VPFA Position Description & Candidate Profile
The Vice-President, Finance and Administration (“VPFA”) is the University’s chief administrative officer. Reporting to the President and serving as a key member of the executive team, the VPFA employs a collegial, collaborative style of decision making over financial and non-academic administrative services in strong support of the academic mission of the University. The VPFA directs day-to-day aspects of university operations through direct reports and staff across diverse departments such as Finance, Facilities and Campus Planning, IT Services, Info Security, Safety and Risk Services, and Campus Services.
Duties and responsibilities
Direct Reports
- Associate VP Finance
- Associate VP Facilities and Campus Planning
- Chief Information Security Officer (CISO)
- Chief Information Officer (CIO)
- Executive Director, Campus Services
- Chief Safety and Risk Officer
- Executive Director, Office of the VPFA
Responsibilities
- Provides transformative leadership in pursuit of the university’s excellence, sustainability and strategic growth.
- Works closely with the President and Provost on long-term financial, capital, and operations planning, identifying risks, opportunities, and options to address the needs and objectives of the University.
- Responsible for the financial operations of the university and supports the Provost – the University’s Chief Budget Officer – to develop the university’s annual and multi-year budgets.
- Provides leadership on the delivery of nonacademic administrative services in support of the University’s vision, plans and needs, including its commitments to equity, diversity, Indigenous peoples and a supportive work environment, as well as to sustainability.
- Promotes efficient, results and customer- oriented, administrative services.
- Supports the Provost to develop and drive strategies in support of revenue generation for the University, through existing and new opportunities.
- Oversees risk management and ensures that mechanisms are in place to audit and mitigate risks to the university. This includes the development of the university’s Enterprise Risk Management strategy, the audit of risk strategies, and the development of strategies to mitigate risk and leverage opportunities.
- Serves as the executive lead providing support to the finance, investment and property and audit committees of the Board.
- Ensures:
- Responsible stewardship of University resources,
- Communication of financial information, plans, and options to facilitate informed decision making,
- Reliable accounting, financial systems and safeguards are in place to maintain and protect University assets and to provide integrity in financial reporting, and
- Portfolio investment is performed in accordance with university policy, including UNPRI and ethical investment principles.
- Establishes and monitors goals, objectives and plans with the AVP Facilities to guide the facilities services’ function, including campus planning & development, maintenance & operations, and real estate services.
- Oversees the work of the CIO and CISO, and champions innovative and strategic IT approaches that meet current and future needs of the university community.
- Establishes and monitors the goals, objectives and plans of the Chief Safety and Risk Officer in support of a safe and thriving university.
- Establishes and monitors the goals, objectives and plans of the Executive Director, Campus Services to enhance the quality of services and revenue potential of ancillary services.
- Fosters an open and collegial approach to build strong relationships both internal and external to the organization
- As a member of the executive team at SFU, is responsible for the collective goals of the University and shared responsibility in meeting those goals.
- Responsible for building a strong leadership culture within their portfolio and meeting all leadership capabilities requirements as determined by the leadership competency model.
Candidate Profile
The Search Committee recognizes that no candidate for VPFA is likely to meet all the following criteria in equal measure; nevertheless, the following management and administrative experience and approach, and personal qualities, are seen to be highly desirable:
- Experience: Senior financial and operational leadership experience in a highly complex organization of similar or larger scale to SFU. This experience could have been gained within the private, public or not for profit sectors, although post-secondary and public sector experience are definite assets.
- Transformative, Innovative and Strategic Leadership: Possesses a track record of providing outstanding leadership and mentorship to a diverse team of professionals and a broad range of stakeholders. Has created a culture of disciplined decision making and accountability within the context of big-picture, system and strategic thinking. Has demonstrated experience with and commitment to advancing equity and diversity in a workforce as well as sustainable operations. Demonstrated ability to provide services, information and value in a context of multiple competing internal and external requirements, values and priorities.
- Leadership: Ability to lead self, engage others, achieve results, develop coalitions and lead systems transformation as part of their own leadership competencies.
- Financial Expertise: Has in-depth understanding of the broad range of financial policy, strategies and processes required by a large organization such as SFU. Has the ability to provide professional and executive leadership for a complicated portfolio focusing on best practices in financial management, investment and endowment strategies. Awareness and understanding of the United Nations Principles on Responsible Investment, to which SFU is a signatory.
- Portfolio Expertise: Experience leading a portfolio with operational and administrative functions including finance, including areas such as information technology, facilities, safety and audit, and risk management and ancillary (revenue generating) services.
- Relationship Builder and Communicator: Able to build effective relationships throughout the institution and externally, particularly with the provincial government and post-secondary partners. A demonstrated record as a highly effective communicator. Able to communicate complex financial information in a manner that enables non-financial colleagues to understand the important highlights. Sensitive to the public, government, academic, student and stakeholder context in which the University functions.
- Customer Service Orientation: Demonstrated commitment to, and results in ensuring that the finance and administration portfolios are a true service function in support of the university’s mission. An enabler and solutions-oriented leader.
- Collaborative Approach: A facilitative and consultative leadership style; respect for others; the ability to inspire trust; the capacity to build and work with teams in a collegial environment; the ability to listen, especially to those whose experience or point of view is different.
- Change Management: Demonstrated experience and success leading significant change initiatives. Knowledgeable about best practices and how best to bring about meaningful and lasting change to processes and culture in an organization.
- Commitment to the Vision and Values of the University: Is enthused and motivated by the opportunity to serve in a leadership role for a leading university, with a commitment, in particular, to the vision and values of SFU.
- Education: A graduate degree in business administration or similar field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.