Controller

**Position Details**:

- Position Information**Position Title**
- Controller

**Department/Unit**
- Financial Services

**Location**
- Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

**Posting Number**
- S218-23

**Employee Group**
- DPMG

**Position Type**
- Regular, On-Going

**Duration of Contract (if applicable)**

**Employment Type**
- Full Time

**Full-time Equivalency (FTE)**
- 1.0

**Salary**
- Competitive and commensurate with experience

**Classification**
- ADM-09

**Provisional Statement**
- This is a provisional classification. Formal regular review classification procedures may be initiated at any time by the incumbent or supervisor after the incumbent has worked a minimum of six months in the role.

**About Dalhousie University**
- Dalhousie University is Atlantic Canada’s leading research-intensive university and a driver of the region’s intellectual, social and economic development. Located in the heart of Halifax, Nova Scotia, with an Agricultural Campus in Truro/Bible Hill, Dalhousie is a truly national and international university, with more than half of our almost 21,000 students coming from outside of the province. Our 6,000 faculty and staff foster a vibrant, purpose-driven community, that celebrated 200 years of academic excellence in 2018.

**Job Summary**
- Dalhousie Financial Services strives to provide the highest quality financial services and information and ensure the effective stewardship of University assets to the benefit of students and scholarly activities. Financial Services is a core service unit of the University, providing services in financial accounting, budgeting, procurement and risk management, cash management, and financial systems and policies.
Reporting to the CFO & Assistant Vice-President, Financial Services, the Controller manages and leads university accounting functions (student accounts, cash and general ledger accounting, capital accounting, research and special purpose fund accounting) and financial reporting. The Controller is a senior position within Financial Services, a trusted advisor, and a strong contributor within Financial Services and the overall university community.
Dalhousie’s strategic plan identifies the need to improve administrative efficiency. In support of the strategy, Financial Services is committed to streamlining processes, improving the user experience and leveraging technology to simplify and automate operations.

**Key Responsibilities**
- Identify opportunities to leverage technology to eliminate and automate manual and routine tasks. Support the development of digital skills and competencies.
- Manage and monitor the financial practices, policies and procedures in general accounting and financial reporting for the university, to maintain strong systems of internal control.
- Prepare financial information and reporting for internal and external clients, including managing the annual audit and preparation of the university’s annual financial statements. Oversee University tax matters.
- Oversee the accounting and reporting on research and special purpose fund accounts. Provide advice and guidance, and recommend changes in process/policy as identified. Ensure compliance with policy and grantor and legislative requirements.
- Provide leadership to a team of approximately 30 professional and clerical staff. Support the development of digital skills and competencies.

**Note**
The successful applicant will be eligible for hybrid work (a combination of in-person work on campus and remote work) as agreed by all parties based on operational requirements and university guidelines.

**Required Qualifications**
- Undergraduate Degree in a field such as Business and a Professional Accounting Designation (CPA) as well as significant experience as a seasoned professional with proven managerial and leadership skill at a senior level across a variety of accounting functions.
- Demonstrated ability to work effectively as part of the Financial Services senior management team in a busy, deadline-driven team environment.
- Proven ability to work effectively to build trust and confidence within Financial Services, with senior administration, colleagues and clients throughout the University.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Excellent communication (verbal and written) and interpersonal skills.

**Assets**
- Experience in a decentralized enterprise-wide accounting environment.
- Experience in a university or post-secondary environment.
- Experience with process improvement and autonomous financial solutions.

**Job Competencies**
Integrity
- Thinking and Acting Strategically
- Relationship Building
- Accountability for Performance & Results
- Change & Innovation

**Additional Information**
- Dalhousie University supports a healthy and balanced lifestyle. Our total compensation package includes a defined benefit pension plan, health and dental plans, a health spending account, an employee and family assistance program and a tuition assistanc