Description
Financial Operations within VP Finance is currently seeking a Full-time Regular Manager, Accounting Operations
Reporting to the Associate Director, Finance Systems, the Manager, Accounting Operations provides leadership and operational oversight for accounting activities across Financial Operations, including Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, and Payroll.
The role is responsible for accounting and reporting activities across AP, AR, and Payroll, including general ledger account reconciliations, variance analysis, aged transaction monitoring and clearing, KPI data collection and generation, and KPI reporting for leadership. The Manager drives accurate, compliant, and service-focused operations across AP, AR, and Payroll through strong controls, practical guidance, and continuous improvement. The role requires sound judgment, accounting expertise, people leadership, and the ability to manage competing priorities.
Summary of Key Responsibilities (job functions include but are not limited to):
Accounting Operations Leadership & Service Delivery
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Lead day-to-day accounting operations across AP, AR, and Payroll, including accounting review, reconciliations, reporting, issue resolution, stakeholder support, and service delivery.
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Ensure timely, accurate, and client-focused service delivery for campus stakeholders.
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Align priorities, workload, and resources with Financial Operations objectives, institutional timelines, fiscal cycles, and service expectations.
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Monitor service standards, escalations, recurring issues, and process gaps to identify root causes and recommend practical improvements.
Financial Stewardship, Controls & Compliance
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Oversee accurate, complete, and compliant accounting activity across AP, AR, and Payroll through review, reconciliation, analysis, and issue escalation.
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Manage general ledger reconciliations, variance analysis, aged transaction monitoring and clearing, journal entries, budget monitoring, and forecasting support for AP, AR, and Payroll accounts.
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Maintain effective controls, reconciliation standards, account ownership documentation, review processes, and compliance practices to support consistency, accountability, audit readiness, and policy compliance.
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Support audit requests, control validation, issue tracking, remediation follow-up, and delegated transaction approvals.
Process Improvement, KPI Reporting & Operational Support
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Lead process improvements, reporting enhancements, and operational changes that improve consistency, controls, service delivery, and efficiency across AP, AR, and Payroll.
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Oversee KPI data collection, generation, dashboards, reporting packages, and leadership reporting.
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Develop procedures, documentation, job aids, training materials, and reporting tools that support consistency, compliance, and service delivery.
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Support cyclical financial processes, including month-end, quarter-end, year-end, budget, forecast, audit, and operational reporting activities.
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Partner with Finance, Human Resources, Internal Controls, Payroll, AP, AR, and campus stakeholders to resolve issues and improve operational processes.
Leadership & Team Development
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Provide direction, coaching, workload management, and performance support to strengthen team effectiveness and service delivery.
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Foster a team culture of accountability, collaboration, continuous improvement, and client-focused support.
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Allocate team resources to support fiscal cycles, reporting, projects, and competing operational priorities across AP, AR, and Payroll.
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Develop training, documentation, and knowledge-sharing tools that strengthen consistency, compliance, and team capability.
Stakeholder Engagement & Advisory Services
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Provide practical guidance to Finance, Human Resources, faculties, administrative units, and campus partners on AP, AR, Payroll, and related accounting operations matters.
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Advise stakeholders on University financial policies, controls, accounting processes, and reporting requirements.
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Translate operational issues and analysis into practical recommendations and solutions.
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Coordinate with AP, AR, and Payroll leaders to align reporting, reconciliations, issue resolution, and process improvement activities.
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Build collaborative relationships and communicate financial, compliance, and operational information clearly, including in sensitive stakeholder situations.
Operational Accountability
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Oversee financial stewardship, variance analysis, aged transaction monitoring, forecasting, planning, KPI reporting, and operational reporting for AP, AR, and Payroll activities.
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Maintain controls and review mechanisms that support accurate, complete, and compliant financial data management across AP, AR, and Payroll.
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Complete assigned projects, analysis, reporting, and operational initiatives that support Financial Operations priorities and institutional service needs.
Qualifications / Requirements:
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Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) designation and a university degree in accounting, finance, business, or commerce.
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Minimum 7 years of progressively responsible experience in accounting operations, including AP, AR, payroll accounting, reconciliations, reporting, controls, and financial analysis.
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Minimum 3 years of supervisory, team lead, or people management experience.
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Experience managing reconciliations, KPI reporting, budget monitoring, forecasting, controls, and compliance in a large, complex organization.
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Experience partnering with Finance, Human Resources, Internal Controls, Audit, AP, AR, Payroll, and academic or administrative units considered an asset.
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Strong accounting operations skills across AP, AR, Payroll, reconciliations, reporting, analysis, KPI monitoring, and controls.
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People leadership skills, including coaching, workload management, accountability, collaboration, and service excellence.
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Sound understanding of internal controls, financial compliance, audit support, policy application, and documentation.
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Strong analytical, process improvement, and change support skills, including root cause analysis, practical recommendations, simplification, and sustainable improvement.
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Strong communication, stakeholder management, and client service skills, with the ability to prioritize and deliver reliably in a decentralized, high-volume environment.
Application Deadline: August 10, 2026
We would like to thank all applicants in advance for submitting their resumes. Please note, only those candidates chosen to continue on through the selection process will be contacted.
This position is classified in the Management Career Band, Level 2 of the Management and Professional Staff Career Framework.
For a listing of all management and staff opportunities at the University of Calgary, view our Management and Staff Careers website.
About the University of Calgary
UCalgary is Canada's entrepreneurial university, located in Canada's most enterprising city. It is a top research university and one of the highest-ranked universities of its age. Founded in 1966, its 36,000 students experience an innovative learning environment, made rich by research, hands-on experiences and entrepreneurial thinking. It is Canada's leader in the creation of start-ups. Start something today at the University of Calgary. For more information, visit ucalgary.ca.
The University of Calgary has launched an institution-wide Indigenous Strategy ii' taa'poh'to'p committing to creating a rich, vibrant, and culturally competent campus that welcomes and supports Indigenous Peoples, encourages Indigenous community partnerships, is inclusive of Indigenous perspectives in all that we do.
The university's commitment to the Indigenous Strategy is evident through the oversight of 18 Elders serving on the Circle of Advisors and the many unit-based circles working towards implementation of the strategy including the Faculty Advisory Circle and teams such as the Office of Indigenous Engagement, the Writing Symbols Lodge, and the Indigenous Research Support Team. Many Indigenous-based events and processes are impacting curriculum, programming and polices at the University of Calgary.
As an equitable and inclusive employer, the University of Calgary recognizes that a diverse staff/faculty benefits and enriches the work, learning and research experiences of the entire campus and greater community. We are committed to removing barriers that have been historically encountered by some people in our society. We strive to recruit individuals who will further enhance our diversity and will support their academic and professional success while they are here. In particular, we encourage members of the designated groups (women, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, members of visible/racialized minorities, and diverse sexual orientation and gender identities) to apply. To ensure a fair and equitable assessment, we offer accommodation at any stage during the recruitment process to applicants with disabilities. Questions regarding [diversity] EDI at UCalgary can be sent to the Office of Institutional Commitments ([email protected]) and requests for accommodations can be sent to People & Culture ([email protected]).
Do you have most but not all the qualifications? Research show that women, racialized and visible minorities, and persons with disabilities are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At UCalgary we are committed to achieving equitable, diverse, inclusive and accessible employment practices and workplaces and encourage you to apply if you believe you are right for this role.
We encourage all qualified applicants to apply, however preference will be given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada.
