Finance Lead Officer

About Queen's University

Queen’s University is the Canadian research intensive university with a transformative student learning experience. Here the employment experience is as diverse as it is interesting. We have opportunities in multiple areas of globally recognized research, faculty administration, engineering & construction, athletics & recreation, power generation, corporate shared services, and many more.

We are committed to employment equity and diversity in the workplace and welcome applications from individuals from equity seeking groups such as women, racialized/visible minorities, Indigenous/Aboriginal peoples, persons with a disability, persons who identify in the LGBTQ+ community and others who reflect the diversity of Canadian society.

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Job Summary
The Department of Canadian Cancer Trials Group is an academically affiliated co-operative oncology Group conducting national and international Phase I, II and III clinical trials in cancer for the last 40 years. Our network includes all major hospitals in Canada and many other international Groups like us. We often also partner with pharmaceutical industry. The Statistical and Operations Office (SOO) of CCTG is located at Queen’s University (one of the top academic institutions in Canada) in Kingston, Ontario. We do not see patients here, but we oversee all aspects of trial conduct and coordination from beginning to end.

Reporting to the Finance Manager for the Department of Canadian Cancer Trials Group (CCTG) the incumbent plays a critical role in the financial administration of the department and in advising the Manager, Finance on financial matters that affect the strategic initiatives and direction of the department, and acts as a resource to faculty and staff within the department, as well as its numerous committees. The incumbent must function with an exceptional level of accuracy, confidentiality, judgement, and efficiency and is expected to act with initiative, make decisions independently, work collectively and consult with other staff as required.

Job Description
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Oversees the day-to-day financial operations of the department; provides the Finance Manager with all necessary financial information required for strategic and workforce planning purposes and provides advice and recommendations on financial matters.

• Participates in medium- and long-term financial analysis and strategic planning for the department including modeling various complex staffing plans. Recommends implementation plans and strategies.

• Sets objectives to ensure the financial health of the unit. Delegates and oversees the processing of departmental financial transactions, including cheque requisitions, invoices, deposits, journal entries and reconciles statements. Prepares, collects, and analyzes statistics; maintains accurate financial records and monitors payroll transactions to ensure correct allocation. Investigates and resolves financial anomalies and ensures adherence to the university’s financial policies and procedures.

• Prepares and analyzes annual budget proposals in support of CCTG activities, presenting the proposals to senior staff before submission.

• Drafts and recommends changes to policies related to finance, while ensuring to obtain input from the internal departments. Implements changes to financial process and workflow changes to support successful initiatives within the department’s Finance Office.

• Prepares complex grant budget proposals and oversees grant management and allocation, as well as complies with the varying reporting requirements and deadlines of the various grants.

• Provide advanced financial analysis to aid in the monitoring of department budget objectives and progress.

• Participates in short and long-term financial and strategic planning by developing and maintaining cost and revenue models and conducting reporting and variance analysis.

• Provides guidance on and ensures compliance with grants, funding agencies and university policies and procedures. Reviews financial policies, internal controls and systems and recommends, develops, and implements changes to improve efficiency, standardization, and effectiveness, ensuring financial processes, reporting and operational viability of the department are maintained. Monitors and quantifies processes and procedures that minimize financial liability, exposure, and risk.

• Perform general administrative duties, including initiating or preparing correspondence, word processing, report preparation, filing, correspondence/e-mail, scheduling, purchasing, record keeping and departmental resources.

• Provides work direction, and technical/functional guidance to staff. Schedules and assigns work and oversees its completion. Coordinates and monitors workflow.

• Schedules and approves, or recommends the approval of, employees’ hours of work, overtime, and absences. Monitors and oversees employee attendance.

• Participates in screening and interviewing job candidates and providing input into staff selection.

• Reviews assignments and provides feedback on work to employees. Provides input on work performance to management staff.

• Provides orientation and on-the-job training to employees in the unit. Provides coaching and feedback on work quality issues, providing related day-to-day supervision. Escalates unresolved performance and/or disciplinary matters to management.

• Plans, prioritizes, and manages the work of employees, providing strategic and tactical advice, guidance, and coaching. Identifies the need for staff resources, participates on staffing committees, and makes effective recommendations regarding employee selection.

• Manages performance by establishing performance standards, reviewing, and evaluating performance and conducting formal performance reviews on an ongoing basis.

• Assesses staff training and development needs and ensures that employees receive the training required to improve and sustain successful performance.

• Investigates, addresses, and resolves employee/labour relations issues including disciplinary matters. Makes decisions or effective recommendations on matters involving discipline, discharge, and termination.

• Provides back up support to the Finance Manager as required.

• Undertake other duties as required in support of the department.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor of Commerce and/or Business Administration (Accounting) Degree.

• Professional accounting designation or enrolment in the Chartered Professional Accountant program required

• Three to Five years of experience in an organizationally relevant environment, preferably in a health science setting.

• Demonstrated knowledge of standard accounting practices, proven budget management skills and account administration experience.

• Knowledge of Queen’s policies, procedures, financial and administrative systems (i.e., PeopleSoft) considered a strong asset.

• Satisfactory Criminal Records Check required.

• Consideration may be given to an equivalent combination of education and experience.

SPECIAL SKILLS:

• Respects diversity and promotes inclusion in the workplace.

• Sound knowledge of accounting practices and principles with the ability to produce complex financial statements and reports, with superior attention to detail.

• Strong project management and organization skills required to address multiple competing demands, priorities, and deadlines. Ability to work well under pressure to accommodate and manage shifting priorities and diverse demands, as well as delegate tasks.

• Ability to analyze, interpret, and problem solve complicated accounting processes to ensure compliance with Queen’s financial structures and reporting requirements.

• Advanced computer skills, including word processing, the use of Excel spreadsheets, and database construction and management.

• Ability to adapt to change to both processes and technology, as well as changes in funding source requirements.

• Strong communication skills (oral and written) to interact with a diverse group of individuals with tact and diplomacy.

• Demonstrated initiative and ability to work well independently and within an interactive team and have the flexibility to deal with evolving requirements in a timely and tactful manner.

• Excellent judgement and discretion when making decisions and recommendations about the financial administration of the department. Proven ability to maintain confidentiality with highly sensitive data and information.

DECISION MAKING:

• Assesses the suitability of job candidates and recommends the most appropriate individual for hire.

• Determines priorities and makes decisions about staff utilization and the assignment of work to achieve optimum efficiencies and productivity.

• Monitors and assesses output and the quality of employees’ work and recommends need for formal training or development plans to management and identifies Possible staff performance and/or disciplinary issues.

• Based on accounting knowledge, determines how accounting problems or errors should be corrected and find solutions to unanticipated problems and to mitigate both financial and legal risk to the department; decides whether complexity of the problem warrants the involvement of more senior staff.

• Determines methodology in data evaluation and compilation of reports to increase department/unit organizational effectiveness and identify inefficiencies.

• Prioritizes workload to ensure that all deadlines and deliverables are met.

• Assesses investigation outcome of grievances and makes effective recommendations on appropriate course of action or next steps on grievances.

• Makes effective recommendations on level of discipline up to discharge and probationary termination.

Employment Equity and Accessibility Statement

The University invites applications from all qualified individuals. Queen's is strongly committed to employment equity, diversity, and inclusion in the workplace and encourages applications from Black, racialized persons, Indigenous people, women, persons with disabilities, and 2SLGBTQI+ persons. In accordance with Canadian Immigration requirements, priority will be given to those who are legally eligible to work in Canada.

The University provides support in its recruitment processes to all applicants who require accommodation due to a protected ground under the Ontario Human Rights Code, including those with disabilities. Candidates requiring accommodation during the recruitment process are asked to contact Human Resources at hradmin@queensu.ca.

Skills

Reference

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