Competition Number:
Position Title: Manager, Finance
Position Number (Final): 00509213
Vacancy Type: New Position
Employee Group: Managerial & Professional
Job Category: Audit, Finance, and Procurement
Department or Area: SSB Finance
Location: Kingston, Ontario, Canada (On-site)
Salary: $94,000.00 - $123,000.00/Year
Grade: 10 Review Salary Information Here
Hours per Week: 35
Job Type: Permanent (Continuing)
Shift: 7 Monday - Friday
Number Of Positions: 1
Date Posted: October 6, 2026
Closing Date: November 5, 2026
COVID 19 On-Campus Requirements
Prior to May 1, 2022, the University required all students, faculty, staff, and visitors (including contractors) to declare their COVID-19 vaccination status and provide proof that they were fully vaccinated or had an approved accommodation to engage in in-person University activities. These requirements were suspended effective May 1, 2022, but the University may reinstate them at any point.
Job Summary
The Manager, Finance leads the integrated day-to-day delivery of Finance Operations and Planning and Analysis services for an assigned faculty, department(s) or unit(s). The Manager is a key finance contact for assigned leaders and budget holders, providing advice and support concerning budgeting, forecasting, modelling, financial reporting, account administration, controls, compliance and operational finance matters.
The Manager coordinates and manages the work of an assigned finance team, establishes service and workload priorities, and ensures that financial information and services are accurate, timely, coordinated and consistent with university policies, delegated authorities and Finance standards. The position integrates validated operational information, transactions and commitments with forecasts, variance analysis and advice to support sound resource decisions.
The Manager supports annual and multi-year planning, monitors financial performance, identifies risks and opportunities, and recommends appropriate action.
Job Description
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Financial Planning, Budgeting and Analysis
• Coordinates the development, consolidation and monitoring of annual and multi-year budgets, staffing plans and forecasts for assigned faculties, departments or units.
• Provides guidance to leaders, managers and budget holders concerning budget development, financial management and the application of approved allocation models.
• Prepares and reviews forecasts, variance and trend analyses, financial projections, scenario analyses and other models supporting programs, staffing, services, capital needs and operational decisions.
• Identifies emerging pressures, risks and opportunities and provides practical recommendations to the Executive Director and assigned portfolio leaders.
• Ensures approved budget, staffing and resource decisions are accurately reflected in financial plans, reports and systems.
• Prepares clear financial reports, dashboards, briefing materials and presentations for portfolio and unit leadership.
• Considers future implications, commitments and changing assumptions when assessing financial sustainability and recommending action.
Finance Operations and Account Administration
• Manages the day-to-day delivery of operational finance services for assigned faculties, departments or units.
• Oversees account administration, financial transactions, reconciliations, journal entries, receivables, payments and routine financial reporting within the assigned area and delegated authority.
• Monitors account activity, commitments, revenues, expenses, reserves, available balances and other relevant financial indicators.
• Ensures transactions and account balances are complete, accurate, valid, appropriately authorized and supported by adequate documentation.
• Identifies transaction, account or control issues and coordinates corrective action or escalation.
• Supports month-end, quarter-end and year-end activities and coordinates portfolio inputs and documentation for internal and external audits.
• Oversees the financial administration of applicable operating, capital, trust, endowment, research, ancillary, commercial or other funds within the assigned faculty/portfolio.
Controls, Policy and Compliance
• Ensures consistent application of university financial policies, procedures, accounting requirements, delegated authorities and internal controls.
• Translates established financial requirements into practical guidance for assigned faculties, departments and units.
• Monitors compliance with applicable financial, regulatory, contractual, funding and reporting requirements.
• Maintains appropriate procedures, financial records, documentation and audit trails.
• Communicates relevant policy, process, system, control and deadline changes to employees and clients.
Process and Service Improvement
• Reviews financial and administrative practices and identifies opportunities to improve efficiency, accuracy, controls and client service.
• Develops and maintains standard operating procedures, work instructions, templates, tools and training materials.
• Supports the implementation of new financial systems, reporting tools, processes, service standards and controls.
• Monitors team workload, service measures, recurring issues, outstanding work and client feedback and recommends improvements.
• Participates in Finance standardization, automation, continuous improvement and change initiatives.
People and Workload Management
• Plans, prioritizes and manages the day-to-day work of employees, assigning work based on service priorities, workload, capability and deadlines.
• Establishes performance expectations and provides employees with coaching, feedback, guidance and development opportunities.
• Conducts performance reviews and identifies training, development, onboarding and knowledge-transfer requirements.
• Participates in recruitment and makes effective recommendations regarding employee selection, transfer and promotion.
• Addresses performance, attendance, conflict and employee-relations matters in accordance with university policies and applicable collective agreements.
• Promotes an inclusive, respectful, accountable and service-oriented work environment.
Resilience and Cross-Coverage
• Ensures critical processes are documented and supported by appropriate backup arrangements.
• Promotes cross-training and knowledge sharing and identifies and mitigates single points of failure.
• Redistributes work within the team to address absences, vacancies, changing priorities and peak workloads.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
• University degree in Commerce, Business Administration, Accounting, Finance or a related field.
• Professional accounting designation in good standing (CPA or recognized legacy designation). Consideration of equivalency.
• Minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience spanning financial management, budgeting, forecasting, analysis, reporting, account administration, controls or finance operations.
• Experience supervising employees or coordinating the work of a finance team.
• Demonstrated experience providing financial advice and support to managers or organizational leaders.
• Strong knowledge of budgeting, forecasting, financial reporting, account reconciliation, internal controls, compliance and financial procedures.
• Experience with enterprise financial systems and reporting tools; familiarity with PeopleSoft or comparable systems is an asset.
• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Excel and financial-analysis, modelling, reporting and visualization tools.
SPECIAL SKILLS:
• Strong financial analysis, budgeting, forecasting, modelling and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to integrate detailed operational information with forward-looking forecasts and recommendations.
• Strong understanding of finance operations, accounting practices, internal controls and compliance requirements.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication and presentation skills, including the ability to explain complex financial matters to non-financial audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to lead, coach, motivate and develop employees.
• Strong client-service orientation balanced with financial stewardship, consistency and compliance.
• Ability to organize and prioritize work from multiple sources and meet competing deadlines during peak periods.
• Sound judgement and the ability to determine when an issue requires Executive Director involvement or specialized advice.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with Finance Operations, FP&A, portfolio clients and other university partners.
• Change-management and continuous-improvement capability, including the ability to support employees and clients through organizational, process and system changes.
• Commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, accessibility, confidentiality and respectful workplace practices.
DECISION MAKING:
• Within established university and Finance policies, frameworks, delegated authorities and the direction of the Executive Director, the Manager:
• Establishes day-to-day team priorities and allocates work within the assigned area.
• Determines the analysis, data, assumptions and financial information required to support assigned department or unit decisions.
• Provides recommendations concerning budgets, forecasts, financial pressures, risks, opportunities and corrective actions.
• Determines appropriate accounting and administrative treatment for routine to moderately complex transactions and escalates novel, material or high-risk issues.
• Identifies financial transaction, account and control issues and determines appropriate corrective action within delegated authority.
• Determines reporting methodology, data requirements and presentation format for assigned clients within common Finance standards.
• Adapts team procedures and work practices to improve efficiency, accuracy, controls, resilience and service quality.
• Resolves routine to complex operational and client-service issues and determines when a matter requires the Executive Director, or another university partner.
• Makes effective recommendations concerning recruitment, performance, training, employee development and corrective or disciplinary action.
• Advises assigned leaders on financial options; final material resource, structural and portfolio-wide decisions remain with the appropriately authorized portfolio leader and Executive Director.
• Implements approved financial decisions in accordance with university policies, controls and delegated authorities.
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