Director, Business Services

About Olds College of Agriculture and Technology

Founded in 1913, Olds College has been offering quality hands-on education for over a century. Through our regular programming, continued education, and online and blended programming, we provide accessible educational opportunities within Alberta and beyond. We work closely with industry to advance and adapt our programming to ensure our graduates have the skills to succeed.

At Olds College we value our people and are committed to providing a supportive and rewarding work environment. Olds College provides quality education in an environment that is designed to promote academic excellence and student success. There are many reasons to join Olds College and build a meaningful career in a community that is innovative, diverse and welcoming. Everything we do at Olds College is done to advance all aspects of the agriculture and agri-food community. All of our programs and actions align to our social purpose, “Transforming agriculture for a better world”. Our mission is to ensure Alberta's agriculture community has the talent, knowledge, and thought leadership to lead globally.

The Opportunity:

The Director, Business Services provides senior leadership oversight to the Business Services team at Olds College and all related functions. This includes accounting operations (A/P, A/R, procurement, payroll), budget planning and financial reporting. This role provides Institutional leadership, departmental direction, development, maintenance and continuous improvement of quality systems. The Director, Business Services provides internal consultation services, which support the College’s need to plan for, measure, preserve, enhance, and safeguard its financial and physical assets. The position requires that the institution’s financial systems, policies and procedures comply with, and be responsive to industry standards and Public Sector Accounting Standards, and support the College’s strategic goals.

Key Job Functions:

• Oversee and provide leadership to the Business Services team, contributing to the achieving the College’s strategic goals through priority setting of policies, procedures and internal controls.
• As a member of the College Leadership Team, provide relevant and proactive information on financial policies, processes, internal controls, and planning frameworks
• Oversee and provide direction on the appropriate accounting and policies for college wide revenues including government funding, tuitions, contract billings, learning enterprises, research and grant funding.
• Manage and oversee the cash and cash flow functions to ensure optimal cash position and provide expert advice to the Executive Team for short term and long- term investment and debt management functions for Olds College
• Oversee and ensure continual enhancements of all aspects of the financial processing functions of the organization, including accounts receivable, accounts payable, expense claims, payroll, corporate credit card program, inventory control, capital asset inventory control.
• Oversee finance and accounting operations with College wide business partners to ensure transactional integrity and advance a culture of service and support
• Working with leaders and budget managers across the college, lead the budget development cycle and related internal reporting requirements, including the forecasting processes, enhancing internal decision making
• Ensure the College has adequate insurance in place for business operations. Coordinate annual insurance reviews and associated changes to the college’s insurance profile, mitigating key risks for the college.
• Lead a college wide internal control program for all business processes to effectively manage the college’s financial reporting risks, and inform enterprise wide financial risk management
• Oversee college wide asset management program for capital asset acquisitions, tracking, disposals and associated reporting
• Oversee an institutional legislative compliance framework
• Represent Olds College at Senior Accounting Control Officers (SACO) meetings
• Recommending, developing and enhancing financial policies for the College

Education/Experience/Skills/Knowledge Required:

• Completion of relevant 4-year post-secondary degree
• Professional Accounting Designation
• Eight (8) -10 years of progressive responsibility over financial administration/management responsibilities.
• Experience establishing systems and internal controls and related policies and procedures to ensure efficient operations
• Experience in budget development, monitoring and reporting.
• Experience with computerized accounting systems, setup and maintenance.
• Experience in financial statement preparation in a complex and diverse organization
• Experience in managing audit engagements and requirements, preferable with previous experience with a legislative auditor
• Previous experience managing a diverse team

Conditions of Employment:

• Current Criminal Reference check that is free of any offenses.
• Must respect and actively promote health and safety policies.

Olds College offers a competitive benefit plan:

• Defined Benefit Pension Plan (LAPP)
• Extended Health, Dental, and Prescription Drugs benefits
• Health/Personal Spending Account
• Generous Vacation Leave
• Paid Holiday Closure
• ‘Olds College in the Community’ volunteer leave
• Professional development and opportunities for growth

We thank all individuals for their interest in this position. We appreciate the time involved for candidates in the application process. At this time, please note only those selected for interviews will be contacted.

Olds College is committed to an equitable, diverse, and inclusive workplace. We welcome applications from all qualified persons. We encourage applications from women, Indigenous Peoples, racialized persons, persons with disabilities and persons of any sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression.