VP Finance & Operations

POSITION TITLE: Vice-President Finance & Operations 

SUPERVISOR: Council 

HOURS OF WORK: The VPFO is expected to work the number of hours needed to meet their responsibilities. 

HONORARIA:  Paid an honoraria, divided up into equal monthly installments, as per DSU Financial Policy section 14.2 

ABOUT 

The Dalhousie Student Union (DSU) is an incorporated non-profit with the objectives of: 

• acting as the official representative organization of Dalhousie students;  

• serving as the medium of communication between Dalhousie students and the governing bodies of the University; 

• encouraging Dalhousie students to have an awareness of their responsibilities in the local, provincial, national, and international community;  

• providing services and programming that enhance student life in a financially, socially, and environmentally responsible manner. 

With over 20,000 members, the DSU is here to make sure students get the most out of their experience at Dalhousie. The DSU advocates for student rights, builds community on campus through events, supports over 250 societies, and provides discount services!   

OVERVIEW 

Key employable skills practiced from being a student executive include: 

• Leadership: Holding an executive position allows you to practice motivating, guiding, and enabling others to achieve common goals. This involves delegating tasks, setting objectives, managing people, and adapting to challenging environments. 

• Communication & Interpersonal Skills: You will frequently interact with diverse individuals, including fellow students, faculty, and external partners/employers. This experience hones written, verbal, and non-verbal communication, negotiation, conflict management, and the ability to build effective working relationships. 

• Problem-Solving & Critical Thinking: Student executives often face unexpected challenges or conflicts that require quick thinking and effective solutions. This experience builds the ability to analyze complex problems, develop innovative solutions, make quick decisions, and learn from mistakes. 

• Planning & Organization (Project Management): You gain hands-on experience planning and coordinating events, managing resources (including time, people, and finances), and setting clear goals and deadlines. This involves prioritizing tasks and ensuring projects are completed on time. 

• Initiative & Self-Management: The role often requires you to work independently, take ownership of your responsibilities, and act without constant supervision. This demonstrates self-motivation, reliability, and a proactive approach to identifying and addressing needs. 

• Responsibility & Resilience: The trust placed in student leaders fosters a strong sense of responsibility and accountability for one's actions and the outcomes of projects. You also develop resilience by learning to cope with pressure, setbacks, and difficult situations, a trait highly valued by employers. 

• Emotional Intelligence: Managing your own emotions and understanding those of others is crucial when handling conflicts or customer complaints. This skill enables you to maintain a calm and objective approach in stressful situations.  

RESPONSIBILITIES 

• Act as a signing officer of the Union; 

• Prepare the annual budgetary estimates for the Union and submit those budgetary estimates to Council; 

• Receive and account for all monies belonging to the Union; 

• Arrange payment of all expenses incurred by the Union or its agents, in accordance with the rights and rules outlined in the Bylaws and Policy; 

• Ensure that budgeted allocations are reasonably adhered to; 

• Prepare financial reports on the year to date figures with regards to the budget, at the request of Council; 

• Supervises the operation of the offices of DSUSO, E&A, Student advocacy Services and Food Bank. 

• Perform required audits of every Levy Society as outlined in Society Policy; 

• Attend all meetings of the Council and the Executive Officers and any Committees of which they are a member; 

• Submit a written report at each meeting of Council; 

• Create a written report at the end of their term to the incoming Vice-President (Finance and Operations); 

• Train and advise the incoming Vice-President (Finance and Operations); 

• Perform other duties as outlined in the Bylaws and Policy or that Council may from time to time determine. 

QUALIFICATIONS  

• Pursuing a relevant post-secondary education and/or combination of training, education, and experience. 

• Experience with community engagement and relationship building. 

• Strong time management and prioritization skills.  

• Well organized, flexible, self-motivated, and able to work and make decisions independently and collaboratively. 

• Excellent oral and written communication skills. 

• Highly adaptable and solution oriented. 

• Experience working with diverse communities. 

• Experience creating and facilitating workshops an asset. 

• Must retain full time student status as a Dalhousie University student throughout the length of term. 

This opportunity runs from May 1 2026 - April 30,2027. 

Applications will be reviewed as they are submitted and interviews are to be scheduled in late January.