Manager, Financial & Award Systems

Taleo; Burnaby; On-site; CAD 95,000 - 125,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

4 weeks’ vacation

Hybrid-work program

Pension plan

On-campus tuition waiver

Tuition reimbursement funds

Job summary

Simon Fraser University in Burnaby is seeking a Manager, Financial & Award Systems within Graduate Studies to oversee a $1.8 million departmental budget and $15 million in graduate scholarships and awards. The role ensures financial reporting, accountability, and reconciliations across university offices and external funding bodies.

The Manager provides financial and administrative guidance to graduate students, faculty, administrators and donors, develops budget reports, and maintains system

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in business, accounting, finance, or a related field, and a professional accounting designation (e.g., CPA, CGA, CMA, CA), with five years of related experience or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.

Responsibilities

• Manage a departmental budget of $1.8 m and oversee the disbursement of $15 m in scholarships and awards.
• Prepare financial reporting, accountability, and account reconciliations to meet requirements of university and funding agencies.
• Provide financial and administrative advice to graduate students, faculty, administrators, federal/provincial granting agencies, and donors.
• Oversee the internal Graduate Studies systems used for award adjudication and interface to the student information system.

Skills

Financial management

Budgeting

Scholarship knowledge

Forecasting

Operational planning

Organizational skills

Communication skills

Supervisory/leadership

ERP systems

Data reporting

Confidentiality

Education

Bachelor's degree (business, accounting, finance)

Professional accounting designation (CPA, CGA, CMA, CA)

Tools

Excel

Access

Word

PeopleSoft

Job description

Who We Are

Simon Fraser University is a leading research university, advancing an inclusive and sustainable future. Our purpose – the essence of SFU – is to create and connect knowledge, learning and community for deeper understanding and meaningful impact. We are committed to fostering excellence, innovation, belonging and community in all that we do.

Graduate Studies at SFU provides supports to graduate students, supervisors and academic units. We oversee the lifecycle of graduate students from initial inquiries to application, admission, awards/funding and convocation. We strive to be the hub of support for inclusive excellence and equity in graduate education and research.

Using an equitable approach to enhancing the graduate student journey, we honour each person's unique gifts as they pursue and share new skills and knowledge.

About the Role

The Manager, Financial & Award Systems, is responsible for managing a departmental budget of $1.8 m and oversees the disbursement of $15 m in Graduate Scholarship, Specific Purpose, Endowment and Annual Award, and federal/provincial scholarship funds. The Manager is responsible for financial reporting, accountability, and account reconciliations to meet the financial requirements mandated by the University, federal, provincial, and other external granting agencies, as well as the requirements mandated for funding received through private donations (endowments and annual awards for graduate students). The Manager develops a wide range of budget and financial reports and ensures concordance between the Office of the Dean of Graduate Studies, the Office of the Vice-President Academic, and Financial Services with regards to budget and accounting matters. The Manager provides financial and administrative advice to graduate students, faculty, administrators, federal and provincial granting agencies, and other external funding organizations, in matters concerning accounting practices, procedures and policy interpretation. The Manager is responsible for the administration and delivery of travel awards and annual and endowed awards (excluding entrance awards) and oversees the administration of externally funded donor-designated awards. The Manager is responsible for managing the internal Graduate Studies systems used for award adjudication and the interface to the student information system and participates as a subject matter expert for student system modifications.

Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in business, accounting, finance, or a related field, and a professional accounting designation (e.g., CPA, CGA, CMA, CA), with five years of related experience or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.

• Good knowledge of financial management and budgeting practices in an academic setting.
• Good knowledge of scholarship programs funded by granting councils, foundations, and endowments.
• Excellent research, analytical, and financial forecasting skills.
• Excellent operational planning skills.
• Excellent organizational, quantitative, analytical reasoning, problem-soving, and time-management skills.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, both oral and written.
• Excellent supervisory, leadership and mentoring skills.
• Expert knowledge of and ability to use spreadsheet and database applications, and enterprise resource planning (ERP) financial systems (e.g., Excel, Access, Word, PeopleSoft).
• Ability to ensure integrity and accuracy of financial records.
• Ability to design and develop analytical and statistical reports by researching and analyzing data.
• Ability to ensure strict confidentiality in the handling of sensitive financial information.

What We Offer

At SFU, our goal is to ensure our people are valued and supported by promoting a healthy work-life balance, professional growth and development, as well as a safe and respectful workplace. We offer continuing employees who belong in the Administrative & Professional Staff Association (APSA):

• 4 weeks’ vacation (prorated for the first year)*
• Hybrid-work program for eligible positions
• Employer paid defined benefit pension plan
• On-campus tuition waiver for employees and their immediate family members*
• Off-campus tuition reimbursements and professional development funds*
• And more! View our benefits brochure

*Prorated for part-time employees

Additional Information

There is an Identified Departmental Candidate.

SFU is an equity employer and strongly encourages applications from all qualified individuals including women, Indigenous Peoples, visible minorities, people of all sexual orientations and gender identities, persons with disabilities, and others who may contribute to the further diversification of the university.

We are committed to facilitating accessibility within our application and interview processes.