Senior Director, Budget and FP&A Transformation

Job Summary
The Senior Director of Budget and Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A) Transformation is a critical, time-limited role dedicated to transforming the FP&A functions at the University of British Columbia (UBC). This role is designed to address and rectify existing inefficiencies, modernize processes, and establish a robust framework for budget and future financial planning and analysis. The incumbent will provide strategic leadership and drive initiatives focused on budget reimagination, enhanced reporting reviews, and advanced forecasting methodologies. This position works directly with and provides guidance to department heads, stakeholders, and other key units within the university, reporting directly to the Comptroller.

Organizational Status

Reports directly to the Comptroller.

Provides strategic leadership of assigned areas within FP&A, as well as vision and direction to Faculty and Admin leaders and financial professionals as it relates to the budget and FP&A activities.

Work Performed

Transformative Leadership in FP&A:

• Under the direction of the Comptroller, lead the transformation of FP&A functions across UBC.

• Oversees the development and executes innovative financial plans aligned with the university's long-term strategic objectives.

• Leads a comprehensive review of the current funding model, examining budget models and identifying areas for improvement.

• Develops and implements innovative budget and funding strategies that align with UBC’s goals.

• Develops and manages a unified budget calendar, streamlining timelines and deadline for entire consolidated FP&A process. Communicates and enforces the unified timeline across all departments and stakeholders.

• Ensure transparent communication of consolidated budget decision and allocations to all stakeholders. Provide clear and comprehensive explanations for consolidated financial performance and variances.

Financial Efficacy and Standardization

• Works with internal and external stakeholders to standardize and enhance current budget guidelines for all departments across the University. Conduct training sessions to ensure consistent understanding and adherence to the new budgeting principles.

• Fosters advanced finance and accounting practices through collaboration and knowledge-sharing through a centralized budgeting process

• Creates a finance and accounting community of practice which will facilitate regular collaborative meetings with budget officers, department heads, and stakeholders to advance finance and accounting practices.

• Develops and implements a transparent and integrated resource allocation model that aligns with strategic priorities and partners across the finance functions to ensure controls safeguard UBC’s financial assets. Establishes criteria for resource allocation, ensuring equity and efficiency across the university.

• Identify discrepancies, develops efficiencies and works with department heads to ensure implementation of corrective actions based on consolidated variance analysis findings.

• Responsible for supporting the Comptroller in Board of Governors presentations and requests.

• Ensures transparent communication of consolidated budget decision and allocations to all stakeholders. Provide clear and comprehensive explanations for consolidated financial performance and variances.

Continuous Improvement

• Works with senior financial leadership teams across the university and conducts regular reviews to identify areas of improvement. Provides appropriate analysis, recommendation and implements as required.

• Leads efforts to identify, assess, and manage financial risks associated with the budget and FP&A processes.

• Develops and implements risk mitigation strategies and regularly updates risk assessments.

• Oversees the development of advanced forecasting models for the entire University, engages with key stakeholders as required.

• Cultivates a culture within the FP&A function of continuous improvement and technological advancement to enhance FP&A tools and data analytics.

Unified Performance Metrics:

• Defines and monitors unified key performance indicators (KPIs) aligned with UBC's consolidated financial and strategic objectives. Regularly report on consolidated financial performance metrics to executive leadership.

Comprehensive Scenario Analysis:

• Lead scenario analysis efforts to evaluate various financial contingencies and risks.

• Works closely with the Treasury, Strategic Initiatives and Analysis department to lead efforts to identify, assess and manage financial risks associated with budget and FP&A processes.

• Develops and implements robust risk mitigation strategies and provides regular updates on risk assessments.

Renew and Align Capital Planning:

• Renew and align capital planning with UBC’s strategic vision, sustainability goals, and campus development priorities.

• Work with the Treasury area and relevant departments to ensure capital planning supports UBC's long-term objectives.

Consequence of Error/Judgement
This position has responsibility for the completion and accuracy of the University’s budget and financial planning and reporting. The level of complexity is increased by the number of different departments within the portfolio. Errors in judgment, decision-making, and financial plans will have serious impacts on the financial viability of the operating units as well as have significant impacts on the operating budget of the University, thereby affecting the campus community. Errors could result in financial losses and damage the reputation of the University, thereby affecting the campus community. Errors could result in financial losses and damage the reputation of the University. A high degree of judgment, technical expertise and strategic thinking is required.

Supervision Received
Works with a high degree of independence under the direction of the Comptroller.

Supervision Given

Works with a team of financial professionals within the FP&A team as well as finance professionals in Faculties and Administrative units.

Minimum Qualifications
- 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

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or related field (Master's degree preferred).

• Completion of the CPA accounting program (CA, CGA or CMA).

• Minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in financial planning, analysis, and budgeting, preferably within higher education or large organizations.

• Strong leadership skills with a proven track record in leading transformation projects and managing cross-functional teams.

• Proficiency in financial modeling, forecasting techniques, and data analytics.

• Excellent communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills.

• Demonstrated ability to drive change and work effectively in a complex, matrixed environment.

• Experience with ERP systems (e.g., Oracle, SAP) and advanced FP&A software preferred.

• Commitment to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in all aspects of budget and financial planning and analysis.

• 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.

• Finance and operation experience in an academic setting preferred. Familiarity with university research, teaching and learning environments and UBC policies and procedures preferred.

• Proficiency in creating financial models to predict future financial performance

• Experience in managing a number of financial professionals. Some tax knowledge as well as policy analysis, ability to write management reports and assessing the adequacy of internal controls, and ability to engage with senior levels management in an organization are musts.

• Results oriented with specific orientation to problem solving and analytical skills

• Ability to identify key issues and relationship relevant to achieving long term results

• Advanced ability to deal with ambiguity in a fast-paced environment while managing competing priorities

• Consistent track record of building processes and procedures that can be scaled

• Ability to communicate effectively both in writing and verbally and make effective Board level presentations.

• Additional qualifications include demonstrated experience in:

  • business process improvement

  • Financial management and business process improvement techniques

  • working with and writing financial policies

  • Writing management reports

  • Leading teams with an ability to implement strategic change and motivate staff

  • Strategic planning in a complex business environment

  • Thinking creatively, strategically and applying sound judgment

  • Working under pressure to meet deadlines. - working independently and as part of a team

  • Oral and written communication

  • Public speaking skills

  • Excellent interpersonal skills

  • Complex problem solving

Core Competencies:

• Progressive people leadership experience to support the team member lifecycle, including a solid structure to support growth and development in an evolving, complex environment

• Broad based business acumen such as understanding foundational operations that run in a large organization, including progressive experience in strategic planning and operations strategies

• Strong understanding of capital and project management concepts

• Demonstrated ability to disseminate complex data and engage in the broad story, including risk management competencies to ensure best option decision making

• Demonstrated ability to drive alignment with a diverse group of senior level stakeholder’s on value-add strategic and operational priorities

• Demonstrated ability to influence and implement change to ensure financial and business best practice

• Excellent communication and engagement skills to ensure the Finance function delivers against objectives and KPI’s

• Demonstrated ability to drive continuous improvement programs/projects to support operational excellence

• Inclusive and collaborative leadership style, continuously working to effectively engage diverse groups and team members in supporting UBC’s values and purpose

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