Manager, Finance

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Job Summary

Reporting to the Director, Queen’s Health Sciences Finance, the Manager, Finance manages the integrated day-to-day delivery of Finance Services for Queen’s Health Sciences (QHS). The Manager supports QHS client service by managing detailed preparation, analysis, operational Finance delivery and team execution and by providing advanced advice within established portfolio frameworks.

The Manager plans, allocates and balances work within the team and integrates validated operational information with forecasts and analysis. The position maintains regular relationships with department heads, administrators, managers and budget holders, resolves routine to moderately complex matters within delegated authority and keeps the designated senior Finance leader informed of significant strategic, policy, control, capacity and senior-client issues. Routine work does not require additional approval when it falls within delegated authority.

Job Description

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
Budgeting, Forecasting and Financial Planning and Analysis
• Supports the annual and multi-year budget and forecast process by developing, consolidating and monitoring detailed budgets, staffing plans and forecasts for assigned units.
• Provides advanced practical advice to department heads, administrators, managers and budget holders concerning budget development, forecasts, pressures, controls and operational decisions.
• Prepares and reviews detailed forecasts, variance and trend analyses, projections, scenarios and models for Director review and for use in discussions with faculty leaders concerning programs, staffing, services, capital needs and operational decisions.
• Identifies emerging pressures, risks and opportunities and recommends appropriate action to assigned leaders and the Director.
• Ensures approved budget, staffing and resource decisions are accurately reflected in financial plans, reports and systems.
• Assists with financial modeling, scenario analysis and costing as part of strategic support.
• Prepares decision-ready financial reports, dashboards, briefing materials and presentations.
• Considers future implications, commitments and changing assumptions when assessing financial sustainability and recommending action.

Finance Operations and Account Administration
• Oversees account administration, transactions, reconciliations, journal entries, receivables, payments and routine financial reporting within delegated authority.
• Monitors account activity, commitments, revenues, expenses, reserves, balances and other relevant financial indicators in multiple funds.
• Ensures transactions and account balances are complete, accurate, valid, appropriately authorized and adequately documented.
• Coordinates corrective action for transaction, account or control issues and escalates novel, material or high-risk matters.
• Supports month-end, quarter-end and year-end activities and audit requirements.
• Supports monitoring of financial health and financial risk across assigned areas of responsibility.
• Oversees the financial administration of applicable operating, capital, trust, endowment, research, ancillary, commercial or other funds within QHS.

Controls, Policy and Compliance
• Applies and explains established University and Finance policies, accounting requirements, delegated authorities and internal controls.
• Translates established requirements into practical guidance for assigned units and monitors compliance with applicable financial, regulatory, contractual, funding and reporting requirements.
• Maintains appropriate procedures, records, documentation and audit trails and communicates relevant process, system, control and deadline changes.
• Identifies significant issues and escalates matters beyond delegated authority.

People, Workload and Resilience
• Primarily leads individual contributors, plans, prioritizes and manages day-to-day work based on service priorities, workload, capability and deadlines.
• Sets team priorities, allocates work and resolves operational issues within established parameters.
• Coordinates with the Director on client priorities, service commitments, capacity pressures and matters requiring senior-level advice or escalation.
• Establishes performance expectations and provides coaching, feedback, guidance and development opportunities. Assess development needs to improve and sustain employees successful performance.
• Conducts performance reviews and makes effective recommendations regarding recruitment, selection, training, development and corrective or disciplinary action in accordance with University policies and applicable collective agreements.
• Redistributes work within the team and supports cross-coverage; ensures critical processes are documented and backed up.
• Promotes cross-training, knowledge sharing and an inclusive, respectful and accountable workplace.
• Monitors team workload, service measures, recurring issues, outstanding work and client feedback and recommends improvements.
• Redistributes work within the team to address absences, vacancies, changing priorities and peak workloads.

Process and Service Improvement
• Reviews financial and administrative practices and identifies opportunities to improve efficiency, accuracy, controls, resilience and client service.
• Develops and maintains standard operating procedures, work instructions, templates, tools and training materials.
• Ensures critical processes are documented and supported by appropriate backup arrangements. Identifies and mitigates single points of failure.
• Supports implementation of common Finance systems, reporting tools, processes, service standards and controls.
• Participates in Finance standardization, automation, continuous improvement and cross-QHS support.

Undertakes other duties consistent with the level and purpose of the position, as assigned by the Director or the CFAO QHS.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
• University degree in Commerce, Business Administration, Accounting, Finance or a related field.
• Minimum five years progressive experience spanning financial management, budgeting, forecasting, analysis, reporting, account administration, controls or Finance operations.
• Experience supervising employees or coordinating the work of a Finance team.
• Demonstrated experience providing financial advice and support to managers, department heads, administrators or budget holders.
• Broad working knowledge of budgeting, forecasting, reporting, account administration, reconciliations, internal controls and operational Finance.
• Experience with Microsoft Excel, enterprise financial systems, reporting and analytical and visualization tools.
• Criminal Sector Check required.
• CPA designation is considered an asset.
• Consideration may be given to an equivalent combination of education and experience.

SPECIAL SKILLS:
• Strong financial analysis, budgeting, forecasting, modelling and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to integrate detailed operational information with forward-looking forecasts and recommendations.
• Strong understanding of accounting practices, internal controls and compliance requirements.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication and presentation skills, including ability to explain financial matters to non-financial audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to lead, coach, motivate and develop employees.
• Strong client-service orientation balanced with financial stewardship, consistency and compliance. Escalates concerns to the Director, Finance when appropriate.
• Ability to organize work from multiple sources, meet competing deadlines and recognize when Director involvement is required.
• Change-management and continuous-improvement capability, including the ability to support employees and clients through departmental, process and system changes.
• Commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, accessibility, confidentiality and respectful workplace practices.
• Sound judgement and the ability to determine when an issue requires the Director, Finance involvement or specialized advice.
• Ability to collaborate effectively.

DECISION MAKING:
• Sets day-to-day team priorities, allocates work and resolves operational issues within established parameters.
• Determines the analysis, data, assumptions and financial information required to support assigned unit decisions.
• Provides recommendations concerning budgets, forecasts, financial analysis, financial pressures, risks, opportunities and corrective actions.
• Determines appropriate accounting and administrative treatment for routine to moderately complex transactions and escalates novel, material or high-risk issues.
• Identifies financial transaction, account and control issues and determines corrective action within delegated authority.
• Determines reporting methodology, data requirements and presentation format within common Finance standards.
• Adapts standard procedures and work practices to improve efficiency, accuracy, controls, resilience and service quality.
• Makes effective recommendations concerning recruitment, performance, training, employee development and corrective or disciplinary action.
• Provides practical advice to assigned leaders and recommendations to the Director. The Director leads senior strategic and faculty-wide financial advice, while authorized faculty leaders retain final business, staffing and resource-allocation decisions.
• Implements approved financial decisions in accordance with University policies, controls and delegated authorities.
• Resolves routine to complex operational and client-service issues and determines when a matter requires the Director, or another university partner.

Employment Equity and Accessibility Statement

The University invites applications from all qualified individuals. Queen's is strongly committed to employment equity, diversity, and inclusion in the workplace and encourages applications from Black, racialized persons, Indigenous people, women, persons with disabilities, and 2SLGBTQI+ persons. In accordance with Canadian Immigration requirements, priority will be given to those who are legally eligible to work in Canada.

The University provides support in its recruitment processes to all applicants who require accommodation due to a protected ground under the Ontario Human Rights Code, including those with disabilities.