Comptroller - Level 11 (EMAPS)

Financial Services

Position number: 38095

Date posted: August 6, 2026

Job details

Comptroller - Level 11 (EMAPS)

Continuing Full-Time

Full-time:

Yes

Permanent:

Yes

Work schedule:

35 Hours/week (Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm)

Salary:

$56.79 to $102.22 per hour ($103,357.80 to $186,040.40 per annum)

Expected Start Date

October 5, 2026

Trial/Probation period:

1820 hours worked

For more information please contact: Lucile Griffiths, Associate Vice-President (Finance) - Lucile.Griffiths@umanitoba.ca

Qualifications

MINIMUM FORMAL EDUCATION/TRAINING:

A Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) designation, or equivalent legacy designation, in good standing is required.

Undergraduate degree in Commerce, Business Administration, Accounting, Finance, or a related discipline is required.

A graduate degree (MBA, Master of Accounting, Master of Finance, Public Administration, or related field) is considered an asset.

EXPERIENCE:

A minimum of ten (10) years of progressively responsible leadership experience in financial management, accounting, controllership, or finance within a large, complex organization is required; experience in the public or post-secondary sector is required.

Significant experience providing strategic leadership across multiple financial functions, including financial reporting, budgeting, financial operations, payroll, research accounting, capital accounting, financial systems, and internal controls is required.

Experience leading multidisciplinary teams through directors and managers within a large, decentralized organization is required.

Demonstrated experience preparing audited financial statements and complex financial reports in accordance with Public Sector Accounting Standards (PSAS/PSAB) and other applicable accounting standards is required.

Extensive experience in strategic financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, financial analysis, and organizational performance reporting is required.

Experience leading external audits and working collaboratively with external auditors, government agencies, funding bodies, and governing boards is required.

Demonstrated experience developing and implementing financial policies, governance frameworks, business processes, and internal controls is required.

Significant experience leading organizational change, business process improvement, and financial systems modernization initiatives is required.

Extensive experience leading, coaching, and developing multidisciplinary management teams within a complex organizational environment is required.

Experience presenting financial information and providing strategic advice to senior executives, governing boards, and external stakeholders is required.

An acceptable equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.

SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

Expert knowledge of Public Sector Accounting Standards (PSAS/PSAB), financial reporting frameworks, internal controls, and financial governance best practices is required.

Strong strategic financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, and financial analysis skills are required.

Exceptional leadership and people management skills with the ability to build, mentor, and lead high-performing teams are required.

Excellent analytical, critical thinking, and complex problem-solving abilities are required.

Strong organizational and project management skills with the ability to manage multiple competing priorities are required.

Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills, including the ability to communicate complex financial information to diverse audiences, are required.

Strong relationship-building, consultation, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills are required.

Demonstrated proficiency with enterprise financial systems (e.g., Banner, FAST, EPIC, Concur, UMplan or comparable ERP systems) and advanced Microsoft Office applications, particularly Excel, is required.

Ability to provide strategic leadership and operational oversight across multiple financial functions is required.

Ability to interpret and apply complex accounting standards, legislation, regulations, and University policies is required.

Ability to exercise sound professional judgment, discretion, and integrity in highly confidential and sensitive matters is required.

Ability to influence decision-making and build collaborative partnerships across academic and administrative units is required.

Ability to lead organizational change, drive continuous improvement, and foster innovation is required.

Ability to manage competing priorities while consistently meeting critical deadlines is required.

Ability to represent the University effectively with senior executives, the Board of Governors, government agencies, auditors, research sponsors, and external stakeholders is required.

Ability to act on behalf of the Associate Vice-President (Finance) when required.

Satisfactory work record, including satisfactory attendance and punctuality, is required.

OTHER JOB RELATED QUALIFICATIONS:

Preferred qualifications include experience in a Canadian post-secondary institution or other large public sector organization; knowledge of Manitoba post-secondary funding models, government reporting requirements, research funding administration, and enterprise financial operations; experience with ERP implementations, digital transformation, or financial systems modernization; demonstrated commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, and reconciliation; membership in professional accounting or financial management organizations; and certification or formal training in project management, organizational change management, Lean process improvement, or governance.

Key responsibilities

The Comptroller provides senior level administrative guidance, financial oversight, governance, and operational responsibilities, including:

1. Portfolio Leadership - Financial Services

Leads the development, coordination, implementation, and monitoring of the Financial Services Target Budget and other strategic and operational plans to ensure alignment with institutional priorities and departmental objectives.

Approves staffing decisions within Financial Services reporting units including hiring, promotion, discipline, and termination, in consultation with directors, managers, Human Resources, and senior leadership, while ensuring compliance with university policies and employment legislation.

Provides support and guidance to direct reports including directors, managers, and other management staff within the Financial Services reporting units by establishing unit priorities, workforce plans, staffing requirements, succession planning initiatives, professional development opportunities, and related people-management practices that support an engaged, high-performing team.

2. Institutional Financial Controls, Enterprise Systems, and Reporting

Provides institutional oversight for financial stewardship, including the development and maintenance of financial policies, governance frameworks, enterprise financial systems, business processes, and internal controls that support effective operations, compliance, reporting, and continuous improvement.

In collaboration with stakeholders, the Comptroller leads the modernization of enterprise financial systems, technologies, payment processes, workflow automation, reporting tools, and related business processes to support the University’s evolving operational, reporting, compliance, and digital transformation requirements.

Provides strategic financial analysis, forecasting assumptions, financial models, and projection methodologies to support institutional budget planning, long-term financial sustainability, and recommendations to Executive Leadership and the Board of Governors.

Accountable for the preparation, quality assurance, presentation, and timely completion of the University’s monthly, quarterly, annual, audited, and other significant financial statements and reports, including pension accounting, employee future benefit reporting, actuarial valuations, related disclosures, and external reporting requirements.

Supports strong relationships with the University's banking, cash management activities, payment controls, and electronic funds transfers to maintain effective treasury management and operational integrity.

Responsible for the University's tax compliance, and recovery processes, as well as maintaining effective relationships with the Canada Revenue Agency and external tax advisors while ensuring compliance with applicable tax legislation.

Serves as the University's primary financial liaison for internal and external audits and oversees the implementation, monitoring, and reporting of audit recommendations and corrective action plans.

Provides strategic financial oversight and accounting guidance for UM Properties, related entities, strategic partnerships, and other affiliated organizations, including complex financial transactions, non-cash transactions, organizational structuring, and consolidated financial reporting, ensuring compliance with applicable accounting standards and institutional policies.

Leads or participates in strategic initiatives, special projects, and cross-functional committees assigned by the Associate Vice-President (Finance) that support institutional priorities, organizational transformation, continuous improvement, business continuity planning, cyber incident preparedness, payroll continuity, recovery procedures, and other institutional projects.

Acts on behalf of the Associate Vice-President (Finance) when required and represents the University with senior leadership, the Board of Governors, government agencies, auditors, financial institutions, and external stakeholders.

Other duties as assigned.

Additional information

This position requires the ability to work collaboratively across academic, administrative, and external stakeholder groups while maintaining confidentiality, sound judgment, and a high standard of professional accountability.

The University of Manitoba is committed to the principles of equity, diversity & inclusion and to promoting opportunities in hiring, promotion and tenure (where applicable) for systemically marginalized groups who have been excluded from full participation at the University and the larger community including Indigenous Peoples, women, racialized persons, persons with disabilities and those who identify as 2SLGBTQIA+ (Two Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, questioning, intersex, asexual and other diverse sexual identities).

If you require accommodation supports during the recruitment process, please contact UM.Accommodation@umanitoba.ca or 204-474-7195. Please note this contact information is for accommodation reasons only.

Application materials, including letters of reference, will be handled in accordance with the protection of privacy provisions of "The Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act" (Manitoba). Please note that curriculum vitae will be provided to participating members of the search process.