Staff - Non Union
Consequence of Error:
Expectations for all UBC employees:
Job Category
M&P - Excluded M&P
Job Profile
XMP - Accounting, Level H
Job Title
Director, Financial Reporting
Department
Accounting and Compliance| Office of the Comptroller | VP Finance and Operations
Compensation Range
$11,705.58 - $18,265.42 CAD Monthly
The Compensation Range is the span between the minimum and maximum base salary for a position. The midpoint of the range is approximately halfway between the minimum and the maximum and represents an employee that possesses full job knowledge, qualifications and experience for the position. In the normal course, employees will be hired, transferred or promoted between the minimum and midpoint of the salary range for a job.
Posting End Date
July 30, 2025
Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the Posting End Date.
Job End Date
At UBC, we believe that attracting and sustaining a diverse workforce is key to the successful pursuit of excellence in research, innovation, and learning for all faculty, staff and students. Our commitment to employment equity helps achieve inclusion and fairness, brings rich diversity to UBC as a workplace, and creates the necessary conditions for a rewarding career.
Job Summary
The Director, Financial Reporting supports the Comptroller, and the Senior Director, Accounting and Compliance in implementing the strategic direction for the University’s Financial Reporting function. This position is responsible for the overall effective reporting of all University financial data. The current annual budget of UBC totals $3.9 billion in revenue with in excess of four million transactions recorded annually. Total assets are over $8 billion. The Director will lead, develop and foster a strong and motivated team that is accountable for the overall Financial Reporting function.
Organizational Status
Reports directly to the Senior Director, Accounting and Compliance. The Director provides oversight and leadership responsibility for the direct and indirect financial reporting staff. The Director liaises with Finance Directors across the University as well as with senior faculty, staff and partners internal and external to the University.
Work Performed
Financial Efficacy:
- Stewardship for all significant transactions, transaction processes and relevant agreements are accounted for in accordance with Canadian Public Sector Accounting Standards;
- Is responsible for a full range of accounting services, including oversight of the preparation of interim and year-end financial statements, coordination with external auditors for various entities such as the UBC Foundation, American Foundation, Peter Wall Institute of Advanced Studies, the Killam Endowments, Allard Law Endowment, and University Neighbours' Fund etc;
- Discharges statutory responsibilities to produce Financial Statements under the Financial Information Act to for the University;
- Is responsible for the preparation of accurate financial statements and accompanying reports which will be approved by the Board of Governors and submitted to the Office of the Comptroller for inclusion in the financial statements for the Province of British Columbia.
- Presents the quarterly and annual financial statements of the University to various groups including , senior management and the Province of British Columbia;
- Is accountable for the implementation of internal financial controls and policy and procedures for endowment and financial reporting. Reviews controls continuously and communicates all policies and changes to those policies to the campus community to ensure compliance. Prepares and presents training sessions on Understanding Financial Risks and Internal Controls;
- Identifies, analyzes and resolves financial management and reporting issues in consultation with Faculties, units and departments. Develops new tools to better meet the needs of the user;
- Provides leadership and consulting to senior university personnel on the impact of major business decisions to the financial statements and bottom line of the university;
- Is responsible for the implementation of required financial changes due to government legislation or changes in public sector accounting standards. Provides leadership in the implementation of changes required to ensure the University’s statements comply with any new accounting standards and redefining reports and the underlying information system structures to support all required external reporting and the training of key finance staff on public sector accounting;
- Is responsible for the accuracy and timely external reporting, such as the CAUBO report, Financial Information Act (FIA) report, the University tax returns (Canadian and US), and is responsible for reporting the University s financial statements in accordance with US GAAP as required by regulation;
- Liaises with both internal and external auditors. Reviews UBC's policy and procedures with the auditors, researches and answers audit queries and responds to any perceived weaknesses identified. Reports on audit findings and control weaknesses.
Continuous Improvement/Operational Excellence:
- Provides financial expertise and recommendations regarding service delivery modeling, alternatives, operational reviews, and business process improvement reviews, which will be relied upon for decision making;
- Identifies financial, business and other risk issues and makes recommendations for solutions. Develops financial management best practices;
- In partnership with colleagues , creates, execute sand continuously improves practices and processes to deliver an excellent stakeholder experience, including delivering to customer service targets;
- Participates in business process analysis, documenting process flows and facilitating workshops to elicit improvement, and in training in new systems and structures.
Leadership:
- Continuously aligns business plans, including workforce capabilities to ensure the right structure is in place at the right time to support the Financial Reporting function effectively;
- Leads a team of senior financial professionals including goal setting, sponsoring long-term learning needs, career paths and succession planning for the function, mentoring and developing critical talent for the future.
Consequence of Error:
Accounting errors could cause inaccuracies in the University's records and errors in the financial statements. Financial statement errors could lead to incorrect decisions by the executive and the Board and could damage the reputation of the University, adversely affecting its ability to raise funds. Due to the senior level of this position, the decisions or recommendations made will have a significant effect on University standards, operations and finances. Ineffective systems may result in errors, delays and costs.
Supervision Received:
Works with a high degree of independence under the broad direction of the Senior Director, Accounting and Compliance.
Supervision Given:
This position provides strategic leadership, supervision and expertise to five direct management reports.
Minimum Qualifications :
- Undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline and Completion of an accredited Accounting program (CPA);
- Minimum 10 years of progressive and related experience including experience in mentoring and developing teams, creating a culture of positive service delivery, technology systems development, business process reengineering, accounting, auditing, budgeting and financial planning and reporting (preferably in a unionized environment in a large private organization or the public sector). An equivalent combination of education and experience will be considered;
- Willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives in conflict with one’s own
- Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing one’s own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusion
Preferred Qualifications
- Effective interpersonal and communication skills and ability to build strong relationships with various stakeholder groups.
- Ability to communicate verbally and in writing complex financial information to non-financial savvy audience;
- Ability to lead change by creating a vision and taking appropriate action to ensure acceptance and support;
- Inclusive and collaborative leadership style, continuously working to effectively engage diverse groups and team members in supporting UBC’s values and purpose;
- Strong understanding of GAAP principles and ability to apply knowledge to UBC and its related entities.
- Experience in a University environment and knowledge of Public Sector Accounting Standards is an asset;
- Proven experience with policy analysis, writing management reports and assessing the adequacy of internal controls, engagement with senior levels of management in an organization;
- Ability to understand strategy, grasp complex business and financial theories;
- Must be able to multi-task: work well under pressure, prioritize tasks to meet deadlines and demonstrate a high degree of accuracy with complex information;
- Demonstrated experience identifying key information and issues and providing effective recommendations for implementation.
Expectations for all UBC employees:
- Willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives in conflict with one’s own
- Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing one’s own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusion