VPFA Position Description & Candidate Profile
Please note: this position description and candidate profile is in its draft form and may change based on feedback from our community consultation.
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
- Senior Director, Enterprise Risk and Resilience
Responsibilities
- Provides innovative and strategic leadership in pursuit of the university’s excellence, sustainability and 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 student- and community-oriented administrative services in an efficient and results-driven manner.
- 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 investment and responsible investment policy, including UNPRI and ESG principles.
- Establishes and monitors goals, objectives and plans with the AVP Facilities and Campus planning 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 including cybersecurity.
- 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:
- Expertise: 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 strengths.
- Innovation and Strategy: Has demonstrated a propensity to bring forward new approaches and can create a culture of evidence-based decision making and accountability within the context of big-picture, system and strategic thinking. Demonstrated ability to provide services, information and value in the context of multiple competing internal and external requirements, values and priorities.
- 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.
- Leadership: Possesses a track record of providing outstanding leadership and mentorship to a diverse team of professionals who are members of different unions and employee associations. Has the ability to lead self, engage others, achieve results, develop coalitions and lead systems transformation as part of their own leadership competencies. Leads others in a facilitative and consultative way, creating space for team members to bring forward new ideas and innovations to support SFU’s academic mission.
- Financial and Administrative Expertise: Experience leading a portfolio with operational and administrative functions including finance, as well as areas in SFU’s VPFA portfolio such as information technology, facilities, safety and audit, risk management, and ancillary revenue generating services. In particular, has in-depth understanding of the broad range of financial policies, strategies and processes required by a large organization such as SFU, as well as an understanding of what operational excellence looks like in a complex organization. Has the ability to support teams to identify and resolve inefficient processes, and to provide professional and executive leadership for a complicated portflio focusing on best practices in financial management, investment and endowment strategies.
- Relationship and Service Orientation: Able to build effective, collaborative, trust-based relationships throughout the institution and externally, ensuring the finance and administration portfolios are working in service to SFU’s academic mission. An effective communicator who can convey complex information in manner that enables understanding amongst non-financial colleagues and supports them in making decisions. Sensitive to the unique context in which the University functions, and can work effectively in a collegial environment, respecting different perspectives, opinions and lived experiences.
- Commitment to the Vision and Values of the University: Is enthused and motivated by the opportunity to serve in a leadershiprole for a leading university, with a commitment, in particular, to the vision and values of SFU which centres around serving the academic and teaching mission.
- Reconciliation, Diversity, and Inclusion: Brings an understanding of the Indigenous-specific racism and the broader systemic racism and oppression that exists in colonial structures, and has demonstrated a sustained commitment to and record of engagement in equity, diversity, and accessibility initiatives. Has demonstrated leadership in breaking down barriers and ensuring an environment of equity, belonging, and safety. Ideally brings awareness and understanding of the United Nations Principles on Responsible Investment, to which SFU is a signatory.
- Education and Experience: A graduate degree in business administration or similar field, or equivalent combination of education and senior financial experience. Experience working in a post-secondary environment is an asset.