Senior Financial Accountant

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Interested in growing your career at Fanshawe College?

Fanshawe College thrives because of its people. We foster a culture of excellence and see opportunities to turn potential into impact. Leading with empathy, belonging, unity, learning and courage, we guide the learning journey of our students, ensuring they are ready for work and life, today and tomorrow.

Working at Fanshawe College

Fanshawe College is committed to the principles of hybrid work and may offer this option to employees whose work can be performed in an alternate location, without adverse impact to the operations of the College, inclusive of our Student and Staff experience. Confirmation of hybrid work options available to you will be clarified upon hire and may be subject to change based on the duties required of your position. Successful candidates will be required to perform work within Ontario and must be available to work on campus, as required.

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Note: This is for 2 Regular Full-Time vacancies. These positions are deemed critical vacancies.

Work Mode: Hybrid - This position requires minimum 3 days onsite per week.

Why this Role is Important

At Fanshawe College, Financial Services is a trusted partner in building a strong and sustainable future. Through expert financial management, strategic guidance, and customer-focused support, our team helps maximize resources, drive operational efficiency, and empower the college community to achieve its goals. We are committed to delivering innovative, transparent, and reliable financial services that support student success and institutional excellence.

Reporting to the Senior Manager, Financial Services, the Senior Financial Accountant acts as a strategic custodian of the College’s financial integrity, providing critical, sensitive, and high-level support to the Senior Manager and the broader General Accounting and Audit functions. The Senior Financial Accountant is a trusted, high-impact partner bridging the gap between complex financial data and operational decision-making, delivering robust financial analysis, accurate reporting, and proactive advisory services to academic and administrative Business Units across the institution.

The Senior Financial Accountant is key to safeguarding confidential information relating to the College’s fiscal health, internal control framework, and regulatory standing. The incumbent orchestrates the monthly and annual general ledger close cycles, leads the preparation of comprehensive financial statements, and oversees complex capital asset and project accounting. Ensuring regulatory compliance, the Senior Financial Accountant manages intricate provincial and federal reporting, including Ministry funding reconciliations, multi-faceted tax filings (HST, Charity, and Corporate), and Statistic Canada reporting, while coordinating institutional insurance portfolios and external audit readiness.

The incumbent serves as a hands-on, functional Subject Matter Expert (SME) for Workday Financials. In this capacity, they design and deliver critical system training and guidance, fostering a culture of financial literacy, operational efficiency, and data-driven accountability across the College. The Senior Financial Accountant ensures that the College’s financial operations are resilient, compliant, and strategically aligned to support the institution's academic mission.

How You’ll Make an Impact

Operations, Grants & Funding Account

• Manage and account for day-to-day transaction processing, reconciliations, and activities related to government grants, investments, highly confidential institutional payroll, fixed assets, and capital projects within Workday
• Ensures accounting entries related to the government grants including program and research projects, are completed confidentially, accurately, timely and into defined categories
• Reconciling of grants and external funds received into appropriate Business units
• Reconciling of cash received on grants and external funds to bank balances
• Responsible for the maintenance and analysis of the general ledger; and, ensure that assets, liabilities, net assets, revenue and expenditures are properly and accurately recorded
• As required, assist with preparation of confidential budget and forecasts for grant funding and prepare additional reports as outlined by Senior Manager FP&A or Executive Director Finance
• Leads/reviews asset management and project accounting
• Provides strategic functional subject matter expertise training and support to staff and clients
• Assist system testing with upgrades, managing training documents and standard operating procedures

Financial Accounting and Audit

• Responsible for month-end and year-end financial close processes
• Prepares monthly journal entries and reconciliations of balance sheet accounts
• Produces a full set of confidential financial statements including the statement of financial position, statement of operations, statement of net assets, and cash flow statement
• Work with the Senior Manager in the planning and coordination of the year-end process with external auditors
• Prepares and analyzes working papers, schedules, variance explanations and year-end financial statements for external auditors
• Performs a detailed analysis of year over year variances and YTD actual vs. prior year YTD actual
• Identify financial discrepancies, perform root-cause analysis, and recommend strategic corrective actions to the Senior Manager, Executive Director, Finance, and Ministry representatives
• Delivers the draft audited financial statements as well as other year end monitoring reports to Audit Committee

CFIS and Major Capital Reports

• As mandated by the Ministry, the College prepares financial information and reports using the Ministry’s on-line system
• Reconciles management reports and audit reports to CFIS reports and outline major variances to the Ministry

CRA tax filings and on-line submissions

• Provide strategic confidential tax guidance for Corporate and Charity tax returns for the College and subsidiaries
• Prepare, review and file annual tax returns with the CRA
• Research and troubleshoot tax and technical questions while dealing with the CRA

Performs other related duties as assigned

What You’ll Bring

• 4 year post-secondary degree in Business Administration, Arts or related field
• Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) designation required (includes legacy designations such as CA, CMA, CGA)
• Minimum 7 years experience in the preparation of consolidated financial statements for a multi-faceted organization gained as a team player in a service-oriented office environment
• An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered
• Experience using computerized financial systems and software packages such as Excel spreadsheets, database management applications and word processing
• Experience with Workday or other similar ERP system would be an asset
• Experience in an educational or public sector environment an asset
• Advanced assessment and decision-making skills
• Proven ability to take initiative and work with minimal direction
• Ability to take a self-directed approach to work as well as collaborate within a team
• High attention to detail

What This Opportunity Offers

• Comprehensive Pension & Benefits: Join a defined-benefit pension plan (through the CAAT Pension Plan) that delivers predictable lifetime retirement income, plus dental, disability, travel insurance and extended health coverage.
• Vacation: Enjoy paid time off and benefit from a scheduled holiday closure that offers additional rest and time with family during the winter season
• Tuition & Professional Development: Continue your learning journey - eligible employees and their dependents can take select Fanshawe programs or courses at a reduced cost
• Inclusive, Meaningful Campus environment: Work alongside passionate colleagues in an inclusive culture that values diversity, drives student success, and connects you to the local community and campus life.

Ready to Apply?

If you’re ready to make an impact through strong financial stewardship-we’d love to hear from you! Submit your application by the specified closing date.

Fanshawe College uses Workday to manage recruitment and hiring processes.

Educational Credentials

While transcripts are not required for the interview, they are mandatory as a condition of employment.

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

Fanshawe College is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to equity, value diversity, and welcome applicants from diverse backgrounds.

Accommodation

Fanshawe College provides accommodations to job applicants with disabilities throughout the hiring process. If a job applicant requires an accommodation during the application process or through the selection process, the hiring manager and the recruiter leading the recruitment will work with the applicant to meet the job applicant’s accommodation needs. Accommodation requests per the Ontario Human Rights Code and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act can be emailed to: [email protected]

Land Acknowledgement

Fanshawe College would like to acknowledge and honour the Anishinaabe, Lotinuhsyuní and Lenape people of southwestern Ontario as the traditional owners and custodians of the lands and waterways where Fanshawe College is located.

We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those chosen for an interview will be contacted.