Finance Analyst, Capital Financial Reporting

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Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the Posting 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 Financial Analyst, Capital Financial Reporting (CFR) is responsible for analyzing financial transactions, developing capital reports and maintain the fixed asset module in the financial management system. The complexity of this position is driven by the numerous types of capital spend and funding activities across the university, thus an excellent understanding of financial reporting is critical.

An important component of this position is to support the financial reporting and audits of large- and small-scale capital projects with a current value of over $1 billion. The Financial Analyst is responsible for providing accurate information and representation of capital projects, including detailed analysis to ensure funding and expenditures align to the Board of Governors approved budgets and compliance with restrictions attached to the funding where required;

The position will also ensure the accuracy of financial statements and other key analytical information for the purpose of enhancing management reporting and decision making.

The Financial Analyst partners with their finance peers to help develop and implement new policies and continuously identify procedures to enable effective financial management, reporting and business processes throughout the portfolio.

ORGANIZATIONAL STATUS

The Financial Analyst reports to the Finance Manager, CFR and supports the other staff in the Capital Financial Management & Reporting department (CFMR). This position works in collaboration with many internal departments including the Associate Vice-President, Finance office, Infrastructure Development, Financial Operations, Treasury, the Provincial government and external auditors.

WORK PERFORMED

Business Partner support:

• Ensures the accurate reporting of capital projects across UBC.  Major responsibilities include approving classification of capital projects, analyzing of complex project costing and funding, contributing to the development of short and long-term capital plans, maintaining the fixed asset module, and providing business support to the various programs by applying technical expertise, process management and business acumen
• Engages stakeholders at all levels across the University to ensure adherence to capital polices and accurate reporting of capital projects within Board approved budget
• Promotes the understanding of financial reports and processes to develop awareness of the impact of decisions on financial results

Financial efficacy:

• Ensures the Finance Manager, CFR and senior management are supported in strategic and operational decision making with financial information and analyses that is relevant, timely and accurate.
• Interprets accounting procedures and reporting guidelines, and provides financial advice to the Finance Manager, CFR and other finance related colleagues.
• Reviews and analyzes the monthly, quarterly and annual capital related financial statements and management reports, including those which require senior management and Board approval. This includes thorough analytical reviews of actuals and projections and the identification of variances from budget; action items for the management team, red flags, growth areas, etc. to ensure future business decisions are sound.
• Monitors capital projects under construction ensuring that committed funding is received and classified correctly as well as tracking expenditures against Board approved budgets and funding releases.  Ensures that funding is appropriately recognized in the financial statements.
• Compiles the internal and external capital related reporting, and prepares working papers for external auditors. This includes interactions with government funding agencies, the auditors, among others.
• Applies current expertise on regulatory requirements of GAAP and UBC Policy to effectively advise and guide units.

Continuous Improvement/Operational Excellence:

• Supports business or system process reengineering for current and new system projects and strategic initiatives as required.
• Facilitates implementation of process improvements and better tools to improve capital financial reporting within the Associate Vice-President, Finance function and with critical stakeholders across UBC that require financial reporting data.
• Works with the CFMR and Financial Reporting teams to improve existing processes to increase efficiency within the period end close.
• Develops financial reports, financial models, summaries of results, variance analysis and other operational strategic performance measures.
• Creates and maintains reports to support third party financial audits, particularly for Provincial and Federal funded capital projects.
• In collaboration with the Finance Manager, CFR, continually reviews the Departmental internal controls and ensures there are adequate internal control policies such that, as far as practical, the unit's business is conducted in an orderly and efficient manner.

CONSEQUENCE OF ERROR

The Financial Analyst exercises considerable judgment in advising management on analyses, reconciliations, reporting matters related to the application of UBC capital and financial accounting policies. The complex nature of UBC’s capital accounting practices increase the difficulties of this role. Errors in judgment could cause inefficiencies, delays and inaccuracies in the preparation of UBC’s statutory and project reporting. As a significant amount of financial information is shared with the Province and the public, errors may cause a lack of confidence in our published financial reports. A high degree of judgment, technical expertise and strategic thinking is required.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED

The Financial Analyst works independently and in a collaborative environment under broad directives from the Finance Manager, CFR.

SUPERVISION GIVEN

This position currently has no direct reports.

Minimum Qualifications
Undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline. Completion of the CPA accounting program (CA, CGA or CMA). Minimum of five 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 working within Public Sector Accounting Standards particularly in relation to capital projects is an asset.
• Business acumen, understanding the strategic story and demonstrated ability to implement operational actions in a complex environment.
• Experience in capital projects financial reporting and analysis, accounting, auditing, budgeting or financial planning responsibilities, preferably in a unionized environment in a large private organization or the public sector.
• Very strong communication and engagement skills with a demonstrated ability to partner in a collaborative and inclusive way to support the Finance best practice story to diverse groups.
• Demonstrated ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines.
• Public practice audit experience is an asset.