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.
Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the Posting End Date.
Job End Date
January 3, 2027
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 Pacific Institute for the Mathematical Sciences (PIMS) is a consortium of ten universities in Alberta, BC, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Washington State. UBC is the head office. Each of these sites has faculty members, postdocs, grad students, office spaces and meeting facilities.
This position develops, implements, and manages finance operations, policies, and procedures for PIMS. It oversees financial, registration fee and tracking systems, ensuring integration, accuracy, and compliance with institutional guidelines. The role leads budgeting, prepares financial reports, audits transactions, and enhances workflows while ensuring adherence to GAAP and tax regulations. It provides training to staff, collaborates with IT staff on system integrations, and manages year-end financial processes. This role plays a critical part in driving financial efficiency and supporting data-informed decision-making across the institute.
The Finance Officer, in conjunction with the Director and Manager of Operations, develops and implements financial strategies and organizational policies at all PIMS sites.
This position is in-person at UBC – Point Grey campus.
Organizational Status
The Finance Officer works independently in consultation with the Manager of Operations (to whom the position reports) and the PIMS Director (an academic director who is also a tenured professor in the Mathematics Department). This position will train and supervise a CUPE Financial Processing Specialist and provides managerial direction to staff members at the UBC Institutional Programs Office who are assigned to PIMS.
Work Performed
Develops, implements and manages finance operations policies and procedures within PIMS ensuring alignment with institutional guidelines. In managing PIMS budget, the Finance Officer considers PIMS’ distributed structure, its priorities and activities, as well as the needs and priorities of all PIMS stakeholders.
Oversees and ensures the effective operation of key systems including Workday, Quickbooks and Touchnet (payment gateway) and ensures seamless integrations between systems.
Responsible for fiscal management, planning, forecasting and resolving of funds including grants, contribution agreements and contracts according to agreed strategic priorities (strategic budgeting of $5M in annual funding). Liaise with federal and provincial granting agencies and PIMS member universities with regards to all grant funds. Revise budgets according to available funding, restrictions, and changes in programming. This position manages implementation of budget at all sites, transfers funds between member universities to support program operations in accordance with requirements from funding partners. Identifies budget recovery and cost sharing opportunities and ensures financial efficiencies.
Manages multiple diverse and substantive budget areas including Tri-Council grants, corporate donations, support from various universities, NSF funds and operating funds; PIMS Collaborative Research Group budgets which are multiyear projects involving several universities; and budgets for individual PIMS sites (10)-both research funding and operating funds.
Leads and facilitates the short-term and long-term budget development process, including establishing fiscal management policies for all areas of PIMS.
Manages financial and accounting procedures critical to accounting decisions, budget development and year-end processes, ensuring adherence to generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and compliance with tax regulations.
Prepares and provides accurate, timely, and complex financial reports to support decision-making across PIMS and reporting to granting agencies.
Oversees quarterly reconciliation of financials for all PIMS sites, matching actual financials to budget, identifying variances, and suggesting controlling actions to address discrepancies.
Advises PIMS Site Administrators on local budgets and expense parameters. Provides training on Quickbooks and general reporting as required.
Analyzes and evaluates existing financial workflows, recommending and implementing process improvements to enhance efficiency and effectiveness. Evaluates internal accounting controls, policies, and procedures recommending improvements where necessary.
Conducts and reviews monthly reconciliations, investigating and resolving financial discrepancies and ensuring compliance with internal controls.
Plans and manages year-end financial reporting processes and budget analysis.
Represents PIMS Finance to the Finance Committee and all PIMS Board members, answering to them for financial performance, decisions, and reports. Prepares the comprehensive PIMS Financial Package for the Board meetings, which includes PIMS financial statements, budget reconciliation, and variance analysis, playing a crucial role in major financial decisions within PIMS. Performs financial ratio analysis to evaluate and maintain PIMS’ financial health.
Performs general accounting functions and other duties as required, ensuring alignment with PIMS objectives and operational goals.
Consequence of Error/Judgement
The Finance Officer is responsible for monitoring the financial health of the Institute. Errors in judgement or decisions would have an adverse effect on the success of the organization, which may alienate key stakeholders and have a detrimental effect on future funding opportunities. Errors in judgement would have a significant impact on the reputation and integrity of PIMS, UBC and the PIMS member universities.
Supervision Received
The Finance Officer reports to the Manager of Operations and exercises extensive discretionary judgement. Work is done independently under general direction from the Manager of Operations and the PIMS Director. Work is reviewed for sound practice, achievement of specific objectives and adherence to UBC policies and procedures.
Supervision Given
This position will train and supervise part-time Financial Processing Specialist. Advises other staff on finance related issues.
Minimum Qualifications
Undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline. Enrolled in the CPA Professional Education Program (PEP) modules. Minimum of three years of related experience, or the equivalent combination of education and experience.
- 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
Experience with financial systems including Quickbooks, Workday, Adaptive Planning and Touchnet.
Experience and knowledge in budgeting, financial reporting, procurement, and internal controls.
Demonstrated leadership experience is an asset.
Experience in financial management reporting; including strategic and multi-year planning, forecasting, budgeting, and report/grant proposal preparation.
Familiarity with university regulations and policies.
Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to interact tactfully with faculty, researchers, students and staff.
Good problem-solving, conceptual, planning and implementation skills.
Good experience with change management and commitment to delivering results in a collaborative and collegial environment.
Good judgement and decision-making skills. Good communication skills.
Computer literacy including spreadsheet, database, and word processing software.
Ability to exercise independent judgement in the solution of financial problems and the administration of a financial management program.
Must be able to work well under pressure to meet deadlines and be able to prioritize a varying number of tasks.
Ability to conduct needs analyses, plan, organize, manage, monitor, complete, and evaluate projects within allocated time and resources.
Ability to work independently. Ability to manage complex financial arrangements and to maintain accuracy and attention to detail.