Senior Financial Advisor in Toronto

About us: Operations of Facilities & Real Estate (FRE) is the largest shared service division at the University of Toronto, providing a wide range of services to the University and serving three campuses. FRE is responsible for several key portfolios within the University, including Facilities and Services, University Planning Design & Construction, and Spaces & Experiences. We also provide Financial Services to the Information Technology Division. We strive to provide efficient and effective services that support the University’s mission of knowledge creation, educational program delivery, and community service.

The FRE Financial Strategy and Services Department works closely with other departments, as well as internal and external stakeholders, to manage FRE’s financial resources, enhance operational efficiency, and improve financial management capacity. The Finance Department ensures compliance, provides strategic advice, enhances support for the decision-making process, manages risks, optimizes financial processes, adopts new technologies, improves existing systems, and promotes best practices.

This position is responsible for developing, analysing, allocating, and aligning budgets and managing financial resources for the portfolio departments in FRE, which serves three campuses in the University. The Advisor monitors financial performance and position, provides in-depth financial analysis, conducts forecasting and reporting on a monthly, quarterly, and annual basis; ensures financial controls and accuracy are maintained; reviews funding requests; and performs year-end reporting.

This role plays a critical part in the financial planning, budgeting process, business and operational analysis, accounting, financial modeling, helping to shape and inform strategic decisions and ensure efficient utilization of business resources. The incumbent will serve as a strategic advisor to department heads by providing financial and accounting advice on complex financial matters to both financial and non-financial stakeholders at various levels, support compliance and audit activities, and contribute to system development and maintenance.

To do this effectively, the Senior Financial Advisor will be required to analyze, synthesize, and present highly confidential information and data, including decisions related to staffing levels and in-depth financial analysis to support recommendations and detailed implementation plans.

Essential Qualifications:

• EDUCATION: A University degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or a related discipline, or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Professional accounting designation (e.g. CPA, CA, CMA, CGA).
• EXPERIENCE: Minimum of five (5) years of experience in financial planning and analysis or a similar role. Experience with major ERP systems, financial software, and knowledge of SAP or the University's Administrative Management System (AMS) is required.
• SKILLS: Strong knowledge of building and managing large financial databases. Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities. Advanced proficiency with spreadsheet and word-processing software. Proficient in Excel formulas and advanced functions. Excellent oral and written communication skills. Strong working knowledge of customer service principles and practices, ability to perform with minimum supervision and make decisions independently. Ability to multi-task, effectively prioritize workload, and meet hard and fast deadlines. Must possess strong analytical skills. Detail-oriented with multiple tasks and information organization.
• OTHER: Integrity and political acumen. Demonstrated ability to prioritize multiple tasks and projects with sensitive deadlines. Superior planning and organizational skills. Demonstrated high level of service to a large group of stakeholders. Direct operational exposure to or comprehensive knowledge of best practices within construction, facilities management, and information technology industries.

Diversity Statement: The University of Toronto embraces diversity and is building a culture of belonging that increases our capacity to effectively address and serve the interests of our global community. We strongly encourage applications from Indigenous Peoples, Black and racialized persons, women, persons with disabilities, and people of diverse sexual and gender identities. We value applicants who have demonstrated a commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion and recognize that diverse perspectives, experiences, and expertise are essential to strengthening our academic mission.

Accessibility Statement: The University strives to be an equitable and inclusive community and proactively seeks to increase diversity among its community members. Our values regarding equity and diversity are linked with our unwavering commitment to excellence in the pursuit of our academic mission. The University is committed to the principles of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). As such, we strive to make our recruitment, assessment, and selection processes as accessible as possible and provide accommodations as required for applicants with disabilities.