Business jobs in Canada

Position: Chief Financial Officer

Location: London, Ontario

Position Type: Full-time, 3-year renewable contract.

Application Deadline: Sunday, May 4, 2025, at 11:59PM.

About Ivey Business School:

Ivey Business School acknowledges and respects the traditional lands of the Anishinaabek, Haudenosaunee, Lūnaapéewak, and Attawandaron peoples, where Western University and Ivey Business School are located. This land continues to be home to diverse Indigenous peoples, whom we recognize as contemporary stewards of the land and vital contributors of the community.

Ivey Business School (www.ivey.ca) at Western University (www.uwo.ca) is Canada’s leading provider of real-world, case-based business education. Drawing on extensive research and business experience, Ivey’s faculty provides the best classroom experience, equipping students with the knowledge, skills, and capabilities they need to confidently take on today’s leadership challenges and opportunities through Case-Method Learning. Ivey offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs, as well as Executive Education at campuses in London, Toronto, and Hong Kong.

Position Overview:

The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) reports to the Dean and serves as a member of the School’s Executive Committee. The CFO will provide advice and counsel to the Dean, Associate Deans, CAO, and other administrators in the school on a wide range of issues including financial and legal matters. Under the Dean’s leadership, the CFO will contribute to the development and execution of the school’s strategic and operational plans through the annual planning process. The CFO, in partnership with the Executive Committee, will ensure that departments in the school are aligned to achieve the school’s objectives. Along with the Dean, Associate Deans, and CAO, the CFO is accountable to the Board of Governors of Western University, Western University Senior Administration, the Ivey Advisory Board, and the Ivey Group of Companies Board for the achievement of the school’s strategic and operational plans. The incumbent will possess a comprehensive understanding of the school’s business and will ensure that activities in the departments reporting to them are aligned with the vision and goals of the organization.

The CFO will fulfill the role of Treasurer for the Ivey Group of Companies. This includes the Ivey Business School Foundation and the Ivey Business School Asia entities. The Treasurer of these boards will be responsible for all financial and legal matters of the Boards, ensuring timely communication and reporting. The Treasurer will work with the Chair and CEO of the Board (Dean) to develop and implement governance practices for strategic and operational oversight of the Ivey Group of Companies, allowing all board members to fulfill their fiduciary duty. The Treasurer will have a thorough understanding of the operations of the Ivey Group of Companies and help to shape and execute the ongoing strategy, working with the CEO (Dean) to optimize business results and ensure adherence to all applicable regulations and laws.

Responsibilities:

1. Strategic and Operational Planning
   • In partnership with the Dean, Associate Deans, and CAO, the CFO is responsible for planning, developing, and communicating the annual plans (operating budget, capital) for all departments in the school and its related companies (Ivey Business School Foundation & Ivey Asia). They will ensure that all organizations and operations of the school and related companies are aligned to deliver on objectives and goals as outlined in the strategic plan.
   • In partnership with the Dean, Associate Deans, and CAO, the CFO is responsible for all matters related to human capital at the Ivey Business School and related companies. This includes performance & professional development, compensation, total rewards, on and off boarding, employee relations, and safety. Ensure alignment to operational and strategic planning goals.
   • Leadership support to the execution of the strategic plan including financial analysis (modelling, pricing strategies, cost/benefit), legal advice, and organizational design and development to support initiatives.
   • Has a firm understanding of Ivey’s financial model and is anticipatory of future impacts and changes by staying up to date on non-profit accounting changes, changes in government policy, etc.
2. Leadership
   • Engaged member of the Executive Committee, Management Committee, and Senior Operations Committee. Active member who shares leadership insights, operational and strategic experiences, and advice, financial, legal. Participates in key decisions impacting operations and strategy.
   • Provide leadership and oversight for the Finance and Accounting function at both the Ivey Business School and Ivey Business School Foundation.
     • Oversee and coach activities of their direct reports, conduct performance reviews, and provide ongoing developmental feedback and opportunities for professional development.
     • Ensure the organizations under their responsibility are resourced and positioned to achieve their goals and objectives.
   • Establishment of appropriate accounting and financial controls, regular financial reporting, and risk management processes.
     • Ensure financial health and stability of the school and related companies. The school’s annual budget is approximately $120M, Ivey Foundation is approximately $40M.
       • Quarterly financial reporting, opportunity identification, and risk management.
       • Accurate and timely financial statement preparation and communication (monthly/annual).
       • Cash management for Ivey Business School Foundation including forecasting, investment decisions.
   • Establishment of appropriate governance controls and reporting for the Ivey Business School Foundation Board.
   • Fulfill the role of Treasurer of the Board overseeing the financial matters of the board and ensure all board members are adequately informed of all financial-related and legal issues.
   • Assist the Chair and CEO of the Board in developing and executing sound governance practices, board member onboarding and offboarding, risk management practices, and required legal filings; ensuring each member can fulfill their fiduciary duty.
   • Regular and timely communication and reporting of all financial, legal, and human capital matters.
   • Lead the external relationships with Western procurement on the supply of goods & services to the Ivey Business School ensuring adherence to stated public sector procurement rules and optimizing where possible price, availability, and contract terms.
   • Lead the external relationship with legal counsel including general counsel ensuring adherence in all legal jurisdictions of operations.
   • Lead the external relationship with the public accounting firm contracted for the Ivey Business School Foundation. Maintain the relationships and investigate their findings and recommendations.
   • Ensures adherence to all legal, governance, financial, audit, and tax agreements that may impact the operations of the Ivey Business School or related companies.
   • Engagement and expertise around special projects associated with the strategy and with improving internal business processes. Examples include workload funding, royalty determination, pricing strategies, strategy reporting, and participation on the program portfolio review team.

Qualifications:

Education and Experience:

• Undergraduate degree in Business or related field and CPA (Chartered Professional Accountant). MBA degree preferred.
• Minimum 10 years of progressively senior leadership experience in Finance and in a complex, fast-paced environment; senior management experience is required, including leadership experience at the Director, Controller, or Chief Financial Officer level.
• Non-profit Board experience and knowledge of board governance and responsibilities.

Skills and Abilities:

• Demonstrated capacity to think strategically with strong analytical and problem-solving, decision-making, and critical thinking skills, including proven ability to work with ambiguity.
• Risk Management, collaboration, organizational and negotiation skills.
• Demonstrated ability to lead, encourage, and set high performance standards for self and others.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills to address the information needs of internal and external stakeholder groups.
• Superior interpersonal skills and the ability to manage in a complex environment using sound judgement to balance multiple stakeholder positions.
• Professionalism and diplomacy, sensitivity in working with confidential information.
• Excellent general management skills, including an understanding of managing in a service operation.

• Experience in overseeing a diverse administrative portfolio including strategic planning, administration, and coordination at a senior level in the departments reporting to this opportunity.
• Experience in finance, legal, contract management, procurement, commercial leases, capital projects accounting, and non-profit administration.

• Strong technical skills, systems, process, and best practice experience.
• Current trends and best practice in university & non-profit administration.

• Thorough knowledge of business practice i.e. legal, financial, and governance issues related to Ivey’s business.
• Knowledge and appreciation of the mission, purpose, and values of a teaching business school and its responsiveness to the educational and research requirements of a sophisticated international business community.
• Superior leadership skills to lead a diverse group of senior level individuals and their teams; the ability to build high performing teams to support successful performance.
• Excellent communications and interpersonal skills and the ability to work collaboratively across the organization and with senior administrators at Western University. Ability to communicate effectively with executives who are stakeholders of Ivey.

What We Offer:

• Flexible or hybrid work plans for many roles
• A collaborative and engaging work culture
• Opportunity to join a community of people-focused professionals
• Market competitive compensation with annual increases available
• Generous benefits package with employer-paid premiums, including a comprehensive Health and Dental Plan, Health Care Spending Account, short- and long-term disability programs, no waiting period required.
• Enhanced mental health benefits coverage and resources.
• Life and AD&D insurance for you and your family.
• Out-of-country travel insurance.
• Employee and Family Assistance Program.
• Pregnancy and Parental top-up leave program.
• A generous group retirement savings plan with 7.5% employer contributions.
• Vacation starting at 15 days per year plus 2 paid Ivey Personal Days.
• Paid time off during the School’s December holiday closure.
• Numerous campus-wide arts, culture, and sport events.
• Supports for professional development and career progression opportunities.

Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion at Ivey

Ivey Business School is committed to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion. Please explore Ivey’s EDI homepage for more information on Ivey's commitment to EDI, to read about Ivey’s progress in the EDI Update, and to meet Ivey’s EDI Advisory Council members.

Ivey Business School invites applications from all qualified individuals. Ivey is committed to employment equity and diversity in the workplace and welcomes applications from women, members of racialized groups/visible minorities, Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, persons of any sexual orientation, and persons of any gender identity or gender expression.

Accommodation
Prior to the next step in the recruiting process, we welcome you to inform us confidentially if you may require any accommodations in order to participate fully in our recruitment experience. Please contact us at careers@ivey.ca to notify us of any needs related to completing the job application, and/or throughout the recruitment process.

Application:

If you're excited about joining Canada's leading business school and meet the qualifications, please submit your resume and cover letter via the Ivey Careers page by the application deadline.

*Please note only selected candidates will be contacted.