Business Officer

University Of Toronto; Toronto; On-site; CAD 90,000 - 116,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player seeks a Business Officer to oversee financial and administrative functions within a dynamic educational environment. This role involves managing budgets, advising on research funding, and coordinating payroll and contracts. The ideal candidate will possess a strong background in financial management, excellent communication skills, and the ability to foster relationships across diverse stakeholders. Join a collaborative team committed to enhancing educational excellence and making a meaningful impact in the community. This position offers a unique opportunity to contribute to innovative projects while enjoying a supportive work environment.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of financial management experience in a university setting.
• Bachelor's degree in a related field is essential.
• Advanced skills in financial systems and Microsoft Office.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and monitor complex budgets and financial forecasts.
• Advise on research and budget policies for funding agencies.
• Coordinate payroll and contract processing for the department.

Skills

Financial Management

Budgeting

Analytical Skills

Communication Skills

Microsoft Office Suite

Project Management

Interpersonal Skills

Time Management

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Commerce, Business, Accounting, or Finance

Tools

FIS

RIS

Kronos

HRIS

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Word

Microsoft PowerPoint

Microsoft Teams

Zoom

SharePoint

Job description

Date Posted: 04/09/2025
Req ID: 42469
Faculty/Division: OISE
Department: Dept of Curriculum, Teaching & Learning
Campus: St. George (Downtown Toronto)
Position Number: 00048991

Description:

About us:
OISE is recognized as a global leader in graduate programs in teaching and learning, continuing teacher education, and education research. As one of the largest and most research-intensive faculties of education in North America, OISE is an integral part of the University of Toronto - Canada’s most dynamic and comprehensive institution of higher learning.
OISE is committed to enhancing the social, economic, political and cultural well-being of individuals and communities locally, nationally and globally through leadership in teaching, research and advocacy. A unique place to work, learn and grow, OISE addresses current and emerging challenges with the scale, academic excellence and collaborative energy that few institutions in the world can claim.
The Department of Curriculum, Teaching and Learning is the largest of four departments at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE). With a diverse community of tenured, research, and teaching stream faculty, the department offers a wide range of graduate courses and programs relating to academic scholarship and professional practice.

Your opportunity:
Under the general direction of the Manager, Finance and Administration, the Business Officer is responsible for the overall financial, human resources, operational and administrative functions required for the effective support of the department’s academic, research and teaching goals and objectives. Major responsibilities will include: preparing forecasts, transactions, detailed analysis of variances, and all components related to budget management (including general funds, research grants, contracts and/or gift accounts); advising principal investigators on all research and budget policies of funding agencies and administering grants and contracts including the recovery of overhead costs. The Business Officer is also responsible for preparation and timely processing of contracts (casuals, course instructors, post doc, service, etc.) and payroll documents (recurring payments, additional payment, timesheets, attendance, vacation, etc.); coordinating, monitoring and tracking confidential employee information (vacation, leaves, attendance, and academic faculty leave entitlements). The Business Officer will work with the Chair/PM to coordinate departmental needs with respect to space, physical access, security, facilities management and information technology (IT).

Your responsibilities will include:

• Forecasting, planning and monitoring multiple complex budgets
• Analyzing financial trends and preparing analytical reports and forecasts for management decision making
• Monitoring department budget to ensure expenditures remain within budgeted allocations
• Applying the University Guide to Financial Management and other applicable policies, agency and regulatory requirements
• Producing complex statistical and/or financial reports
• Fostering cooperative working relationships with a wide variety of internal and external contacts
• Keeping well-informed on changes to policies, procedures, collective agreements, and applicable legislated requirements
• Directing the activities of a single ongoing staff-appointed employee and work-study students

Essential Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree in Commerce, Business, Accounting, Finance, or related disciplines, or an acceptable equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Minimum five years of recent and related accounting, finance, administrative experience, preferably in a University setting.
• Experience administering a complex work unit with financial management experience including overseeing, planning and preparing complex operating budgets and research grants; forecasting, managing, and analyzing budgets and statistical information; reporting, monitoring and reconciling financial activity and payroll distribution, including preparing financial statements.
• Experience overseeing all financial transactions (revenue and expenditures) against operating budgets and research grant accounts.
• Demonstrated experience processing financial and payroll transactions and preparing financial reconciliations, analyses, and recommendations.
• Demonstrated experience processing accounts receivable, accounts payable and journal entries.
• Experience in translating financial system data into meaningful and accessible management reports that can be understood by non-financial stakeholders.
• Knowledge of the University’s research services and financial/payroll policies or other similar policies.
• Experience working with the University’s research services, grant research applications and processes, and grant administration.
• Experience with policies and procedures related to administering sessional lecturers (CUPE 3902 unit 3), Course Instructors (CUPE 3902 Unit 1), Postdoc fellows (CUPE 3902 Unit 5), other collective agreements (e.g. USW), or other similar unionized groups.
• Experience working with contract systems (OISE Sessional Lecturer System or related system).
• Experience working with procurement services, office planning and space issues.
• Experience supervising administrative staff.
• Advanced skills and experience working in FIS, RIS and Kronos, or similar administrative systems. Intermediate skills and experience working with HRIS.
• Demonstrated advanced skills in Microsoft Office (e.g. Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams), Zoom, SharePoint and databases.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to develop good working relations among academic and administrative staff, clients and peers.
• Excellent time management and organizational skills. Ability to deal effectively and efficiently with a large volume of work in a timely manner. High tolerance for dealing effectively with busy and demanding clientele and meeting deadlines. Ability to manage multiple/competing deadlines and priorities.
• Demonstrated analytical ability with great attention to detail, and ability to meet deadlines in a fast-paced work environment. Demonstrated project management skills.
• A team player with the ability to work under pressure. Ability to identify and correct processing errors.
• Demonstrates initiatives, tact, and sound judgement in the handling of sensitive and confidential matters.

Assets (Nonessential):

• A CPA designation would be an asset.

To be successful in this role you will be:

• Accountable
• Communicator
• Meticulous
• Multi-tasker
• Problem solver
• Self-directed

Closing Date: 04/21/2025, 11:59PM ET
Employee Group: USW
Appointment Type: Budget - Continuing
Schedule: Full-Time
Pay Scale Group & Hiring Zone: USW Pay Band 14 -- $90,056. with an annual step progression to a maximum of $115,169. Pay scale and job class assignment is subject to determination pursuant to the Job Evaluation/Pay Equity Maintenance Protocol.
Job Category: Administrative / Managerial
Recruiter: Jennifer Tucker

Lived Experience Statement:
Candidates who are members of Indigenous, Black, racialized and 2SLGBTQ+ communities, persons with disabilities, and other equity deserving groups are encouraged to apply, and their lived experience shall be taken into consideration as applicable to the posted position.