Manager, Budgeting & Forecasting

The University of British Columbia; Vancouver; On-site; CAD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of British Columbia is seeking a Manager, Budgeting & Forecasting to lead the annual institutional budget and quarterly forecasts, coordinating planning calendars, submission guidelines, and inputs from faculties. You will consolidate central and non-operating funds and provide strategic guidance to ensure alignment with financial sustainability and priorities.

You will partner with FP&A, planning system leads, and senior finance leaders to improve data integrity, governance, and

Qualifications

• Undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline and CPA accounting program completed.
• Minimum of nine years of related experience in budgeting/finance or equivalent.
• Commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion in planning and decision-making.

Responsibilities

• Lead development of the university's annual institutional budget and quarterly forecasts.
• Coordinate planning calendar, submission guidelines, and inputs from faculties and units.
• Ensure alignment of centralized and decentralized budgeting with institutional priorities and financial sustainability.
• Provide strategic guidance on budgeting methodologies, funding frameworks, and governance standards.
• Partner with FP&A, planning system leads, and faculty finance officers to ensure data integrity and consistent planning practices.
• Deliver executive and Board reporting and ensure timely budget submissions across units.

Skills

Budgeting

Forecasting

Financial modeling

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Communication

Analytical thinking

Education

Undergraduate degree in accounting, finance, or a relevant discipline

CPA accounting designation (CA, CGA, or CMA)

Tools

Enterprise planning systems

Job description

**Job Summary** The Manager, Budgeting & Forecasting leads development of UBC’s annual institutional budget and quarterly forecasts, overseeing the planning calendar, submission guidelines, and the quality of faculty and VP portfolio inputs. The role ensures that decentralized budgeting activities are aligned with institutional priorities, funding principles, and financial sustainability goals. Working as the central lead for planning cycles, the Manager is responsible for central and non-operating fund budgets, consolidates planning data, validates financial inputs, and supports executive and Board reporting. The position collaborates closely with FP&A partners and planning system leads to maintain consistent standards, strengthen integration across units, and improve the maturity, transparency, and repeatability of UBC’s planning processes. **Organizational Status** This position reports to the Senior Director, Budget & Financial Planning (FP&A) and works closely with planning and financial leaders across VP portfolios and faculties, including faculty finance officers and the Strategy & Decision Support (SDS) team in the Office of the Provost. The role also collaborates with the Manager, Budget Systems & Integration and Financial BI teams to align data integrity and system workflows. **Work Performed*** Leads the development of the university’s quarterly Forecast and ensures high‐quality executive, Board, and Ministry reporting that informs institutional decision‐making.* Directs the development and delivery of the annual institutional Budget, providing strategic guidance and enabling the team to produce a comprehensive Budget Report and executive/Board presentations.* Accountable for forecasting and budgeting across Central and Non‐Operating funds, ensuring strong alignment with enterprise financial strategies, in partnership with the Manager, Funding & Allocations.* Serves as a strategic advisor to faculties and administrative units, offering high‐level guidance on budgeting methodologies, funding frameworks, financial planning principles, and effective submission practices.* Leads the institutional budget cycle and partners with the Senior Director to establish planning frameworks that promote consistent, transparent, and effective budget submissions across units* Builds strong cross-functional partnerships with Finance, Treasury, IT, Capital, Financial Planning to align financial planning inputs, promote consistent practices, and integrate capital, operational, and long-range plans* Acts as the primary point of escalation and strategic problem‐solver for complex or sensitive financial planning issues emerging across faculties and administrative units.* Ensures unit submissions, planning recommendations, and related decisions align with institutional financial policies, the budget model, governance expectations, strategic priorities, financial sustainability frameworks, and long-term goals* Drives integration between capital and operational planning cycles, enabling cohesive institutional planning and transparent financial decision pathways.* Identifies key financial trends, risks, and opportunities across submission data, transforming analytical insights into strategic guidance for senior leadership.* Works closely with Budget and Forecast stakeholders to ensure consistent data standards, aligned messaging, and a unified institutional planning approach.* Leads continuous improvement of planning systems and processes to enhance efficiency, automation, transparency, and consistency across central and faculty-level planning* Leads and elevates training, communication, and knowledge‐sharing activities to strengthen planning capability across decentralized units and enhance institutional readiness.* Leads consolidation activities and executive reporting preparation, enabling the Senior Director to meet VPFO, Executive, and Board Finance Committee timelines and expectations.* Oversees validation of financial inputs for all forecast cycles, ensuring high‐quality data for institutional reporting and scenario analysis.* Ensures compliance with internal standards and external reporting requirements, safeguarding the integrity, accuracy, and reliability of institutional financial information.* Acts as a liaison for decentralized units, translating complex financial information into actionable insights for leaders across diverse operational contexts.* Serves as a functional leader for enterprise planning systems, ensuring technology platforms are optimized to deliver actionable, reliable information across the university.* Enhances the development and stewardship of university-wide financial management standards, policies, and procedures, supporting institutional governance and accountability.* Other duties as assigned.**Consequence of Error/Judgement** Decisions made by this position have significant impact on UBC’s financial planning processes and the effectiveness of faculty-level engagement. Errors in analysis, coordination, or escalation may result in financial inefficiencies, resource misalignment, or erosion of trust between central and faculty stakeholders. **Supervision Received** Reports to the Senior Director, Budget & Financial Planning (FP&A). Works within broad mandates; work is reviewed in terms of achievement of strategic goals. Exercises professional judgment on institutional and faculty planning matters. **Supervision Given** Manages a team of professionals. **Minimum Qualifications** Undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline. Completion of the CPA accounting program (CA, CGA or CMA). Minimum of nine years of related experience, or the equivalent combination of education and experience. - Willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives in conflict with one’s own- Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing one’s own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusion **Preferred Qualifications*** Undergraduate degree in business, finance, accounting or a related field is critical to the position.* Experience in financial planning, budgeting or corporate finance, including demonstrated leadership responsibility in public sector or post-secondary institution is highly important to the role.* Significant experience leading and coordinating enterprise-wide annual operating and capital budgeting processes, including establishing budget frameworks, timelines, templates, assumptions, and governance standards will be essential.* Advanced training in financial modeling, analytics or enterprise planning is considered an asset.* Proven experience consolidating financial plans across multiple business units, divisions, or cost centres, ensuring alignment with corporate strategy while maintaining consistency, accuracy, and financial integrity.* Demonstrated ability to partner with senior academic and finance leaders to translate strategic priorities, service delivery plans, and organizational drivers into structured financial plans and resource allocation models.* Strong cross-functional partnership and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence and guide senior leaders and budget owners without direct authority.* Experience leading, mentoring, and developing finance staff, fostering a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and service orientation.* Strong project management capability, including oversight of timelines, milestones, risk mitigation strategies, and change management initiatives related to financial planning processes.* Highly analytical and systems-oriented thinker with the ability to synthesize large volumes of complex financial and operational data into clear, actionable insights.* Collaborative, relationship-driven, and resilient, with the ability to operate effectively in high-pressure budget cycles and navigate ambiguity within a complex organizational structure.* Detail-oriented and disciplined, with a strong commitment to accuracy, integrity, and financial stewardship.