Senior Officer, Finance

University of Ottawa Heart Institute; Ottawa; On-site; CAD 68,000 - 86,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Ottawa is seeking a Finance Administrator to plan and coordinate financial operations across the sector, including payroll verification and budget management. You will guide managers on policy compliance and ensure accurate financial transactions in a high-pace environment.

Requirements include advanced accounting knowledge, a minimum of three years in a similar role, bilingual English/French, and experience with financial software, spreadsheets, databases, and reporting.

Qualifications

• Advanced knowledge of accounting principles normally acquired through postsecondary studies in a related discipline.
• Minimum 3 years of demonstrated experience in a similar role.
• Bilingualism: French and English (spoken and written) with proficiency level as required.
• Experience with financial systems, spreadsheets, databases, Internet and e-mail.
• Ability to prepare reports and meet strict deadlines with high-quality work.

Responsibilities

• Budget administration and analysis to align with policies and projections.
• Administer ongoing financial transaction processes and ensure compliance.
• Prepare remuneration requests and manage contracts for casual and term employees.
• Purchase goods and services following policy; manage supplier estimates.
• Maintain records management system with confidentiality for audits.
• Prepare moderately complex financial reports and assist grant reporting.
• Write and maintain internal procedure manuals.
• May supervise junior administrative staff and coordinate priorities.

Skills

Accounting principles

Budgeting

Financial reporting

Bilingualism FR/EN

Communication

Organizational skills

Discretion

Education

Postsecondary accounting studies

Tools

Financial systems

Spreadsheets

Databases

Internet / Email

Job description

Follow us on LinkedInPosting Reason:Temporary replacement of a regular positionJob Type:EmployeeAnticipated Duration in Months (for contracts and temporary assignments):12Job Family:Finance (JF)# of Open Positions:1Faculty/Service - Department:Student Affairs, Finance, RVS, Client Relations, CDELCampus:Main CampusUnion Affiliation:SSUODate Posted (YYYY/MM/DD):2026/10/29Applications must be received BEFORE (YYYY/MM/DD):2026/11/09Hours per week:35Salary Grade:SSUO Grade 08Salary Range:$68,149.00 - $86,083.00About Student Affairs:Student Affairs is at the very heart of the student experience at the University of Ottawa. We recruit the very best future students, support them throughout their university years and leave them well-prepared for fulfilling careers and future studies. Our team of more than 600 dedicated staff provides the services that keep students happy, well and thriving as they pursue their ambitions. We help them apply and enrol for courses, we oversee 11 residences and an award-winning Dining Hall, we organize fun events, we provide extensive recreation program opportunities and varsity sports activities, we run an innovative career development and experiential learning program and much more! There’s nothing more rewarding than helping future generations reach their full potential at a world-class university. With our wide variety of career opportunities and professional development pathways, we’re sure that you’ll enjoy the experience as much as our students do.Position Purpose:Plan and coordinate the activities related to the financial operations of the sector, including payroll verification and financial transactions in order to provide support and advice to managers and to ensure that the policies and procedures are well understood and properly implemented.In this role, your responsibilities will include:Budget: Administer internally and/or externally-funded budgets to ensure compliance with established policies. Analyze financial statements against budgets for various types of funds to identify and address any inconsistencies. Perform all research and analysis necessary to provide recommendations to managers and/or researchers on the effective preparation of budgets, budget projections and shortfalls to maximize revenue and contain expenditure.Financial: Administer the ongoing financial transaction processes for the sector, to maintain financial integrity and transparency and to ensure compliance with established policies. Act as approval agent for invoices, travel advances, requests for reimbursement and credit card statements to verify that documentation and taxation are correct.Payroll: Prepare requests for remuneration, and required documentation for the generation of contracts, and administer remuneration for casual and term employees to ensure compliance with established policies and to minimize the possibility of a negative impact on the affected employee, such as an interruption in pay. Verify payroll reports for accuracy and liaise with Payroll Services to reconcile any inconsistencies.Purchasin g: Purchase goods and services for the sector, on purchase order or on credit card, in compliance with all relevant policies. Request estimates from suppliers on behalf of internal clients and provide recommendations.Records management: Maintain an effective filing and records management system to preserve confidentiality of the records and ensure that complete and accurate documentation is available for future reference or audit purposes.Reporting: Prepare various moderately complex reports, on a scheduled as well as ad-hoc basis, on financial transactions, accounts, payroll, and budget projections of the sector to support ongoing operations and strategic planning. In collaboration with Financial Resources, submit required financial data to meet reporting requirements of granting agencies. Control and prepare any financial records as required for audit.Documentation: Write and maintain procedure manuals for internal use on procedures, processes and systems related to the incumbent’s responsibilities.Supervision of others: May supervise work performed by junior administrative support roles to organize priorities and provide guidance in the attainment of individual objectives.What You Will Bring:Advanced knowledge of accounting principles normally acquired through postsecondary studies in a related discipline or an equivalent combination of education and work experienceMinimum 3 years of demonstrated experience in a similar roleBilingualism: French and English (spoken and written), to be considered for this position, candidates must be rated at the Low Advanced proficiency level or higher for both oral comprehension and reading comprehension in their second official language. The rating is determined by a proficiency test designed by the Official Languages and Bilingualism Institute.Knowledge of computer systems and software including financial systems, spreadsheets, databases, Internet and e-mailExperience in interpreting, explaining and applying policies and regulationsExperience in preparing reportsAbility to produce high quality work under pressure while meeting strict deadlinesStrong interpersonal and communication skillsStrong organizational skillsHigh level of discretionKey Competencies at uOttawa:Here are the required competencies for all or our employees at uOttawa:Planning: Organize in time a series of actions or events in order to realize an objective or a project. Plan and organize own work and priorities in regular daily activities.Initiative: Demonstrate creativity and initiative to suggest improvements and encourage positive results. Is proactive and self-starting. Show availability and willingness to go above and beyond whenever it is possible.Client Service Orientation: Help or serve others to meet their needs. This implies anticipating and identifying the needs of internal and external clients and finding solutions on how to meet them.Teamwork and Cooperation: Cooperate and work well with other members of the team to reach common goal(s). Accept and give constructive feedback. Able to adjust own behaviour to reach the goals of the team.The University of Ottawa embraces diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We are passionate about our people and committed to employment equity. We foster a culture of respect, teamwork and inclusion, where collaboration, innovation, and creativity fuel our quest for research and teaching excellence. While all qualified persons are invited to apply, we welcome applications from qualified Indigenous persons, racialized persons, persons with disabilities, women and LGBTQIA2S+ persons. The University is committed to creating and maintaining an accessible, barrier-free work environment. The University is also committed to working with applicants with disabilities requesting accommodation during the recruitment, assessment and selection processes. Applicants with disabilities may contact [e-mail] to communicate the accommodation need. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.Note: if this is a union position: The hiring process will be governed by the current collective agreement related to the union affiliation noted above; you can click here to find out more.If this is a front-line position with responsibilities to interact with students, selected candidates must be rated at the Low Advanced proficiency level or higher for both oral comprehension and reading comprehension in their second official language. The rating is determined by a proficiency test designed by the Official Languages and Bilingualism Institute.Prior to May 1, 2022, the University required all students, faculty, staff, and visitors (including contractors) to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19 as defined in Policy 129 – Covid-19 Vaccination. This policy was suspended effective May 1, 2022 but may be reinstated at any point in the future depending on public health guidelines and the recommendations of experts.