Finance and Grant Administrator

University of Toronto; Toronto; On-site; CAD 91,000 - 118,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading educational institution in Toronto seeks a Finance & Grant Administrator to oversee financial management within the Lawson Climate Institute. The role involves preparing financial reports, monitoring budgets, and ensuring compliance with accounting principles. Ideal candidates hold a Bachelor's degree and have extensive experience in research finance and administration. Strong analytical skills, communication abilities, and problem-solving capabilities are essential for success in this role. This position offers competitive pay and opportunities for professional growth.

Qualifications

• Minimum five years of experience in research administration and finance.
• Experience with complex budgeting, forecasting, and reports.
• Ability to explain complex financial concepts clearly.

Responsibilities

• Forecast and monitor complex budgets.
• Prepare financial reports for management decision-making.
• Ensure compliance with financial policies and guidelines.

Skills

Financial management

Analytical reporting

Budget planning

Communication skills

Time-management

Problem-solving

Interpersonal skills

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Accounting or Business Administration

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

FIS

RIS

HRIS systems

Job description

Date Posted: 02/13/2026
Req ID: 46899
Faculty/Division: Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering
Department: Dept of Mechanical & Industrial Eng
Campus: St. George (Downtown Toronto)
Position Number: 00051633
Existing Vacancy: Yes

Description:

About us

Lawson Climate Institute was established in 2025 in recognition of a generous donation from Brian and Joannah Lawson Foundation. It will deliver high class training for the leaders of the future and provide multi- and inter-disciplinary research in technology, innovation, sustainable finance and climate policy.

The Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering which is the home of the position and the academic Principal Investigator, is home to about 60 professors leading research on a very broad range of topics. On the Industrial Engineering side, research areas include Operations Research, Information Engineering, Human Factors, and Applied Machine Learning, all of which seek to improve the systems we as humans rely on to navigate our world. On the Mechanical Engineering side, research areas include Robotics, Mechanics & Design, Materials, and Thermofluids, topics that are applied to applications including manufacturing, energy production, and bioengineering.

We are also home to about 2,000 very talented students: about 1,300 undergraduates are enrolled in the Industrial Engineering and in the Mechanical Engineering BASc programs. We have about 350 Master of Engineering (MEng) students, a professional program for students taking courses with us for a year or two. And we have about 350 MASc and PhD students, who work individually on research projects with a particular professor.

Your opportunity

The Finance & Grant Administrator is responsible for supporting the financial management as it relates to various programs within Lawson Climate Institute as well as responsible for preparing all the bookkeeping and financial reporting of the whole Lawson Climate Institute operations.

The incumbent will also be responsible for supporting the financial management of Special Projects, Research Grants for a Principal Investigator and tasks for operating budgets. The incumbent meets regularly with departmental Directors and Managers, provides business administrative support, prepares the forecast and budget plans, detailed analysis of variances, and prepares regular data monitoring analysis for senior management decision making.

The Finance & Grant Administrator ensures that business transactions are aligned with the general accepted accounting principles, the University’s financial and purchasing guidelines, as well as the Faculty’s funding rules.

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
• Interpreting and applying policies and procedures when making independent decisions
• Applying the University Guide to Financial Management and other applicable policies, agency and regulatory requirements
• Applying the generally accepted accounting principles to all financial tasks
• Resolving issues within the scope of the role and escalating problems as required
• Planning and implementing components of recruitment related projects

Essential Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Accounting or Business Administration or an acceptable combination of equivalent education and experience.
• Minimum five (5) years of recent and related experience in a combination of research administration and research finance.
• Minimum three (3) years experience in research fund accounting and restricted funds. This experience must include experience overseeing, planning and preparing complex budgets, forecasting and statistical information; monitoring and reconciling financial activity, payroll distribution, financial report generation, and preparing financial statements.
• Experience interpreting and applying relevant research policies and procedures for grants such as NSERC, CFI, MITACS, etc.
• Experience with complex spreadsheets and FIS, RIS, HRIS systems or equivalent systems.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills, with the ability to meet deadlines, multi-task and adapt to changing priorities.
• Advanced skills with Microsoft Office suites (e.g. Word, Excel, Outlook).
• Excellent communication skills (oral and written), with the ability to explain complex financial concepts to a wide range of audience.
• Demonstrated ability to exercise a high level of confidentiality, professionalism, good judgement, initiative, tact, discretion and make sound decisions.
• Excellent interpersonal and customer services skills with the demonstrated ability to develop strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Proven ability to problem solve with high attention to detail and accuracy in their work.
• Ability to work effectively as part of a team, independently, and under direction.
• Demonstrated commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion and the promotions of a respectful and collegial learning and working environment

Assets (Nonessential)

• Financial and administrative experience in an equivalent research institution.
• Completion of a recognized professional program (e.g CPA) is preferred.

To be successful in this role you will be

• Accountable
• Efficient
• Multi-tasker
• OrganizedResourceful
• Responsible

Closing Date: 02/24/2026, 11:59PM ET

Employee Group: USW

Appointment Type: Budget - Continuing

Schedule: Full-Time

Pay Scale Group & Hiring Zone: USW Pay Band 14 -- $91,677. with an annual step progression to a maximum of $117,242. Pay scale and job class assignment is subject to determination pursuant to the Job Evaluation/Pay Equity Maintenance Protocol.

Job Category: Finance/Budget/Planning/Audit

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.

A job description is available upon request