Associate Director, Finance

This is an exciting opportunity to shape the future of one of McMaster's most dynamic and entrepreneurial portfolios. As the

Associate Director, Finance, Ancillary Operations , you will provide strategic financial leadership across five diverse and revenue-generating businesses, including

Housing & Conference Services, Hospitality Services, The Campus Store, Media Production Services, and Parking Services , overseeing a portfolio of approximately

$112 million in annual operations . In this newly created role, you will play a pivotal part in designing and leading a shared‑services finance model, driving operational excellence, strengthening financial sustainability, and influencing key business decisions that enhance the experience of students, employees, and campus visitors. Working closely with senior leaders across the University, you will have a unique opportunity to build something new, modernize financial practices, and help position McMaster's ancillary enterprises for long‑term success and growth.

Job Description Job Summary: The Associate Director, Finance – Ancillary Operations provides strategic and operational leadership for the full range of financial activities across the Ancillary Operations portfolio, including Housing and Conference Services Hospitality Services, Campus Store, Parking Services, Media Production Services, and other assigned operations. The role is accountable for integrating financial planning and analysis, accounting and financial operations, financial reporting, controls, revenue and pricing analysis, and business performance management to support the financial sustainability and effective operation of the portfolio.

The Associate Director provides strategic financial advice to support business planning, investment, resource allocation, revenue generation, pricing, and operational decision‑making. The role provides oversight of portfolio financial activities and establishes effective financial management practices, controls, and evaluate and improve processes across diverse operations.

Through a functional reporting relationship to the Controller, the Associate Director ensures Ancillary Operations financial activities are aligned with institutional accounting requirements, financial policies, controls, systems, and reporting standards, while representing the financial and business requirements of Ancillary Operations within the broader University finance function.

Accountabilities: 1. Financial & Business Leadership Provide financial leadership across the Ancillary Operations portfolio, integrating financial priorities and activities across diverse revenue‑generating operations.

Lead the development and execution of annual budgets, forecasts, multi‑year financial plans, and longer‑term financial strategies aligned with portfolio and institutional objectives.

Serve as the senior financial advisor to the Executive Director and Ancillary leadership team on financial sustainability, resource allocation, investment, and financial performance.

Establish financial priorities and plans for the portfolio and provide direction on how financial objectives and targets will be achieved.

2. Financial Planning, Revenue & Business Performance Provide leadership and financial advice related to revenue generation, revenue diversification, pricing strategies, capital and deferred maintenance planning and strategies, cost‑recovery models, margins, and financial sustainability.

Partner with business leaders to evaluate and shape new services, business opportunities, service delivery models, building and space refresh planning, and revenue‑generating initiatives.

Establish approaches for assessing profitability, margins, return on investment, break‑even points, and other measures of financial and business performance.

Monitor market, demand, volume, revenue, cost, and other business drivers and assess their implications for portfolio financial performance in collaboration with campus business partners.

Identify significant financial risks and opportunities and lead the development of strategies to improve business and financial outcomes.

3. Accounting, Financial Operations & Reporting Provide oversight of accounting, financial reporting, and transactional financial activities across Ancillary Operations, ensuring accurate, timely, efficient, and appropriately controlled financial operations.

Ensure appropriate oversight of revenue and expenditure transactions, accounts receivable and payable activities, internal and external billings, reconciliations, journal entries, and other portfolio financial processes.

Ensure appropriate accounting treatment, internal controls, documentation, approvals, reconciliations, and financial controls are consistently applied across operations.

Oversee portfolio financial reporting, including fin