Job Description:

About the Department of Financial Services

Mount Royal University’s Financial Services is responsible for the accurate and timely recording, analysis and reporting of all financial information for the University, MRU Foundation, and Mount Royal Early Learning Centre. The Department comprises of functional areas and provides the following key services:

• Financial Reporting

• Commerce & Receivables

• Payables & Expense Management

• Procurement

• Budget & Resource Planning

• Treasury & Investment

• Internal Control Framework

About the Role

Reporting to the Manager, Resource Planning the Finance Partner (FP) / Finance Business Partner (FBP) is a professionally designated accountant within the Resource Planning group of Finance. Although not directly responsible for administering budgets, the incumbent plays a key role in the ability to influence and direct work which significantly impacts financial and budget results. Peer leadership is essential to gather relevant information for decision making, to ensure University objectives are met, while maintaining boundaries with those who area in a direct management role. The incumbent is to perform their responsibilities by using their previous education and experience, adhering to policy and regulatory requirements, applying an institutional perspective, using professional judgment and best practices as a guide with great latitude in responding to all business areas' situations and queries. In addition to carrying out the fundamental duties and responsibilities of a professional accountant for MRU, this position has additional focused accountability to Finance Services and for the supported client areas.

The role is to provide expert knowledge and advice, supporting the financial business, regulatory and general accounting needs of designated business units within the University by developing partnerships and meeting the unique needs of the unit. Flexibility is required as the FBP must constantly evaluate and re-prioritize workloads within strict deadlines and varying business cycles as new initiatives and requirements emerge.

This position is a full-time role, working 35 hours per week.

Responsibilities

DECISION SUPPORT:

• Support strategic and operational decision making by developing and preparing financial analysis and reports required by internal users to support their decision-making needs. Al the same time, ensuring that the required documentation standards are considered from both an operational and audit perspective.
• Support management decision making of existing and future activities; operations; programs; processes; acquisition and expansion prospects; business model adaptations by developing and/or reviewing financial reports to ensure the captured information provides management with the best opportunity to assess all related impacts, fiscal viability and overall sustainability.
• Analyze and compile data from a variety of sources and prepare long-range projections, as well as immediate impact analysis to support decision making related to operating performance, proposed program and service changes, capital expenditures, labour negotiation impacts, and any other ad hoc decision requirements.
• Recommend changes to significant financial projections and estimates which impact the overall institutional financial position to inform the annual and 3 year strategic and budget planning cycle.
• Analyze methodologies, assumptions, and estimated models (e.g. tuition, grants, and fees) used to project financial results; recommend and implement improvements to ensure the most accurate and responsive financial information is available to best support decision making.
• Develop and test financial estimates based on historical trends, apply profiles and analytics to ensure the most accurate presentation for the purposes of forecasting, variance reporting, and all other financial reporting, monitor and analyze significant financial components for future budget planning and variance analysis support
• Provide informed reporting to the Board of Governors and all other University stakeholders by analyzing results; proactively identifying trends; designing reporting to ensure accurate, complete and consistent forecasting and actual performance; providing accurate and complete analysis based on a solid understanding of the applicable business drivers and their related impact to operations and budget decision making.
• Collaborate with management to assess and analyze business process and system's needs; making recommendations for acquisitions improvements or re-design to ensure optimal efficiency and effectiveness in reaching organizational objectives,
• Provide expert level advice for operational and strategic management decision making by communicating and relaying the overarching institutional perspective, controls, compliance, and key objectives; and contextualizing the impacts.

REPORTING:

• Oversee and guide university financial planning and reporting results, needs and responsibilities to ensure accurate and appropriate capture of university's operating results, forecasts, plans; coordinate with senior managers and business units lo ensure significant institution wide transactions are represented to support all period close reporting; ensure applicable accounting standards and university policies are adhered to.
• Monitor, lead and communicate changes in accounting standards and Provincial reporting requirements to senior management to ensure compliance which Impacts the university's accurate financial reporting and overall reputation is maintained; recommendation of university policy and procedure changes to accommodate divergent needs and timelines.
• Support strategic and operational decision making by developing, preparing, and providing assurance of complex financial information required by internal and external users; providing this information to business areas, funding agencies, governmental regulations, and University projects to support their decision-making needs. At the same time, ensuring that the required documentation standards are considered from both an operational and audit perspective. External reporting is provided to the Provincial Ministry, donors, conditional funding agencies, government and non government departments, and sponsors.
• Advise on, recommend and develop appropriate software tools and processes for optimal and efficient planning and reporting along with the management of multiple databases; sustainability and maintenance of superior reporting practices despite evolving and strict Government imposed deadlines and requirements.
• Collaborate with and develop effective relationships with individuals in governing and funding agencies and partner associations to remain current on existing reporting standards and contribute to the development of new analysis and reporting to meet multiple and competing objectives.

SUPPORT AND TRAINING:

• Provide leadership, expert advice and training on general accounting and best practices related to financial management, reporting, budgeting, internal controls, decision-support Information structures and systems, and financial and operational system design and products. Support work of financial roles across the University to ensure that all complex accounting and financial models and reports are compliant, well documented and supported from both an operational and audit perspective.
• Support and advise business units for the ultimate preparation of audit-ready financial statements, all related working papers, and all other external reporting
• Provide expert level support to business areas through communication and training on available tools (software programs) and processes (all Financial Services and Supply Chain) whilst simultaneously ensuring that accounting accuracy, and efficient and effective monitoring, and understanding of financial information (along with the relevant compliance), is achieved.
• Lead training sessions for management and administrative staff to ensure the most effective utilization of available software, and the proper maintenance and management of financial information.
• Advise on and participating in business unit recruitment where a supporting position is required to possess financial expertise; ensuring the appropriate level of consideration is given to the successful applicant possessing the financial knowledge that would permit them to fulfill the responsibilities of the position so as to promote self-reliance at the department level.
• Advise on information systems implementation projects regarding accounting related controls, segregation of duties, reconciliation requirements and qualitative and quantitative reporting requirements, to ensure superior decision making can be achieved (i.e. sales volumes, cost analysis, inventory management).
• Mentor and train within Finance and other business units by means of individual interactions related to all aspects of accounting and institutional policies, practices and regulations.
• Provide specialist financial, accounting, operational, and strategic knowledge and expertise from an Institutional perspective to support decision making in various University wide committees as directed by senior management.

REGULATORY COMPLIANCE:

• Provide expertise on the institutional perspective on the interpretation, testing, and Impact of all relevant University wide internal controls, policies procedures, government regulations (Ministry of Advanced Education), applicable accounting standards, income tax rulings and regulations (i.e. GST, independent contractor vs. employee, charity status, tax receipting regulations) for compliance and to support and enhance operations and strategic initiatives.

• Monitor and ensure compliance gaps are appropriately addressed to ensure limited impact to University risk department level programs, or the activity of key operations.

Qualifications

• University Bachelor Degree

• Chartered Professional Accountant Designation (CPA)

• 6 – 10+ years’ experience

• In-depth knowledge and progressive levels of experience in multiple and varied complex scenarios.

• Strong experience in managing technology related controls in conjunction with financial accounting and other internal controls requires a thorough understanding of the fundamental financial planning and accounting framework, and the many related accounting and regulatory requirements and its impact on the resulting reporting.

• Accuracy and attention to detail, analytical, organizational, problem resolution skills.

• Excellent financial accounting, forecasting and budget projection modeling skills.

• Ability to understand financial reporting impacts related to specific decision making.

• Strong ability to prioritize amongst equally important requirements.

• Strong interpersonal skills, high level of verbal and written communication skills with the ability to work independently.

• Applicable systems and technology experience in all Microsoft Office products, in particular Excel, Word, Access as well as large ERP systems.

Salary: $102,749 - 116,341 per annum

Closing Date: Open until suitable candidate is found

A cover letter and resume should be submitted in one .pdf document. Please title your .pdf document as follows: [Last Name], [Requisition Number], [Document Title].pdf (ex. Smith, 4321, CV.pdf).