Director, Financial Operations & Projects

Job Information
Job Title: Director, Financial Operations & Projects 
Job Requisition ID: 89324
Ministry: Advanced Education
Location: Edmonton
Full or Part-Time: Full Time
Hours of Work: 36.25 hours per week
Permanent/Temporary/Wage: Permanent
Scope: Open Competition
Closing Date: November 30, 2026
Classification: Senior Manager Zone 2
Salary: ​$5,139.30 to $6,526.16 bi-weekly ($134,135- $170,333/year)
The Alberta Public Service works to build a stronger province for current and future generations. We make a difference in the lives of Albertans through rewarding career opportunities.

Ministry of Advanced Education:

The Ministry of Advanced Education in Alberta is responsible for overseeing the post-secondary education system. It plays a vital role in supporting universities, colleges, polytechnic institutions, and apprenticeship programs across the province.

In addition, the Ministry works to align education with the needs of Alberta’s economy by promoting skills development, research, and innovation. It collaborates with educational institutions, industry partners, and communities to prepare students for successful careers and to contribute to the province’s economic and social growth.

Overall, the Ministry of Advanced Education plays a critical role in shaping Alberta’s future by strengthening its workforce and supporting lifelong learning opportunities for all residents.

To learn more about the Ministry of Advanced Education in Alberta and what it has to offer, follow this link: Advanced Education | Alberta.ca 

Role Responsibilities

Reporting to the Executive Director, Financial Services, the Director, Financial Operations & Projects, leads and continuously improves the Ministry’s financial and procurement operations, systems, and processes to support strategic business objectives.

Working in a complex and evolving environment, the Director manages competing priorities, develops innovative solutions, and adapts strategies to achieve results. The role requires strong leadership, problem-solving, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills to balance interests and build consensus.

The Director provides advice and guidance to senior management, executives, the Deputy Minister, and the Minister, influencing decisions and ensuring alignment between Ministry and Government priorities. Sound judgement, diplomacy, and the ability to navigate politically and financially sensitive issues are essential.

Job Responsilbilites:

• Lead the Financial Operations & Projects team in the review of current systems, processes and procedures with a Save view to assessing the potential risk of the current controls and providing options for the enhancements that could be implemented to strengthen the financial controls protecting Ministry assets as well as protecting the integrity of its financial reporting controls.
• Work with program areas across the department to support procurement and contracting by assessing risks, providing alternatives and identifying business solutions that meet program area needs within the parameters of prudent business and government policies and trade agreements.
• Recommend options and actions to improve affordability, value for money, and alignment with government priorities.
• Develop ministry-wide financial operation processes to facilitate the efficient and effective delivery of department business.
• Develop innovative approaches to new and existing financial systems, and support program financial teams.
• Ensure all Ministry users have access to the required automated tools and privileges to perform their duties effectively and efficiently while balancing internal controls and segregation of duties.
• Manage human resource issues (e.g., recruitment, performance management, professional development plans, and supervision).
• Promote a cooperative attitude between Financial Services and program areas to ensure that the review of internal controls are completed to improve the financial and procurement processes and reduce risk in the programs and divisions of the Ministry.
• Provide financial advice and guidance to all levels of line management throughout the Ministry, assisting them to resolve complex management issues and ensuring that they comply with Treasury Board, Service Alberta and internal AE policies.

APS Competencies

Competencies are behaviors that are essential to reach our goals in serving Albertans. We encourage you to have an in depth understanding of the competencies that are required for this opportunity and to be prepared to demonstrate them during the recruitment process.

Drive for Results - The position takes and delegates responsibility for outcomes, uses variety of resources to monitor own performance standards, acknowledges even indirect responsibility, commits to what is good for Albertans even if not immediately accepted and reaches goals consistent with APS direction. 

Creative Problem Solving - The position engages the community and resources at hand to address issues, engages perspective to seek root causes, finds ways to improve complex systems, employs resources from other areas to solve problems and engages others and encourages debate and idea generation to solve problems while addressing risks.

Agility - The position identifies and manages required change and the associated risks, identifies alternative approaches and supports others to do the same, proactively explains impact of changes, anticipates and mitigates emotions of others, anticipates obstacles and stays focused on goals and makes decisions and takes action in uncertain situations and creates a backup plan.

Develop Networks - This position builds trust to fairly represent every party, uses network to identify opportunities, establishes credibility and common purpose with a range of people, actively represents needs and varying groups, creates strategic impression by inspiring and connecting with values and beliefs.

Systems Thinking - This position takes a long-term view towards organization’s objectives and how to achieve them, takes holistic long-term view of challenges and opportunities, anticipates outcomes and potential impacts, seeks stakeholder perspectives, works towards actions and plans aligned with APS values and works with others to identify areas for collaboration.

This link will assist you with understanding competencies.

Qualifications

Required:

• A University graduation in a field related to the position assignment, supplemented by five years progressively responsible experience. 
• CPA or legacy designation (CA, CMA, CGA).
• Related experience or education may be considered as an equivalency on a one for one basis. 

Assets:

• Relevant legislation, regulations and policies, specifically the Financial Administration Act, Government Accountability Act, Government Organization Act, Fiscal Responsibility Act, Treasury Board Directives, etc.
• Demonstrated experience with financial operations and management within a public sector environment.
• Government strategic and policy directions as they relate to the Ministry's mandate and initiatives.
• Ministry business plans, programs, deliverables and initiatives and related financial issues.
• Strategic, business, operational, fiscal and human resource planning and accountability processes used in AE and GoA.
• The political environment within which the Ministry operates and the decision-making processes of Government. 
• Clients and stakeholders affected by Ministry legislation, policies and initiatives, including relevant committees, advisory groups and senior representatives.
• Best practices associated with financial accountability, continuous improvement and quality assurance.
• Thorough knowledge of business-related software and automated financial systems.

Minimum recruitment standards outline the minimum education and experience required for appointments to a job classification.

Notes

Hours of Work – 36.25 hours per week (full time), Monday to Friday.

Term of Employment – Full-time

Location – ATB Place North, Edmonton

Candidates may be considered on a secondment basis, subject to approval from their home position/department. There may be an opportunity for the appointment to be extended beyond the initial term.

Final candidates will be required to undergo an academic credentials verification.

This competition maybe used to fill future vacancies across the Government of Alberta at equal or lower classification and salary.

Any costs associated with obtaining the required documents/checks as noted or interview travel expenses, will be the responsibility of the candidate. Out-of-province applicants can obtain the required documents/checks from the province they currently reside in.

Links and information on what we have to offer:

• Working for the Alberta Public Service
• Public Service Pension Plan (PSPP)
• Alberta Public Service Benefit Information
• Professional learning and development
• Research Alberta Public Service Careers tool
• Positive workplace culture and work-life balance

How To Apply
Applicants are advised to provide information that clearly and concisely demonstrates how their qualifications meet the advertised requirements, including education, experience, and relevant examples of required competencies.
Candidates are required to apply for a job online. Please see Job Application Resources for information. 
In your resume, please include dates (including months and years) associated with all education and work experience. For example, January 2006 - June 2009 (part-time). This example is provided for illustrative purposes only. Applicants are encouraged to present their information clearly and thoroughly, using a format that best conveys their experience.
It is recommended applicants who have completed post-secondary studies from outside of Canada obtain an evaluation of their credentials from the International Qualifications Assessment Service (IQAS) or from a recognized Canadian Credential Evaluator; please visit the Alliance of Credential Evaluation Services of Canada for more information.
It is recommended that applicants include the assessment certificate from IQAS or any other educational assessment service as part of their application.
Closing Statement
This competition may be used to fill future vacancies, across the Government of Alberta, at the same or lower classification level.
We thank all applicants for their interest. All applications will be reviewed to determine which candidates' qualifications most closely match the advertised requirements. Only individuals selected for interviews will be contacted.
If you require any further information on this job posting or require an accommodation during the recruitment process, please contact PSC.FTA@gov.ab.ca.