Reporting to the Assistant Controller, the Manager, Research Finance at Vancouver Island University is responsible for leading and overseeing the financial management of research projects, ensuring compliance with funding agency regulations, and supporting the university's research initiatives. This role involves collaborating with VIU’s Scholarship, Research and Creative Activity (SRCA) division, researchers, faculty, and other various departments to ensure efficient financial administration of research grants and contracts. The Manager, Research Finance plays a crucial role in managing the financial aspects of research projects, providing guidance on budgeting, monitoring expenses, and ensuring adherence to financial policies and procedures.
The incumbent has management responsibility for all external and internal financial reporting on research grants directly overseen by the AVP Research & Graduate Studies including those within university Research Centres and Institutes. The Manager is also responsible for the financial and administrative oversight of operating, trust and endowment funds for university Research Centres and Institutes, and other research groups which report directly to the AVP Research & Graduate Studies. The incumbent has responsibility for the preparation of a range of institutional financial reports pertaining to research funds and has management responsibility for the financial administration of a range of business processes supporting the Research Finance team including budgeting, research invoicing and expenditure review.
As funding permits, the Manager, Research Finance will lead a supporting team of two Financial Analysts.
Division
VP Administration and Finance
Department
Financial Services
Campus
Nanaimo campus *Successful candidates must be able to attend in person on campus as required.
Location
Nanaimo, British Columbia
Appointment Type
temporary full-time
Workload
35 hours per week.
Pay Level
Excluded Pay Band 9: Minimum salary is $98,703 and maximum salary is $112,162.
Starting Salary
Normal salary placement at the time of hire is $98,703 (prorated if part-time). This position is eligible for annual performance-based salary increases.
Start:
As soon as possible.
Appointment End Date
30-Apr-2027
Leave Replacement
Appointment may be extended or end early, depending on return of incumbent.
Applicant Documents
CV/Resume, Cover Letter, Name and contact information of recent supervisors willing to provide a reference
Key Responsibilities:
Financial Oversight:
Responsible for the financial and administrative oversight of operating, trust and endowment funds for Research Centres and Institutes that report to the AVP Research & Graduate Studies.
- Proactively monitors the accounts of Research Centres and Institutes.
- Provides guidance and advice to Research Centres and Institutes with respect to budgetary and financial matters.
- Provides financial expertise and operational support for the AVP Research & Graduate Studies, with respect to oversight of the university Research Centres and Institutes.
- Manages and monitors the financial aspects of research projects, including expenditure tracking, and financial reporting.
- Responsible for managerial oversight of a range of business processes supporting the Research Finance team including budgeting, research invoicing, expenditure review, overhead allocation, and work order requests, and for ensuring that these are operating efficiently and effectively.
Budget Development and Monitoring:
- Monitor research budgetary performance, identify variances, and provide proactive solutions to address potential issues.
- Provide tools to researchers to help track project budgets, expenses, and overall performance.
Financial Reporting:
Responsible for the preparation of a range of institutional financial reports pertaining to research funds and has management responsibility for the financial administration of a range of business processes supporting the Research Finance team.
- Key management responsibility for external and internal financial reporting on research grants overseen by the SRCA Office at VIU.
- Prepare and submit accurate and timely financial reports to funding agencies and sponsors including the Tri-Agencies, Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI), and other provincial and federal agencies.
- Generate financial statements and analyses for internal and external stakeholders.
- Responsible for accurate calculation of overhead funds generated from research projects and for their formulaic distribution in accordance with university policy.
- Responsible for ensuring revenue recognition and year-end deferred revenues related to research accounts are compliant with Public Sector Accounting Standards.
- Designs, develops, prepares, and produces timely research financial reports for university leadership and the university research community.
- Identifies, designs, and implements effective reporting tools for the increasingly complex range of research sponsors.
Risk Management:
- Identify and assess financial risks associated with research projects.
- Develop and implement risk mitigation strategies to ensure the financial success of projects.
- Develop and implement university policies and procedures that support effective compliance with funding agency requirements.
Compliance and Audit:
- Ensure compliance with funding agency guidelines and requirements (Tri-Agencies, Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI), and other provincial and federal agencies).
- Ensure compliance with university policies and procedures including VIU General Research Accounts (GRA).
- Manage and co-ordinate audit reviews for their portfolio of external sponsor agencies.
- Collaborate with internal and external auditors to facilitate audits of research projects.
- Responsible for ensuring that audit recommendations are implemented.
- Provides advice on possible amendments to financial clauses in agreements where compliance is not possible or a risk assessment of the impact of non-compliance if amendments are not possible.
Stakeholder Engagement:
- Provide financial guidance and support to researchers, department heads, and other stakeholders involved in research activities.
- Collaborate with SRCA and other university departments to streamline current financial processes and implement new processes related to research finance.
- Develop productive, collaborative working relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
- Communicate with funding agencies and sponsors as required.
Leadership
Leads, manages, and coaches the Research Finance team.
- Manages and co-ordinates the workload to ensure all obligations and deadlines are met in a timely manner.
- Provides leadership, management, training & direction to staff.
- Performs on-going review & annual performance appraisal of staff, identifying areas for improvement and further development.
- Promotes continual personnel training and development of staff.
- Monitors business practices to ensure that research finance has the appropriate practices and processes to work effectively.
Training and Development:
- Provides regular and ongoing training sessions, workshops, and guidance materials for researchers on financial management best practices and compliance requirements.
- Develops, implements, and communicates research finance procedures and standard operating practices.
Continuous Improvement:
- Identify opportunities for process improvement in research finance operations.
- Implement and lead initiatives to enhance efficiency and effectiveness of systems, processes, and tools related to research finance.
- Identifies, develops, and implements projects to improve service quality, relationships, stakeholder satisfaction, timeliness, staff capability and performance.
Required Qualifications:
Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or a related field. Advanced degree (e.g., MBA, CPA) is an asset. Professional accounting designation and status as a member in good standing with a professional accounting organization, combined with a relevant degree. 5-7 years of relevant experience in research finance, grants management, or a related field.
- Knowledge of Canadian research funding agencies and their regulations.
- Extensive work experience in financial reporting and complex financial analysis.
- Excellent knowledge of generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and of Canada Revenue Agency guidelines as they pertain to research funds.
- Experience in staff management and development is essential.
- Strong financial analysis, budgeting, and reporting skills.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
- Ability to work collaboratively in a complex, academic environment.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience in research finance administration, grants management, or sponsored programs administration in a post-secondary institution.
- Familiarity with research funding agency regulations and compliance requirements.
- Knowledge of research accounting practices and principles.
- Experience with financial management systems, such as Unit 4 Business World.
- Experience in a post-secondary institution or publicly funded organization of similar size.
VIU is pleased to offer eligible employees a comprehensive benefit plan; ample paid holiday time; professional development opportunities and a desirable pension plan. As part of the VIU campus community, our employees work with supportive colleagues within an encouraging environment and are provided with the tools and training that promote learning and development. The perks of VIU employment are multiple, and include well-being initiatives and services, strategic discounts, and flexible work opportunities.
Note:
- Short-listed candidates must provide original transcripts, or applicable original certifications at time of interview.
- All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.
- Vancouver Island University (VIU) is collectively committed to building and sustaining a diverse and inclusive working and learning environment for faculty, staff, and students. In our journey towards greater diversity, we invite applications from members of equity-seeking communities including women, racialized and Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, persons of all gender identities and sexual orientations who bring value to the VIU community through their lived experiences. We encourage members of all equity-seeking groups to self-identify within their application cover letter. When a candidate voluntarily discloses this information in their cover letter, the information will be used only for the fulfillment of the career opportunity. Disclosure and/or self-identification with an equity-seeking group will not lead to advantageous treatment of a candidate who is not qualified.
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