Reporting to the Executive Director, Finance and Administration for the Faculty of Law, the Director of Finance is responsible for providing strategic advice on the activities and direction of the Faculty of Law with the goal of aligning our strategic mission with long-term financial success. The Director is responsible for the management of the financial functions of the Faculty within Queen’s University. The Director serves as a member of the senior administrative team, developing short and long-term financial plans, budgets, and administrative policies for the portfolio, advising on financial and business issues. Committed to equity, diversity and inclusion, the Director liaises with the Central Budget Office and Financial Services at Queen’s University, ensuring University general finance, research, and payroll policies are communicated and implemented across the Faculty.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
• Provides advice to the senior management team as it relates to strategic and long-term planning, development of new programs and initiatives, and financial/administrative processes and policies. This includes detailed planning and feasibility analysis of launching new programs, domestic and international, and making recommendations that include multi-year projections for program planning and development and ongoing program management to ensure appropriate pricing relative to costs, tax planning and maintaining highest standards of customer service and program delivery.
• Develops, manages, and analyzes financial, statistical, budgetary and staffing information needed for short and long-term planning and the efficient operation of the portfolio, facilitates the use of information to drive academic and business decisions as well as policy formation.
• Supports the Executive Director, Finance and Administration in the development of the Faculty’s annual budget and staffing strategy. Ensures appropriate data is collected from both internal and external sources, organized, summarized, and presented for review and decision-making.
• Develops and monitors financial and budgetary information for the Faculty’s academic programs and units, supports the Executive Director Administration and Finance in advising the Faculty’s Academic and Unit directors on the feasibility of budget and staffing strategies.
• Manages financial staff who administer and monitor accounts to ensure accuracy and validity. Supports University financial and accounting policies, establishes and maintains internal control systems and recommends changes as appropriate.
• Responsible for procurement activities within the Faculty. Develops policy and procedure to confirm to university and governmental regulations. Monitors and audits purchases and advises on proper course of action and manages the processing of all claims.
• Manages the revenue and receivable function for all existing and new Law programs including dealing with complex year-end accounting issues as required. Oversight and responsibility for full student account management for any new professional programs including ensuring seamless integration of complex program structures with university systems such as
PeopleSoft Student, setting fees, collecting fees, management of student accounts, issuance of scholarship, and other financial information is accurately reflected in student accounts.
• Plans, prioritizes, and manages the work of employees, providing strategic and tactical advice, guidance, and coaching. Identifies the need for staff resources, participates on staffing committees, and makes effective recommendations regarding employee selection.
• Manages performance by establishing performance standards, reviewing, and evaluating performance and conducting formal performance reviews on an ongoing basis.
• Assesses staff training and development needs, and ensures that employees receive training required to improve and sustain successful performance.
• Investigates, addresses, and resolves employee/labour relations issues, including disciplinary
matters. Makes decisions or effective recommendations on matters involving possible discipline, discharge, and probationary termination.
• Oversees the Faculty’s stewardship responsibility for its Trust and Endowment funds by obtaining, reviewing, and following up on spending plans and budgets created by fund managers. With the Executive Director, Finance and Administration prepares annual financial reports for funders.
• Coordinates archiving and destruction of financial documents for portfolio.
• Represents the portfolio by participating in discussions on various University-wide issues and policy formulation. Responds to inquiries and provides advice to senior administration.
• Acts as backup for physical space related matters within the Faculty of Law, including building maintenance and renovations, office moves, insurance claims.
• Performs other duties as assigned by the Executive Director, Finance and Administration and Senior Management.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
• Undergraduate degree in business or related field.
• Professional Accounting designation (CPA, CA, CGA, CMA) with several years related experience.
• Several years of related experience in a business or university environment at a senior level managing financial and human resources.
• Familiarity with university policies, procedures, and administrative systems.
• Strong knowledge and experience with student registration and fee payment processes
• Experience administering procurement rules.
• CHRP designation would be an asset.
• Satisfactory Criminal Record Check required.
• Consideration may be given to an equivalent combination of education and experience.