Financial Assistant

University of Toronto; Toronto; On-site; CAD 67,000 - 87,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading university in Toronto is seeking a Financial Assistant to provide financial support for faculty research accounts. The ideal candidate will have an Advanced College Diploma and three years of financial experience, including accounts payable and receivable. Responsibilities include processing financial transactions, maintaining records, and ensuring compliance with regulations. This full-time position offers a competitive salary and is a term role until March 2027, promoting diversity within its hiring practices.

Qualifications

• Three years of recent experience in finance and administrative roles.
• Experience in accounts payable and receivables.
• Solid understanding of financial policies and principles.

Responsibilities

• Process and monitor financial transactions across funding sources.
• Maintain organized records for audits and reviews.
• Provide frontline administrative support for faculty research accounts.

Skills

Attention to detail

Customer service skills

Organizational skills

Analytical skills

Problem-solving

Project management

Education

Advanced College Diploma in Finance, Accounting, or Business Administration

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Power BI

Job description

Date Posted: 02/12/2026

Req ID: 46919

Faculty/Division: UofT Scarborough

Department: UTSC:Dept-Physical & Environmental Sci

Campus: University of Toronto Scarborough (UTSC)

Position Number: 00054485

Existing Vacancy: Yes

About us

The University of Toronto Scarborough is a place of energy, enthusiasm and passion. Our commitment to inclusive excellence attracts the brightest learners, scholars and employees from around the globe. Our success has been made possible by the opportunity given to us by our Indigenous hosts to operate on their territory, and we cherish our continuing partnerships with these communities. The University of Toronto Scarborough is an exciting campus with unlimited potential. Join us on our journey.

The Department of Physical & Environmental Sciences is built on a strong foundation of dedicated staff and faculty. This Department is a multidisciplinary unit comprised of four primary groups: Chemistry, Environmental Science, Environmental Studies and Physics & Astronomy with faculty who are engaged in vital research to better understand our environment. This Department is a place where diversity fuels innovation. Discover a campus filled with energy, culture and world changing ideas and facilities. Discover the University of Toronto Scarborough.

This search aligns with the University’s commitment to strategically and proactively promote diversity among our community members (Statement on Equity, Diversity & Excellence). Recognizing that Black, Indigenous, and other Racialized communities have experienced inequities that have developed historically and are ongoing, we strongly welcome and encourage candidates from those communities to apply.

Your opportunity

The Financial Assistant provides comprehensive frontline administrative and financial support for faculty research accounts and externally funded research grants within the department. Reporting to the Business Officer the role serves as a primary point of contact for faculty members, researchers, and staff seeking guidance on financial processes, account status, and general reporting.

This position is responsible for the accurate processing and monitoring of financial transactions across multiple funding sources, including institutional operating funds and sponsored research accounts. The Financial Assistant supports both pre- and post-award activities by assisting expense tracking, reconciliation, and reporting, while ensuring compliance with institutional policies and sponsor regulations.

The role requires a high level of attention to detail, sound judgment, and strong customer service skills, as it involves interpreting financial guidelines, responding to time-sensitive inquiries, and resolving routine discrepancies independently. The Financial Assistant works closely with central finance, research services, payroll, and procurement offices to facilitate timely and accurate financial operations.

By maintaining organized records, supporting audits and reviews, and contributing to continuous improvement of financial processes, the Financial Assistant plays a critical role in enabling faculty to focus on teaching and research while ensuring responsible stewardship of funds.

Your responsibilities will include

• Applying the generally accepted accounting principles to financial tasks
• Checking that proper approvals are obtained prior to processing transactions
• Monitoring, recording, reconciling and/or reporting on funding accounts for grants and contracts
• Preparing and/or processing journal entries
• Maintaining financial filing systems and databases
• Identifying and resolving individual financial discrepancies
• Responding to enquiries within the defined scope of the role and redirecting as appropriate

Essential Qualifications

• Advanced College Diploma (3 years) in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration or acceptable combination of equivalent experience
• Minimum three years of recent and relevant experience in finance and administrative roles, with two years directly showcasing experience in accounts payable and receivables, preparing and reconciling financial transactions, preparing and coordinating financial documentation.
• Experience in aspects of accounting including payroll, account reconciliation, and preparation of financial statements
• Demonstrated experience using and applying general accounting principles and procedures
• Solid work experience interpreting and applying financial policies
• Experience completing financial forecasting analysis
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills (or comparable program, e.g. Google sheets) with demonstrated experience using spreadsheets to streamline and automate data collection, sorting, analyzing and presenting information in both graphical and numerical formats
• Exceptional organizational skills, attention to detail, ability to successfully meet deadlines and proven project management abilities in a high-volume environment
• Commitment to building strong community relationships; capable of working independently and collaboratively within a diverse and inclusive environment
• Patient, strong commitment to excellent customer service when dealing with students, staff and academics
• Excellent analytical, problem solving, organizational and time-management skills

Assets (Nonessential)

• Experience interpreting and adhering with granting agencies’ funding guidelines and policies
• Experience with University’s Administrative Management System (e.g. FIS, HRIS, ARBOR and RIS), or other similar systems
• Experience using Microsoft Power BI

To be successful in this role you will be

• Meticulous
• Multi-tasker
• Organized
• Resourceful
• Self-directed

Note: This is a TERM position until March 2027.

Closing Date: 02/24/2026, 11:59PM ET
Employee Group: USW
Appointment Type: Budget - Term
Schedule: Full-Time
Pay Scale Group & Hiring Zone: USW Pay Band 09 -- $67,916. with an annual step progression to a maximum of $86,855. Pay scale and job class assignment is subject to determination pursuant to the Job Evaluation/Pay Equity Maintenance Protocol.

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.

Diversity Statement

The University of Toronto embraces Diversity and is building a culture of belonging that increases our capacity to effectively address and serve the interests of our global community. We strongly encourage applications from Indigenous Peoples, Black and racialized persons, women, persons with disabilities, and people of diverse sexual and gender identities. We value applicants who have demonstrated a commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion and recognize that diverse perspectives, experiences, and expertise are essential to strengthening our academic mission.

As part of your application, you will be asked to complete a brief Diversity Survey. This survey is voluntary. Any information directly related to you is confidential and cannot be accessed by search committees or human resources staff. Results will be aggregated for institutional planning purposes. For more information, please see http://uoft.me/UP.

Accessibility Statement

The University strives to be an equitable and inclusive community, and proactively seeks to increase diversity among its community members. Our values regarding equity and diversity are linked with our unwavering commitment to excellence in the pursuit of our academic mission.

The University is committed to the principles of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). As such, we strive to make our recruitment, assessment and selection processes as accessible as possible and provide accommodations as required for applicants with disabilities.

If you require any accommodations at any point during the application and hiring process, please contact [e-mail].