Controller and Information Access & Privacy (IAP) Administrator (full-time, permanent, subject to a probationary period)
Established in 1789, the University of King’s College is Canada’s oldest chartered university and is associated with Dalhousie University. A small and extraordinarily lively academic community located in Halifax (Kjipuktuk), Nova Scotia, King’s is known nationally and internationally for its highly acclaimed interdisciplinary programs in the humanities, including its renowned Foundation Year Program, its professional programs in journalism and its fine arts programs in creative writing. King’s is a community where students, faculty, alumni, and staff work to bring greater understanding, creativity, and compassion to the world.
Reporting to the Bursar (i.e., Vice President, Finance and Administration), the Controller and IAP Administrator is responsible for overseeing the financial services functions of the Bursar’s Office including Student Accounts, Accounts Payable and General Accounting (three direct reports who all work a hybrid arrangement). Other primary responsibilities include coordinating/overseeing the year-end financial statement audit; preparing the university’s year-end financial statements, notes and accompanying Management Discussion and Analysis (MD&A); assisting the Bursar in the preparation of the university’s annual budget, quarterly financial forecasts and variance analysis; performing ad hoc financial analyses as required; and coordinating the completion of requests filed with the university under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy (FOIPOP) legislation.
Specific Duties/Accountabilities
The Controller and IAP Administrator is responsible for the following:
- Accounting and reporting (60%):
- Assists the Bursar in the preparation and coordination of the university’s annual budget.
- Assists the Bursar in the preparation of quarterly financial forecasts and variance analysis and presents the results to the Finance, Audit & Risk Committee on a quarterly basis.
- Prepares, disseminates and communicates quarterly financial reports to department heads, program directors and administrative support staff.
- Prepares the university’s year-end financial statements, notes and accompanying Management Discussion and Analysis (MD&A) with oversight from the Bursar and presents the results to the Finance, Audit & Risk Committee on a quarterly basis.
- Coordinates and oversees the annual external financial statement audit acting as key audit contact.
- Performs year-end accounting (accruals, deferrals, prepaids, capital assets, grant accounting, research accounting, deferred revenue, deferred capital contributions, reclassification entries, various journal entries).
- Prepares and submits annual external financial reports including but not limited to:
- Registered Charity Information Return (T3010) with CRA
- CAUBO FIUC report (Canadian Association of University Business Officers Financial Information of Universities and Colleges report)
- Standardized financial reporting (SFR) template for Department of Advanced Education
- Statistics Canada surveys as required
- Special projects, ad hoc reporting, and financial analysis as required.
- Other accounting as required.
- Main contact for SSHRC (Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council) grant accounting and responds to queries from grant holders.
- Assists the Bursar with the public procurement process for external service contracts as required.
- Oversight of Bursar’s Office functions (25%):
- Direct supervisor of Bursar’s Office staff including Student Accounts, Accounts Payable and General Accounting (three direct reports who all work a hybrid arrangement).
- Provides assistance and guidance to Bursar’s Office staff as needed.
- Coordinates in-office Bursar’s Office staff schedule to ensure adequate coverage.
- Performance management of Bursar’s Office staff.
- Reviews and approves bi-weekly EFT uploads. Signing authority for the university.
- Reviews and approves monthly account reconciliations including bank reconciliations, accounts receivable accounts and Visa clearing account.
- Reviews general ledger postings and departmental reports.
- Reviews HST filings.
- Assists/oversees Bursar’s Office staff with monthly and year-end accounting procedures as required.
- Other (10%):
- Insurance – assists the Bursar with annual insurance policy renewals and provides insurance certificates as required.
- Assists the Bursar in drafting and updating new and existing financial and administrative policies.
- Evaluates, analyzes and recommends improvements and/or efficiencies to accounting policies and procedures, internal controls and financial reporting systems.
- Maintains knowledge of, and reports on, trends that are critical to the university’s financial performance.
- Communicates with, and provides financial support to, internal stakeholders such as the senior administrative team, department heads and program directors, faculty, staff, students, committee members, Board of Governors, etc.
- Communicates with, and provides financial information as required to, external stakeholders such as the provincial government, Canada Revenue Agency, financial institution(s), other universities, CAUBO, Interuniversity Services Inc. (ISI), etc.
- IAP Administrator duties include:
- Key university contact for all requests filed under FOIPOP legislation.
- Coordinates the completion of FOIPOP information requests in a timely fashion.
- Ensures the university is PIIDPA compliant.
- Completes annual reporting of FOIPOP and PIIDPA statistics to Province of Nova Scotia and annual reporting to the Board of Governors.
- Committee work (5%):
- Guest on financial committees – Finance, Audit & Risk Committee and Investment Committee of the Board of Governors.
- Vice Chair of the Budget Advisory Committee.
- Financial representative on ad hoc committees as required.
The above accountabilities are not intended to be an all-inclusive list of the duties and responsibilities of the position described.
Core skills required of the successful candidate:
- An undergraduate degree in business administration or commerce accompanied by a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) designation
- Eight years of progressive experience, with at least three-to-five years in a leadership role
- Exceptional attention to detail, time management, organizational and analytical skills
- Ability to multi-task and work in a deadline driven, team-based hybrid work environment
- Advanced Microsoft Excel knowledge/skills
- Excellent communication skills (both written and oral)
- Experience overseeing/coordinating an external financial statement audit is a definite asset
- The following knowledge/experience are considered assets:
- Procurement knowledge or experience
- Experience in a university setting
- Experience with fund accounting (not-for-profit organizations)
- Experience with Sage Accpac
This is a full-time, permanent, hybrid position. The successful candidate will be expected to work part of the week at home and part of the week in the office. The on-campus office will be shared with one other individual who also works a hybrid schedule.
Closing Date: August 1, 2024
Salary will be commensurate with level of education and experience. The salary range for this position is: $97,758 to $132,895. A comprehensive group benefits package is offered including membership in the Nova Scotia Public Service Superannuation Plan (PSSP).
To apply for this position, please forward resume and covering letter to:
Pethrona Russell
Human Resources Manager
University of King’s College
6350 Coburg Road
Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 2A1
pethrona.russell@ukings.ca
We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.
The University of King’s College is committed to diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion. We encourage and welcome applications from Indigenous persons (especially Mi’kmaq), persons with a disability, racialized persons, including persons of Black/African descent (especially African Nova Scotians), women, persons of a minority sexual orientation and/or gender identity, and all candidates who would contribute to the diversification of our community.