Finance Manager

Dalhousie University; Halifax; Hybrid; CAD 72,000 - 97,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

RRSP matching

Health and dental plans

Wellness allowance

Employee assistance program

Tuition assistance

Hybrid work option

Job summary

Dalhousie University, located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, hosts the Ocean Frontier Institute (OFI). The Finance Manager will oversee administration, management, and reporting of all OFI research accounts, partnering with Dalhousie units and funders to ensure accountability and compliance.

The role requires five+ years in financial management, strong analytical skills, and advanced Excel proficiency. Hybrid work options apply within Nova Scotia, with a focus on research program budgets and

Qualifications

• Undergraduate degree with five years of progressively responsible financial management experience or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Experience in budget development, forecasting, financial analysis, and reporting.
• Experience supervising staff and managing work priorities.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, decision-making, and communication skills.
• Advanced proficiency with Excel and financial management systems.
• Ability to build collaborative relationships with diverse stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Lead financial management, oversight, analysis, forecasting, budgeting, and reporting for all OFI programs and projects.
• Prepare financial reports, variance analyses, forecasts, business cases, and feasibility assessments for leadership and stakeholders.
• Provide strategic financial advice and assess financial implications, risks, and opportunities for priorities and initiatives.
• Monitor funded programs to ensure compliance with policies, sponsor requirements, and audit standards; coordinate audits.
• Develop and enhance OFI financial policies, procedures, controls, systems, and reporting; identify process improvements.
• Build relationships with researchers, program managers, partner institutions, funding agencies, and Dalhousie units to guide financial transactions and resource planning.

Skills

Budget development

Forecasting

Financial analysis

Reporting

Staff supervision

Excel proficiency

Communication

Stakeholder management

Fluency in English & French

Education

Undergraduate degree in finance or related field

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Financial management systems

Job description

Salary $72,430 - $97,028 per annum based on 35 hours per week.

Classification

Provisional Statement

Dalhousie University is Atlantic Canada’s leading research-intensive university and a driver of the region’s intellectual, social and economic development. Located in the heart of Halifax, Nova Scotia, with an Agricultural Campus in Truro/Bible Hill, Dalhousie is a truly national and international university, with more than half of our almost 21,000 students coming from outside of the province. Our 6,000 faculty and staff foster a vibrant, purpose-driven community, that celebrated 200 years of academic excellence in 2018.

Job Summary

The Ocean Frontier Institute ( OFI ), led by Dalhousie University, is one of the world’s most significant ocean science research and training collaborations with partnerships extending globally, across many sectors such as university, government, research institutes, industry, NGO ( non-governmental organization), and philanthropic. Reporting to and under the direction of the Executive Director, the Finance Manager is responsible for the administration, management, oversight, and financial reporting of all research accounts associated with the Ocean Frontier Institute.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the financial management, oversight, analysis, forecasting, budgeting, and reporting for all OFI programs and projects, including consolidated budgets and forecasts for partner institutions and research programs.
• Prepare financial reports, variance analyses, forecasts, business cases, and feasibility assessments for OFI leadership, governance bodies, Dalhousie University, funders, donors, partners, and other stakeholders, recommending corrective actions as required.
• Provide strategic financial advice and recommendations to OFI leadership, assessing the financial implications, risks, and opportunities associated with organizational priorities, proposed initiatives, partnerships, funding opportunities, and resource allocation decisions.
• Monitor funded programs and projects to ensure expenditures and financial activities comply with University policies, sponsor and granting agency requirements, funding agreements, regulations, and audit standards, and coordinate financial audit requirements.
• Develop, maintain, and enhance OFI financial policies, procedures, controls, systems, and reporting practices, identifying opportunities for process improvement and taking appropriate action to support accountability, transparency, and compliance.
• Build and maintain effective relationships with researchers, program managers, partner institutions, funding agencies, and Dalhousie Research Services and Financial Services, providing guidance on financial transactions, planning, compliance, financial risks, and funding requirements.

Note

The successful applicant will be eligible for hybrid work (combination of in-person work on campus and remote work from within Nova Scotia) as agreed by all parties based on operational requirements and university guidelines.

Required Qualifications

• Undergraduate degree with minimum five years of progressively responsible financial management experience (or an equivalent combination of education and experience).
• Demonstrated experience in budget development, forecasting, financial analysis, and reporting. Experience developing, interpreting, and administering financial policies and procedures.
• Experience supervising staff and managing work priorities.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, decision-making, and communication skills.
• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Excel and financial management systems.
• Demonstrated ability to build collaborative relationships with diverse stakeholder groups.

Assets

• Experience working in a university or research environment.
• Experience managing grant funding within a post-secondary or research-intensive environment.
• Familiarity with CFREF (Canada First Research Excellence Fund) administration guidelines.
• Experience with process improvement, project management, or change management initiatives.
• Fluency in both English and French.

The successful candidate is expected to demonstrate proficiency in Dalhousie’s core and leadership competencies, in particular:

• Respect & Inclusion
• Adaptability
• Knowledge & Thinking Skills
• Communication
• Service

Additional Information

Dalhousie University supports a healthy and balanced lifestyle. Our total compensation package includes a voluntary RRSP , health and dental plans, a wellness allowance, an employee and family assistance program and a tuition assistance program.

Application Consideration

Applications from current university employees and external candidates are assessed concurrently. Current university employees will be given special consideration.

Full-time students currently enrolled at an educational institution are not eligible for regular Grant-Paid positions.

We sincerely appreciate all applications and note that only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted directly by the hiring department or People and Culture.

Diversity Statement

Dalhousie University commits to achieving inclusive excellence through continually championing equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility. The university encourages applications from Indigenous Peoples of Turtle Island (especially Mi’kmaq), persons of Black/African descent (especially African Nova Scotians), and members of other racialized groups, persons with disabilities, women, persons identifying as members of 2SLGBTQIA+ communities, and all candidates who would contribute to the diversity of our community. In accordance with our Employment Equity Policy, preference will be given in hiring processes to candidates who self-identify as members of one or more of the equity-deserving groups listed above. For more information, including details related to our Employment Equity Policy and Plan and definitions of equity-deserving groups please review our Employment Equity information. If you require any support for the purpose of accommodation, such as technical aids or alternative arrangements, please let us know of these needs and how we can be of assistance. Dalhousie University is committed to ensuring all candidates have full, fair, and equitable participation in the hiring process. Our complete Accommodation Policy can be viewed here .

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

Documents Needed to Apply

Required Documents

• Résumé / Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Optional Documents

• Cover Letter