Manager, Financial Operations

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**Job Requisition ID**:
2025-00714

**Time Type**:
Full time

**Employee Group**:
Staff

**Job Category**:
Financial Planning and Reporting

**Employment Type**:
Permanent

**Department**:
Faculty of Science - School of Optometry and Vision Science - Administration

**Hiring Range**:
$85,399.86 - $106,749.82

**Posting Information**:
Internal posting deadline is Thursday October 30th at 11:59PM

**Primary Purpose**

The Finance and Operations Manager (FOM) is responsible for the effective financial management and strategic financial planning of the School of Optometry & Vision Science, which includes the school, two research centers, and a public facing clinic. In conjunction with the leadership team, the FOM sets financial responsibilities, targets, and operational priorities to align with desired fiscal outcomes. The incumbent is accountable for the financial viability of the units, the integrity of the financial information and ensuring that financial data is processed and recorded in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and university policies and procedures. The Finance and Operations Manager is an integral member of the Office of the Director.

**Key Accountabilities**

**Leadership**
- Responsible for the financial integrity and results across all sections of the organization. The School of Optometry & Vision Science has the school itself, a public facing teaching clinic and two research centers: the Center for Ocular Education and Research (CORE) and the Center for Sight Enhancement (CSE).
- Contributes to goal-setting and strategic planning for the school and implements the plans and goals within his / her area
- Provides the effective communication of direction and initiatives to direct and functional reports, and across cross-functional teams. Communicates results and holds units accountable for same.
- Responsible for staff and faculty financial training/education within the school to support their work.

**Financial Strategy & Long-Term Planning**
- Develops the financial framework, processes, and best practices to enable the school to meet its strategic goals.
- Builds and refines models for multi-year budgets, analyzes and tests the financial viability of new initiatives, and supports long term decision making.
- Prepares the annual budget submission to the Dean of Science.
- In conjunction with the senior leadership team, develops and communicates annual revenue targets, expense budgets and projections and reporting to ensure alignment with strategic plans.
- Provides senior leadership with analysis appropriate for decision making regarding resource allocation, budget, and financial planning.

**Business Management**
- Provides overall financial direction to Waterloo Eye Institute(WEI), all research units, and the broader school, developing and overseeing business plans, supporting operations and ensuring financial long-term viability.
- Oversees and analyzes the financial details of business operations to identify development opportunities and areas where improvement is needed.
- Presents financial statements for all units within a complex portfolio of operations that include the Waterloo Eye Institute clinic, a contract research division, a didactic teaching program, and a clinical research program.
- Ensures the integrity of accounting procedures for the management of the units including cash handling, reconciliations, cash floats, Accounts Receivable, Accounts Payable, inventory, charge outs and audits of the same.
- Project management of financial initiatives from conception to project completion, review, and evaluation.
- Works with in-house IT and our EMR provider to ensure financial accuracy of dashboard information and reporting.
- Reviews proposals and provides feedback on new business opportunities and agreements.
- Synthesize conflicting data and objectives to present alternatives and determine the optimal solution to problems. Builds consensus to move projects forward and optimize results.

**Financial Management & Internal Control**
- Provides leadership and co-ordination of sales reports, inventory reports, internal financial statements, budgets, year-end reports and financial forecasts.
- Develops, implements, and improves strong internal financial controls for financial processes and transactions to minimize risks; ensures that the School adheres to the University’s financial policies and procedures. Conducts periodic internal audits to test financial controls.
- Leads the WEI internal controls working grou