As a strategic financial steward, the Controller ensures that our financial information is not only reliable, but empowers confident decision-making at the highest levels of the University. This role also drives the delivery of all external reporting requirements, positioning UNBC for continued strength, transparency, and growth.
Reporting to the Director of Finance, the Controller plays a pivotal leadership role in shaping the organization’s financial excellence. This position oversees the full financial reporting and accounting function, ensuring accuracy, insight, and integrity in every number we report.
Responsibilities
- Leading the preparation of the University’s financial statements in compliance with public sector accounting standards, including completion of required reconciliations, schedules, working papers, notes and supplementary information;
- Providing professional knowledge and expertise to the operations of Financial Services to ensure facilitation of the overall university operations, meeting of internal and external reporting requirements, and achievement of the goals of Financial Services;
- Establishing internal controls and processes to ensure that accounting activities lead to the generation of accounting records that are accurate and reliable;
- Managing the general ledger including the review of journal entries
- Leading employee training and development across the University in financial policies and procedures, use of financial reporting tools, and accounting principles;
- Ensuring compliance to applicable University policies and procedures, incorporating requirements of external agency guidelines;
- Collaborating with other members of the department and across the university to review existing and develop new policies and procedures;
- Co-ordinating the year-end audit and maintains an effective relationship with the external auditors; and
- Developing staff through mentorship, performance evaluations, coaching and empowerment.
Qualifications
The successful candidate will possess an undergraduate degree in Business/Commerce or related field, as well as a recognized accounting designation (i.e. CPA) and at least 10 years of progressively responsible professional experience in accounting, finance, and staff supervision in a complex unionized organization, preferably in a university or other academic environment.
Knowledge requirements include:
- Exceptional verbal and written communication skills;
- Strong leader with the ability to motivate, engage and support individuals and team members to achieve positive organizational outcomes;
- Understanding of post-secondary education or similar environment;
- Strong organizational skills with the ability to think strategically, weigh risks, and apply sound judgment to decision making and problem-solving to establish priorities, manage multiple demands, and meet deadlines;
- Demonstrated ability to clearly convey accounting, financial, and other technical concepts to senior management and executive as well as colleagues, both verbally and in writing;
- Thorough understanding of Canadian public sector accounting standards, cost accounting principles, and fund accounting;
- A high level of discretion and confidentiality as this position will participate in senior-level meetings to provide information, analysis, and decision-making support;
- Demonstrated ability to work within team-based environments;
- Ability to work independently while keeping the Director up to date on key issues and initiatives;
- Strong computer application skills (data extraction, cleansing and transformation), including extensive work with relational databases and quantitative analysis;
- Expert in the use of Microsoft Excel; and
- Knowledge of CaseWare is an asset.
Salary
The starting salary will be determined with consideration of the successful candidate’s relevant education, skills, and experience. The annual salary range for this position is $115,000 to $125,000.
UNBC offers employee tuition waivers (includes spouse and dependents), excellent benefit and pension packages, as well as employee training and development opportunities. For more details please see:
http://www.unbc.ca/human-resources/employee-benefits
http://www.unbc.ca/human-resources/unbc-pension-plan
Normal hours of work will be 8:30am – 4:30pm, Monday to Friday. Flexibility in work schedule is expected for attendance at events, meetings, presentations, and to oversee staff and activities. Occasional travel may be required.
Our Commitment to Diversity and Employment Equity
The University of Northern British Columbia is fully committed to creating and maintaining an equitable, diverse, and inclusive environment that is accessible to all. We are devoted to ensuring a welcoming, safe, and inclusive campus free from harassment, bullying, and discrimination. This commitment is woven into our motto and mission. In the Dakelh language, UNBC’s motto ‘En Cha Huná translates to “they also live” and means respect for all living things. Through the respect for all living things, we are able to grow and learn better together, each bringing our own unique individual differences and contributions to inspire leaders for tomorrow by influencing the world today.
Employment equity requires that we remove barriers and overcome both direct and indirect discrimination. In this way, the pool of excellent candidates increases substantially. We encourage applications from members of groups that have been marginalized on any grounds enumerated under the B.C. Human Rights Code, including sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, racialization, disability, political belief, religion, marital or family status, age, and/or status as a First Nation, Metis, Inuit, or Indigenous person.
About the Community
Since its founding in 1990, the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC) has emerged as one of Canada’s best small research-intensive universities, with a passion for teaching, discovery, people, and the North. UNBC’s excellence is derived from community-inspired research, hands-on learning, and alumni who are leading change around the world.
Since time immemorial, Indigenous peoples have walked gently on the diverse traditional territories where the University of Northern British Columbia community is grateful to live, work, learn, and play. We are committed to building and nurturing relationships with Indigenous peoples, we acknowledge their traditional lands, and we thank them for their hospitality. UNBC’s largest campus in Prince George is located on the traditional unceded territory of the Lheidli T’enneh, in the spectacular landscape near the geographic centre of beautiful British Columbia.
UNBC consistently ranks in the top three in its category in the annual Maclean’s university rankings. UNBC also recently placed among the top five per cent of higher education institutions worldwide by the Times Higher Education World University Rankings. With a diverse student population, the University is friendly, inclusive, and supportive. Prince George is a city of ~80,000 people with impressive cultural, educational, and recreational amenities. For more information about living and working in Prince George, please refer to http://www.unbc.ca/experience and https://moveupprincegeorge.ca. Make your mark with this leading post-secondary institution.
To Apply
Applicants should create an applicant profile, and apply on this position by uploading and submitting a cover letter and resume. The position is an on-campus position, based at the Prince George campus.
The University of Northern British Columbia is committed to employment equity and encourages applications from the four designated groups (women, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, and members of visible minorities) as well as the 2SLGBTQ+ communities and individuals with intersectional identities.
Persons with disabilities, who anticipate needing accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, may contact UNBC Health & Wellbeing at [email protected]. Any personal information provided will be maintained in confidence.
All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority. We thank all applicants for their interest in UNBC however, only those applicants selected for further consideration will be contacted.
Priority will be given to applications received by March 30, 2026. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.
