University of Toronto

Senior Accounting Specialist

University of Toronto$106K — $124K *
Legal & Accounting
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • University degree and professional accounting designation (CGA, CMA, CPA, CA) or equivalent education/experience.
  • Minimum 3 years of experience in benefits or pensions accounting in higher education/public sector.
  • Experience creating financial statements and analyzing large financial datasets.
  • Thorough knowledge of accounting principles related to pension and benefits accounting.
  • Familiarity with the University of Toronto's Administrative Management System or similar systems.
  • Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite.
  • Ability to manage administrative and financial records effectively.

Responsibilities

  • Prepare the Annual and Long-Range benefits budget submission.
  • Present financial recommendations and forecasts to stakeholders.
  • Prepare benefit reports and develop models for analysis.
  • Monitor the monthly financial position of benefit plans.
  • Stay updated on legislative benefits cost changes.
  • Coordinate with actuaries for benefit plan valuations.
  • Prepare working papers and reconciliations for external audits.

Benefits

  • Opportunity to work in a prestigious academic environment.
  • Involvement in a range of special projects within Financial Services.
  • Access to professional development opportunities.
  • Supportive work culture that values organization and detail.
Full Job Description
Date Posted: 07/29/2026
Req ID: 49636
Faculty/Division: VP-People, Finance & Digital Services
Department: Financial Services
Campus: St. George (Downtown Toronto)
Existing Vacancy: Yes

Your opportunity:

Under the general direction of the Associate Director, Receivables and General Accounting, the Senior Accounting Specialist performs a variety of complex analyses and interpretation of confidential data relating to benefits budgeting and forecasting such as trend analyses, development of benefit costs models and sensitivity analysis. In addition, he/she prepares a variety of financial statements, reports and filings for benefits plans and provides auditable data and schedules relating to employee future benefits for the University's annual financial statements.

The incumbent is responsible for account reconciliation, identifying and resolving financial discrepancies, recording accounting entries, and verifying the accuracy and completeness of information on HRIS/FIS.

The Senior Accounting Specialist is also involved in special ad-hoc projects for the Financial Services Department which support various business needs.

Your responsibilities will include:

  • Preparation of the Annual and Long-Range benefits budget submission
  • Presenting recommendations and forecasts to various influential stakeholders within the University
  • Preparation of various benefit reports and working with existing models and/or developing new models to perform various analysis and evaluate change assumptions
  • Monitoring monthly financial position of benefit plans
  • Monitoring any new information on changes to the cost of legislative benefits
  • Coordinating with actuaries for periodic valuation of benefit plans for various internal requirements
  • Preparing working papers and reconciliations relating to benefits for external auditors
  • Assisting other areas in Financial Services upon request and participates in Special Projects


Essential Qualifications:

  • University degree and a professional accounting designation from a recognized professional accounting program (i.e. CGA, CMA, CPA, CA) or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
  • Minimum 3 years experience accounting for benefits and/or pensions in higher education or large public sector organization.
  • Experience with preparing financial statements, including preparation of reconciliation and analysing large amounts of financial data.
  • Thorough knowledge of generally accepted accounting principles, especially as related to pension and benefits accounting.
  • Demonstrated related experience with U of T's Administrative Management System (e.g. FIS), or equivalent systems.
  • Experience maintaining and organizing administrative and financial records.
  • Solid understanding of accounting for benefits and/or pensions.
  • Proficient with Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, SharePoint, Teams and Outlook).
  • Demonstrated high level of organization and attention to detail and ability to maintain accuracy under pressure of deadlines.
  • Demonstrated ability to exercise tact, good judgment and diplomacy.
  • Knowledge of the University's financial procedures and guidelines, or other similar procedures.


Assets (Nonessential):

  • Related experience in a university environment or higher educational institution
  • Previous experience in a high-volume processing environment
  • Demonstrated experience with developing and implementing forecast models
  • Knowledge of SAP


To be successful in this role you will be:

  • Meticulous
  • Accountable
  • Detail Oriented
  • Efficient
  • Organized
  • Problem solver
  • Responsible
  • Multi-tasker


NOTE: This is a 70% on-site position.

Closing Date: 08/19/2026, 11:59PM ET
Employee Group: Salaried
Personnel Subarea:PM
Appointment Type: Budget - Continuing
Schedule: Full-Time
Pay Scale Group & Hiring Zone: PM 4 -- Hiring Zone: $106,705 - $124,491 -- Broadband Salary Range: $106,705 - $177,843
Job Category: Finance/Budget/Planning/Audit

About University of Toronto

The University of Toronto is a public research university located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is the largest university in Canada by enrollment and one of the top-ranked universities in the world. The university offers undergraduate and graduate programs in a wide range of academic disciplines, including arts, sciences, engineering, and business. The University of Toronto is known for its research excellence and has produced many notable alumni, including four Nobel laureates. The university was founded in 1827 and has three campuses in the Toronto area.
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