Junior Accountant – Centre for Biodiversity Genomics (CBG)

Job title: Junior Accountant – Centre for Biodiversity Genomics (CBG)

Job description: Research Financial Services provides assistance and guidance to meet the financial administrative requirements of sponsored research awards. We prepare financial reports for research awards while supporting the University community by ensuring compliance with University policies and procedures, government regulations, and the requirements of all research sponsors.

The Junior Accountant will have a close working relationship with the CBG’s research team, key positions in Financial Services, Office of Research Services, and collaborating organizations. The duties are complex, and the consequence of error is high, requiring a high level of attention to detail and involving considerable intellectual demands. The Junior Accountant is responsible for processing all financial transactions and reporting on them, for managing the fiscal responsibility of the Centre, and for providing support to the researchers and accountability in financial oversight on the grants and financial operations of the Centre.

General duties of the Junior Accountant (in addition to the above mentioned):

• Monitor research grant accounts using financial systems to extract and manipulate data with software skills (pivot tables, lookup tables, Cognos reporting). This monitoring consists of the appropriateness of expenditures and controlling of total expenditures in an account.
• Support the development of a fiscal plan for the long-term financial sustainability of the Centre.
• Support the budget process according to varying funding agency policies and internal needs, procedures and funding requirements and multiple fiscal year end cycles.
• Have a solid understanding of the Centre’s operational and financial risk management and mitigation strategies.
• Provide key data in support of reports for the Centre Oversight Committee, University of Guelph Administration, and external funding agencies.
• Support the development and tracking of research budgets for the Centre and provide forecasting and variance analysis to internal and external stakeholders.
• Implement, and/or review and revise, appropriate account structure to fit the needs of the operational activities and research projects, ensuring that expenses and revenues are recorded accurately and appropriately so that items are not double counted or misrepresented when the research accounts are rolled into the University’s financial records.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues to develop a system to streamline reporting on grants with complex co-funding structure (e.g. CFI-MSI, GC-LSARP). Support the monitoring and tracking of partner cash and in-kind contributions for the Centre and provide regular updates and reports to the Centre Leadership team.
• Analyze and provide transactional support for accounts payable data and identify opportunities to reduce costs and create efficiencies.
• Assist in preparing budgets for new grant applications.
• Develop a corrective course of action when a potential error, conflict or concern is raised.
• Advise researcher(s) and staff on any issues and concerns where the researcher needs some direction and/or advice to proceed with resolving financial matters.
• Proactively remain current on and develop communications regarding any new/changed sponsor compliance requirement.
• Ensure that all research financial transactions are completed in a timely and accurate manner and that information within the financial reporting system is consistent in order to inform effective decision making at various levels of management. This includes the placing of orders, reconciliation of procurement cards, expense claim reviews, and other financial transaction processing.
• Deliver a strong element of management accounting to aid the Principal Investigator with forecasting, cash flow analyses, planning, controls, and decision-making.
• Facilitate the grant closure process including budget wrap up, finalizing transfers, entering journal entries as required, monitoring funds, and working to ensure year end fiscal transactions are completed.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge/expertise on all institutional policies and procedures regarding operating and research funds by developing strong relationships with all stakeholders across campus.

Requirements of the position include:

• Undergraduate degree in Business Administration, or an equivalent University degree
• Nearing completion of a professional accounting designation (CPA), within 18 months
• Minimum of 3.5 years related experience (developing financial reports and monitoring variances) with strong competence in accounting, financial planning, modelling, analysis, oversight, budgets, and forecasting.
• Comprehensive knowledge of current computer financial software and MS Office Suite, Oracl, HRMS, .NET Applications (PIES, Tasklist)
• Experience in public sector financial management is preferred.
• Strong critical thinking skills to identify, analyze and solve complex problems and demonstration of sound judgement and decision-making

Classification P03*

*Tentative evaluation; subject to committee review.

At the University of Guelph, fostering a 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.

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