CNO is committed to providing a barrier‑free environment for everyone who enters its premises, accesses its information, or uses its services. Please advise LHH Knightsbridge should you require accommodation.

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