Finance Officer

McGill University; Dawson City; On-site; CAD 108,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading Canadian university is seeking a Finance Officer to provide financial oversight and guidance to departments. This role involves financial planning, analysis, and ensuring compliance across the Faculty. Candidates should have a degree in finance or accounting and at least three years of relevant experience, preferably in a higher education setting. The position emphasizes bilingual communication and a solid understanding of financial management principles. An attractive benefits package with remote work options is available.

Benefits

Competitive benefits package

Defined contribution pension plan

Tuition waiver for employees

Remote work options

Qualifications

• Minimum 3 years of experience in financial planning, budgeting, and fund management.
• Experience preferably in higher education or public sector environment.

Responsibilities

• Provide financial analysis and recommendations to support strategic focus.
• Ensure effective and compliant financial operations.
• Monitor endowments and track discrepancies.
• Organize training for departments on budget issues.

Skills

Bilingual communication

Financial management principles

Budget preparation

Trend identification

Report preparation

Communication with diverse audiences

Education

Undergraduate degree, Finance or Accounting preferred

Job description

Overview

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Faculty of Science

Finance Unit

The Opportunity

This role acts as a Finance Partner to departments, offering financial oversight to ensure consistency and standardization of practices and processes across the Faculty. The Finance Officer will provide financial guidance for departmental funds including operating, special, endowment and direct spend funds, for 4-5 departments. The position will provide key financial analysis and recommendations aligned with the mission of the Faculty. The Finance Officer will oversee all financial activities, ensuring the implementation of best practices and robust processes that safeguard financial stability and compliance. This role reports into the Associate Director, Finance.

Key Responsibilities

Financial Planning and Analysis:

• Provide key financial analysis to the Chair, Dean, Director of Administration and Operations and Associate Director, Finance, and make recommendations to support the strategic focus and mission of the Faculty, including but not limited to multi-year budget, financial and trend analyses, compilation and preparation of financial reports and statements, and Faculty historical spending analyses (TAs, travel, PCard, etc.)

• Advise and work closely with the Dean, Director of Administration and Operations, Associate Director, Finance and departments to forecast annual spending plans and provide expertise and guidance to ensure the strategic budget directions of the departments are on target.

• Participate in the budget development exercise and ensure proper financial maintenance of all funds in the Departments within their jurisdiction (research excluded). Assist with the preparation of the Faculty forecast.

• Develop and maintain standardized tools for budget development and monitoring

Operational Financial Management:

• Verify and ensure that all financial operations are undertaken in an effective and compliant manner, including, journals and budget transfers, position budget management, research awards, etc. Authority includes reviewing and approving financial transactions within delegated limits. Ensure these functions are aligned to support the strategic focus & mission of the departments.

• Provide high level support in the balancing of the budget Faculty-wide by balancing departmental operating budgets and performing required budget transfers. Provide financial guidance and budget planning support to departments.

Monitoring and Reporting:

• Track and monitor endowments. Follow up on discrepancies and ensure appropriate spending practices.

Training:

• Organize and provide training and assistance to departments on budget and policy issues with respect to the financial system and academic procedures.

Special Projects and Continuous Improvement:

• Identify opportunities to improve existing financial procedures and participate in the development of new policies, processes and guidelines that support the Departments’ financial initiatives and ensure their smooth implementation.

• Undertake special projects and initiatives as required.

Your Qualifications

• Education: Undergraduate degree. Major in Finance or Accounting is preferred.

• Experience: Minimum 3 years of experience in financial planning, budgeting, and fund management, preferably in higher education or public sector environment.

Your Key Strengths

• Bilingual; excellent verbal and written communication skills, in both English and French.

• Extensive knowledge of accounting and financial management principles, with proven ability to align financial planning with organizational goals.

• Demonstrated success in optimizing fund allocation and preparing detailed budgets.

• Knowledge of McGill fund types (or other University).

• Experience creating comprehensive financial statements; preparing reports for financial auditors; working with complex formulas and creating detailed professional reports.

• Strong ability to interpret financial data, identify trends, and provide actionable recommendations.

• Demonstrated success in identifying opportunities for efficiency and implementing best practices.

• Ability to effectively communicate, interact with various levels of staff and academics.

• Proven success in facilitating and maintaining strong, consistent, and positive communications to a diverse audience.

As one of Montreal's Top Employers, here is what we offer:

• Competitive benefits package (Health, Dental, Life Insurance) (if eligible)

• Defined contribution pension plan (with employer contribution up to 10%) (if eligible)

• Group Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) and Tax Free Savings Account (TFSA)

• Competitive vacation policy

• Two (2) personal days

• Two (2) floating holidays

• Nine (9) "Summer Fridays" - paid days off between the St-Jean Baptiste holiday and Labour Day

• Paid time off over the December holiday period

• Tuition waiver for regular employees and their dependents

• Up to two (2) days of remote work per week where the position permits

Before applying, please note that to work at McGill University, you must be both authorized to work in Canada and willing to work in the province of Quebec at the campus where the position is based / located.

Knowledge of English: McGill University is an English-language university where day to day duties may require English communication both verbally and in writing. The level of English required for this position has been assessed at a level #4 (qualifier) on a scale of 0-4.

For a definition of our language proficiency levels, please click here.

Minimum Education and Experience:

Bachelor's Degree 3 Years Related Experience with Bachelor’s Degree /

Annual Salary:

(MPEX Grade 05) $71,890.00 - $89,860.00 - $107,830.00

Job Profile:

MPEX-FIN2B - Accounting - Professional 2

Hours per Week:

33.75 (Full time)

Supervisor:

Associate Director, Finance

Position End Date (If applicable):

Deadline to Apply:

2026-02-11

McGill University hires on the basis of merit and is strongly committed to equity and diversity within its community. We welcome applications from racialized persons/visible minorities, women, Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, ethnic minorities, and persons of minority sexual orientations and gender identities, as well as from all qualified candidates with the skills and knowledge to productively engage with diverse communities. McGill implements an employment equity program and encourages members of designated groups to self-identify. Persons with disabilities who anticipate needing accommodations for any part of the application process may contact, in confidence, [e-mail].