Primary Purpose: The Finance and Research Administrative Coordinator provides integrated, strategic financial and administrative leadership in support of the School of Rehabilitation Science (SRS). encompasses school-wide financial operations including research, donor, academic, and operational funds. The position applies advanced functional expertise to ensure sound financial planning, compliance, reporting, and decision-making.
The role operates with a high degree of independence, exercising judgement and decision-making authority to determine appropriate financial approaches, procedures, and solutions across multiple funding streams and programs.
Nature of Work: Reporting to the Manager, Academic Programs and Operations and working closely with the SRS Director and Finance and Administrative Manager, this position acts as a central financial and administrative resource for faculty, staff, students, and leadership within SRS. The incumbent determines and implements the steps required to achieve financial objectives, advise on best practices, and supports operational planning with a tactical focus and medium-term planning horizon.
The role liaises extensively and independently with central administrative units, including Research Acceleration and Strategic Initiatives (RASI), Research Accounting, OVDR, CGPS, Financial Services, Donor Relations, Legal, and Human Resources, representing SRS on financial, administrative, and compliance matters without requiring routine supervisory direction or approval. Work is characterized by proactively identifying needs, analyzing complex financial information, coordinating multiple stakeholders, making informed decisions within established policies and procedures, and ensuring compliance across diverse funding types. A high degree of autonomy, discretion, and professionalism is required due to the complexity of the work and access to sensitive and confidential information.
Typical Duties or Accountabilities
Financial Oversight & Operations
- Provide comprehensive financial oversight for research, donor, academic, and operational funds within the school.
- Monitor fund activity and balances while performing forecasting, compliance oversight, financial analysis, and reporting.
- Review fund closure statements and oversee processes related to closing or transitioning funds.
- Develop and maintain comprehensive fund reference materials to support consistent fund administration practices across staff and leadership, enhancing reporting accuracy.
- Review financial reporting to ensure accurate use of CFOAPAs.
- Develop, implement, and maintain internal invoicing processes and financial procedures.
- Lead SharePoint financial migration initiatives and ongoing management of financial SharePoint site.
- Administer and streamline part-time teaching directories, contracts, invoices and payments using streamlined processes.
- Process Clinical Education travel bursaries and other student related payments.
- Develop and manage Committee budgets.
- Assess school needs and implement effective solutions.
- Manage post-award financial administration for research projects, ensuring compliance with funder, institutional, tri-agency, and regulatory requirements.
- Approve Research staff and graduate student timesheets, process tutor and attendance tracking.
- Act as timesheet delegate for school, responsible for ensuring all timecards are approved on time to ensure prompt payment for causal employees and accurate time tracking for salaried employees.
- Process and review financial transactions including EJSs, DCRs, SIRs, Research and Finance JVs, purchases, and reimbursements.
- Hire and onboard research staff including timesheet approvals, track vacation balances and term end dates.
- Conduct monthly research shadow tracking and maintain accurate project records in UnivRS and related systems.
- Provide SRS Student Research Project administration including policy development, project coordination, website updates, and stipend management.
- Produce research and financial statistics for newsletters, annual reports, submissions, and internal planning.
- Support scholarship eligibility assessments and reporting.
- Provide administrative and financial support for groups and special initiatives, including SRS Research Day.
- Act as a trusted advisor to research personnel by supporting hiring activities and ensuring compliance and accuracy in financial transaction processing.
- Support the development of research contracts by liaising with funders, legal counsel, and third-party entities.
- Host and manage the SRS Research Administration Network, serving as a central resource for research staff on administrative, hiring, Indigenous engagement, and financial processes.
- Exercises independent professional judgement in determining and executing decisions of varying complexity, including significant financial and fund management decisions.
- Interprets and applies policy, funding guidelines, and best practices to achieve School and researcher objectives.
- Acts as a functional expert and advisor to faculty and leadership on financial matters.
Education:
- Post-secondary education in business, accounting/commerce, administration, or another relevant field. Certifications and/or post graduate degrees in administration would be an asset. The University of Saskatchewan recognizes alternate career paths; therefore, a combination of education and experience may be considered.
Experience:
- Minimum of five years' experience in research finance, financial administration, or a related field within a complex organization.
- Demonstrated experience managing multiple funding sources (research, donor, academic, operational).
- Strong applied knowledge of budgeting, forecasting, financial analysis, and reporting.
- Experience independently assessing unit needs and implementing effective solutions.
- Intermediate-level professional practice within financial or research administration.
- Demonstrated working knowledge of USask systems (e.g., Fast Finance, Banner, UnivRS, Concur, AboutUS, SharePoint, UView).
- Knowledge of federal and provincial funding agencies (e.g., CIHR, SHRF, Mitacs) and compliance requirements.
Skills:
- High-level analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Work independently with a broad scope of responsibility.
- Strong ability to plan tactically and support medium-term objectives.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to apply functional expertise as a resource to faculty and staff.
- Proven capability to work independently while collaborating across units.
- Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Office and collaboration tools.
- Exercise professional judgement and decision-making authority in complex environments.
Department: School of Rehabilitation Science
Status: Term 12 months with the possibility of extension or becoming permanent
Employment Group: ASPA
Shift: Mon-Fri, 8:00-4:30pm
Full Time Equivalent (FTE): 1.0
Salary: The salary range, based on 1.0 FTE, is $69,035.00 - 107,868.00 per annum. The starting salary will be commensurate with education and experience.
Salary Family (if applicable): Specialist Professional
Salary Phase/Band: Phase 2
Posted Date: 9/3/2026
Closing Date: 9/9/2026 at 6:00 pm CST
Number of Openings: 1
Work Location: May be eligible for hybrid work under the terms of USask's Alternative Workspace Guidelines
The University of Saskatchewan aspires to be what the world needs and embraces equity, diversity and inclusion as foundational to excellence and innovation. We actively seek to create a welcoming environment where all individuals feel empowered to thrive, contribute, and grow. Applications from equity-deserving groups are encouraged as part of our ongoing efforts to reflect the diversity of the communities we serve: EDI Framework for Action.
We continue to grow our partnerships with Indigenous communities across the province, nationally, and internationally and value the unique perspective that Indigenous employees provide to strengthen these relationships. Verification of Indigenous Membership/Citizenship at the University of Saskatchewan is led and determined by the deybwewin | taapwaywin | tapwewin: Indigenous Truth policy and the Standing Committee in accordance with the processes developed to enact the policy. Successful candidates that assert Indigenous membership/citizenship will be asked to complete the verification process of Indigenous membership/citizenship with documentation.
The University of Saskatchewan provides an accessible and inclusive workplace. Should you require support through any stage of the recruitment process, please contact us for assistance.
