Senior Finance Manager

Dalhousie University; Halifax; Hybrid; CAD 78,000 - 104,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

RRSP matching

Health and dental plans

Wellness allowance

Employee assistance program

Tuition assistance

Job summary

Dalhousie University in Halifax is seeking a Senior Manager, Finance for the Ocean Tracking Network (OTN). You will oversee OTN’s operating budget (> $70M over a 6-year cycle), provide expert guidance to the executive team, and lead policy development and internal controls.

Reporting to the Senior Program Director, you will collaborate with Financial Services and funders, and supervise finance staff. The role requires strong financial leadership, communication, and governance skills, with a

Qualifications

• Undergraduate degree in accounting, business, economics, finance, or related field with at least six years' financial management experience.
• Experience managing and supervising operational or research-oriented budgets (academia, NGO, business, etc.).
• Expert financial management skills including multi-million-dollar budgets, forecasting, and financial reporting.
• Highly competent in using financial software to manage, develop, and automate reports.
• Excellent communication skills to summarize complex financial data for a general audience.
• Superior attention to detail with meticulous records for multi-million-dollar projects and discretion.

Responsibilities

• Lead the planning, administration, and monitoring of the organization’s operating budget, including institutional accounts, payroll, and invoice processing.
• Prepare and present financial reports and analyses for funding agencies, governance councils, and senior leadership to support decision-making and accountability.
• Serve as the primary liaison for financial matters with internal and external stakeholders, including Financial Services and research administration partners.
• Monitor organizational financial performance, identify opportunities for efficiencies, and support accurate forecasting and budget planning across teams.
• Develop and implement financial strategies, risk management practices, and internal controls to ensure fiscal sustainability and compliance.
• Lead budget development for new funding initiatives and supervise financial administration staff, providing direction, oversight, and workload management.

Skills

Budget management

Forecasting

Financial reporting

Financial software

Communication

Attention to detail

Team supervision

Stakeholder liaison

Education

Bachelor's degree in accounting, business, economics, finance, or related field

Tools

Financial software

Job description

Duration of Contract (if applicable) March 31, 2029 with possibility of renewal

Employment Type

Employment Type Full Time

Full-time Equivalency (FTE)

Full-time Equivalency (FTE) 1.0

Salary $77,604 - $103,959 per annum based on 37.5 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 Tracking Network ( OTN , http://oceantrackingnetwork.org/ ) is an international marine and freshwater monitoring platform that focuses on tracking the movements of aquatic animals in the context of a changing global environment. Established in 2008, OTN is one of six Major Research Facilities supported by the Canada Foundation for Innovation ( CFI ). Reporting to the Senior Program Director, the Senior Manager, Finance oversees OTN’s operating budget (>$70M over a 6-year funding cycle), provides expert advice and guidance to the OTN executive leadership team, leads the development and implementation of financial policies, procedures, and controls, and prepares financial reports for funders, governing bodies, and the host institution.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the planning, administration, and monitoring of the organization’s operational budget, including institutional accounts, payroll, and invoice processing.
• Prepare and present financial reports and analyses for funding agencies, governance councils, and senior leadership to support decision-making and accountability.
• Serve as the primary liaison for financial matters with internal and external stakeholders, including Financial Services and research administration partners.
• Monitor organizational financial performance, identify opportunities for efficiencies, and support accurate forecasting and budget planning across teams.
• Develop and implement financial strategies, risk management practices, and internal controls to ensure fiscal sustainability and compliance.
• Lead budget development for new funding initiatives and supervise financial administration staff, providing direction, oversight, and workload management.

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.
Occasional evening and weekend work required, as is occasional domestic travel to for meetings with funders.

Required Qualifications

• Undergraduate degree in accounting, business, economics, finance, or related field, with a minimum six years relevant financial management experience.
• Demonstrated experience managing and supervising operational or research-oriented budgets (academia, NGO , business enterprise, etc.).
• Expert financial management skills, including developing and monitoring complex, multi-million-dollar budgets, forecasting, and financial reporting.
• Highly competent in using financial software to manage, develop, and automate reports.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to summarize complex financial data for a general audience.
• Superior attention to detail, with the ability to maintain meticulous records for reporting and tracking multi-million-dollar projects, while exercising a high degree of discretion with personal and confidential information.

Assets

• Experience working in research finance a strong asset.

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