Finance Director - Research Financial Services
Guelph, ON, CA, N1G 2W1
Department: Research Financial Services
This position is represented by the agreement between the Professional Staff Association and the University of Guelph
If you are a current employee of the University of Guelph you must apply on the internal Career Page in order to be considered as an internal applicant.
Career Opportunities (sapsf.com)
General Purpose
The role of Financial Director - Research Financial Services provides strategic financial leadership to the University by shaping and executing multi-year financial plans, ensuring that financial strategies align with institutional priorities, legislative requirements, and long-term sustainability. This position holds the responsibility of fostering strong relationships with senior leaders, communicating financial information to a variety of audiences and fostering a collaborative environment that encourages growth and development from their teams.
This role requires a strategic leader to oversee research funding administration, financial reporting, compliance, and research finance operations across much of the institution.
Duties and Responsibilities
- Lead the administration and financial oversight of research funding, ensuring compliance with sponsor requirements, university policies, and applicable legislation.
- Direct the preparation and submission of high-volume sponsor financial reports and grant account setup/amendments, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and regulatory compliance.
- Serve as the institution’s subject matter expert for research finance, advising researchers, administrators, and senior leadership on funding management, reporting obligations, and compliance requirements.
- Develop, implement, and continuously improve research financial controls, processes, and systems to support diverse sponsor requirements and evolving accountability standards.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with funding agencies, sponsors, and auditors, serving as the primary contact for financial audits and compliance matters.
- Collaborate across the university to balance sponsor expectations, operational efficiency, resource constraints, and effective stewardship of research funding.
- Lead the development and delivery of training programs for faculty, administrators, and university stakeholders on research finance policies, procedures, and sponsor compliance requirements.
- Provide strategic leadership to the Research Financial Services team, fostering a culture of excellence, continuous improvement, customer service, and professional development.
- Drive innovation and best practices in research financial management to support the university’s research mission and long-term funding success.
Requirements
- Undergraduate degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field; Master's degree preferred.
- Professional accounting designation (CPA) required.
- Extensive leadership and people management experience, including leading professional finance teams in a complex organization.
- Demonstrated expertise in financial management, accounting, compliance, internal controls, budgeting, and reporting.
- Strong understanding of research funding administration, sponsor compliance requirements, and the post-secondary research environment.
- Advanced analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to develop innovative solutions to complex financial and operational challenges.
- Strong project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
- Excellent communication, relationship-building, and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to work effectively across all levels of an organization and with external partners.
- Advanced proficiency with enterprise financial systems, reporting tools, and Microsoft Office applications, particularly Excel.
- Demonstrated ability to foster a culture of collaboration, continuous improvement, customer service excellence, and accountability.
- High degree of professionalism, adaptability, resilience, and attention to detail.
Employee Type: Regular
Position Number: 10595001
Classification: P&M FT- Band 12
Professional/Managerial Salary Bands
The target hiring salary for this position is minimum and up to 96% of midpoint for the salary grade.
*Tentative evaluation; subject to committee review.
At the University of Guelph, fostering a culture of inclusion is an institutional imperative. The University invites and encourages applications from all qualified individuals, including from groups that are traditionally underrepresented in employment, who may contribute to further diversification of our Institution.
Posting Date: 08/10/2026
Closing Date: 08/24/2026