Vice President, Administration & Finance and Chief Financial Officer

MacEwan University

MacEwan University is a dynamic, student-centred institution where teaching excellence, innovation, and community impact come together. As Alberta's third-largest university and Edmonton's downtown university, MacEwan delivers a transformative undergraduate experience grounded in close faculty-student connections, experiential learning, and meaningful community engagement. The university is deeply committed to student success, fostering an inclusive learning environment that supports learners from diverse backgrounds while preparing graduates with the critical thinking, practical skills, and adaptability needed to thrive.

Serving the capital region as well as central and northern Alberta, MacEwan plays a vital role in supporting the province's social, cultural, and economic vitality, with more than 85% of graduates choosing to live and work in Alberta.

This is an exciting time to join MacEwan University. Building on more than 50 years of growth and achievement, the university is entering its next chapter with a bold vision for the future through expanding enrolment, strengthening academic programs, and investing in world-class facilities while preserving the learner-centred experience that defines it. The opening of the new 35,000-square-metre School of Business building in 2027 will further transform the downtown campus, creating vibrant spaces for students, faculty, and the community while supporting continued growth and innovation.

For leaders inspired by the opportunity to help shape a thriving institution with momentum, ambition, and a strong sense of purpose, MacEwan offers an exceptional opportunity to make a lasting impact.

The Role

Reporting directly to the President and Vice-Chancellor, the Vice-President, Finance & Administration and Chief Financial Officer (VPFA & CFO) is a key member of the Executive Council and a strategic leader.

As a trusted strategic advisor to the President, the Board of Governors, and the executive leadership team, the VPFA & CFO plays a central role in shaping MacEwan University's future by providing strategic financial leadership that enables institutional growth, advances academic priorities, and strengthens long-term sustainability.

As the University's senior finance executive, the Vice-President, Finance & Administration provides strategic leadership that strengthens financial sustainability, drives enterprise transformation, and enables long-term institutional growth.

This is an exceptional opportunity to lead a broad and impactful portfolio spanning finance, information services, human resources, and facilities and sustainability services. As MacEwan's senior financial executive, the VPFA & CFO will contribute to enterprise-wide strategy, champion operational excellence, lead transformative initiatives, and identify innovative approaches to revenue generation, resource optimization, and long-term financial resilience. With responsibility for financial stewardship, enterprise risk management, capital planning, strategic resource allocation, and the systems that support these functions, the VPFA & CFO will help position the University for its next phase of growth and success.

Working closely with students, faculty, staff, government, unions, and community partners, the VPFA & CFO will help shape an institution with significant momentum, ensuring MacEwan University continues to deliver an exceptional student experience while achieving its bold ambitions for the future.

Ideal Candidate Profile

Success in this role requires more than financial expertise. It calls for a collaborative, forward-thinking leader who thrives in complex environments, builds trusted relationships across diverse constituent groups, and inspires innovation and continuous improvement.

The ideal candidate is an accomplished executive who combines strategic vision with sound judgment, collaborative leadership, and exceptional relationship-building skills. They will bring deep financial expertise, a strong record of leading complex organizations through growth and change, and the ability to serve as a trusted advisor on financial stewardship, enterprise risk, governance, and institutional strategy. They combine strategic vision with exceptional financial acumen and are recognized for challenging assumptions, identifying opportunities, and delivering meaningful organizational change.

They have demonstrated success leading enterprise-wide transformation across finance, human resources, information technology, and other administrative functions, building integrated teams that work collaboratively toward shared institutional outcomes rather than operating in functional silos.

A confident and forward-thinking leader, they inspire trust through integrity, transparency, and accountability while fostering a culture of innovation, continuous improvement, and evidence-informed decision-making. They are an effective collaborator who builds strong relationships across diverse constituent groups and thrives in complex, highly regulated environments.

The successful candidate will be passionate about developing people, building organizational capacity, and helping position MacEwan University for continued success and long-term impact.

Experience & Qualifications

• Relevant university degree required and Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) designation highly preferred. Equivalent senior financial leadership experience as the organization's chief financial executive may be considered.
• Significant executive leadership experience leading finance within a large, complex organization, preferably in the post-secondary sector.
• Demonstrated success leading enterprise transformation, organizational redesign, technology-enabled modernization, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Demonstrated success leading finance and administrative functions, including financial stewardship, budgeting, forecasting, enterprise risk management, and organizational transformation.
• Demonstrated success leading multidisciplinary portfolios that include finance, human resources, information technology and other corporate services.
• Experience providing strategic advice to executive leadership and boards within complex governance environments.
• Proven ability to lead multidisciplinary portfolios and build high-performing teams through periods of growth and change.

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.

MacEwan University is committed to fostering the principles of equity, diversity, and inclusion within our community, and we are dedicated to removing barriers that have been historically encountered and are currently experienced by some members of our society. We welcome and encourage applications from Indigenous peoples, racialized persons, visible minorities, women, persons with disabilities, sexual and gender minorities, and members of all equity-deserving groups. We believe that the diversity of our students, staff, and faculty serve as a strength of our institution and benefit to society.

We are committed to ensuring full and inclusive participation for all in our community.

KBRS and MacEwan University will provide support in the recruitment processes to applicants with disabilities, including accommodation that takes into account an applicant’s accessibility needs. If you require accommodation in order to participate as a candidate in the recruitment process, please contact [email protected].

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