Senior Financial Analyst

The University of British Columbia; Vancouver; On-site; CAD 6,000 - 10,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading educational institution in Vancouver is seeking a Senior Financial Analyst to provide complex financial analyses and support financial decision-making for the Faculty of Arts. The ideal candidate will manage financial models, prepare reports, and advise departments on budgeting and financial practices. This role requires strong analytical skills, attention to detail, and collaboration with various units within the university.

Qualifications

• Minimum of three years of related experience.
• Completion of the CPA Accounting program is preferred.
• Ability to analyze problems and resolve discrepancies.

Responsibilities

• Manage and prepare complex financial models and reports.
• Prepare annual reconciliation and support financial forecasts.
• Advise account holders on sound financial practices.

Skills

Financial analysis

Budget preparation

Leadership

Attention to detail

Effective communication

Education

Undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline

Enrolled in CPA Professional Education Program

Tools

PeopleSoft

Oracle

Workday

SAP

Job description

Staff - Non Union

Job Category
M&P - AAPS

Job Profile
AAPS Salaried - Accounting, Level B

Job Title
Senior Financial Analyst

Department
Finance Management 1| Finance | Faculty of Arts

Compensation Range
$6,747.50 - $9,701.42 CAD Monthly
The Compensation Range is the span between the minimum and maximum base salary for a position. The midpoint of the range is approximately halfway between the minimum and the maximum and represents an employee that possesses full job knowledge, qualifications and experience for the position. In the normal course, employees will be hired, transferred or promoted between the minimum and midpoint of the salary range for a job.

Posting End Date
July 29, 2025

Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the Posting End Date.

Job End Date

At UBC, we believe that attracting and sustaining a diverse workforce is key to the successful pursuit of excellence in research, innovation, and learning for all faculty, staff and students. Our commitment to employment equity helps achieve inclusion and fairness, brings rich diversity to UBC as a workplace, and creates the necessary conditions for a rewarding career.

Job Description Summary
The Senior Financial Analyst performs a variety of complex accounting, reporting, and financial analyses to support the administration of the Faculty s financial resources. This role will perform senior-level granular analysis of revenues, expenses and balance sheet accounts for the Faculty as a whole. The Senior Financial Analyst will provide data analysis, preliminary hypothesis, recommendations and insights to support the Dean, Assistant Dean, Finance and unit leaders in decision making. This position provides detailed and highly complex financial reports, monitors internal controls, ensures compliance with policies and procedures, and tests operational improvements on new and existing systems. The Senior Financial Analyst will support the Dean s Office as well as portfolio of administrative and academic units within the Faculty.

Organizational Status
This position reports directly to the Finance Manager and forms part of a team supporting the Dean s Office as well as a portfolio of Faculty of Arts units. Partners with FoA Departments, Schools, Institutes, Cultural Venues, Student and Administrative Services and programs. Works collaboratively and develops partnerships with colleagues in the Dean s Office, members of the Arts Service Centre Human Resources Team, Central Financial Operations, the Comptrollers Office and other UBC departments as necessary.

Work Performed

1. Manages, develops and prepares complex financial models and reports from various systems and sources to support strategic Faculty level financial decision making and analysis.

2. Develops year-end accounting procedures and systems, and provides training to members of the ASC team as well as distributed units to ensure that these are managed correctly. Facilitates the unit year-end general ledger and accounts payable processes including complex accruals and preparing proper documentation for external auditors.
3. Prepares annual reconciliation and supports quarterly financial forecasts and 5-year Faculty financial projections. Responsible for administering the annual allocation of financial resources to all academic and service units through the Faculty s proprietary Economic Resource Model.
4. Advises account holders of areas requiring immediate action and establishes guidelines on sound financial practices to ensure that units are able to appropriately and effectively manage their funds. Provides strategic support to departments by identifying resolutions on financial issues, including liaising with Central Finance to resolve deficit issues.
5. Performs in-depth financial analysis, including updates to payroll costing allocation changes.
6. Provides senior-level advice and guidance to support units in the preparation of their annual budgets (APB) and quarterly financial projections (Forecast).
7. Responsible for highly sensitive and confidential transactions and for dispute resolution of financial issues between units in the Faculty of Arts and central UBC and/or third parties.
8. Facilitates the collection of information and assessment of internal controls and financial practices in Faculty of Arts, and provides recommendations for improvements.
9. Provides advice, training and guidance concerning budget, accounting and financial matters and accounting policy interpretation.
10. Provides financial planning advice and guidance to Associate Dean Graduate Studies and Arts Research Office during the preparation and submission of awards and grants applications.
11. Reviews detailed account reconciliations and is responsible for investigating and resolving unusual or incorrect items.
12. Oversees and processes accounting journals for Faculty of Arts Academic and Administrative Units.
13. Ensures adherence to GAAP, UBC and Faculty of Arts policies and tax regulations.
14. Ensures accuracy and reliability financial reporting information.
15. Participates in the implementation of system improvements, upgrades and testing.
16. Performs other related duties.

Consequence of Error/Judgement
This position is key to maintaining the structure and data integrity which supports all financial reporting. Errors and poor decisions by this position could result in unreliable information or no information being available to effectively manage the finances of a large and very complex organization. Errors in the information/reports prepared by this position could result in poor financial decisions by Faculty leaders. Inappropriate decisions or poor financial management and control could have serious impact on the financial position of the Faculty.

Supervision Received
Report directly to the Finance Manager. The Senior Financial Analyst is expected to work independently at a professional accountant level to produce a product that requires little detailed review. Work is reviewed in terms of sound practice and achievement of specific objectives.

Supervision Given
Provide guidance or give work instructions to unionized staff within the Arts Service Centre.

Minimum Qualifications
Undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline. Enrolled in the CPA Professional Education Program (PEP) modules. Minimum of three 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

Completion of the CPA Accounting program (CA, CGA or CMA). Understanding of general accounting practices and various ledger systems. Thorough knowledge of accounting audit, budgeting principles and practices and financial planning and general business practices required. Knowledge of contracts, government and UBC policies and regulations, grant administration and procedures related to finance, payroll and audit. Understands Generally Accepted Accounting Principles and their use in financial reporting as well as the difference between IFRS and GAAP at a basic level. Demonstrated skill in budget preparation and management. Demonstrated leadership and ability to work effectively with minimal supervision. Ability to exercise sound judgement. UBC FMS certification will be required. Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing. Ability to work effectively independently and in a team environment.
Ability to apply generally accepted accounting principles and financial management principles in an appropriate manner. Ability to reconcile accounts and to resolve discrepancies. Ability to analyze problems, identify key information and issues, and effectively resolve. Demonstrated advanced knowledge and skill in the use of financial software applications, databases, spreadsheets, and word processing. Proficient with use of enterprise resource planning systems such as: PeopleSoft, Oracle, Workday, and SAP Ability to prioritize and work effectively under pressure to meet deadlines. Ability to effectively manage multiple tasks and priorities. Ability to prepare financial reports. Ability to perform complex analysis using appropriate methodologies, and offers practical approaches and advice. Ability to maintain accuracy and attention to detail. Ability to exercise judgement, tact, discretion and confidentiality in all matters and to maintain effective working relationships with internal and external contacts.