Junior Accountant, Advancement Finance

Department: Advancement Services
This position is represented by the agreement between the Professional Staff Association and the University of Guelph

Temporary full-time from 06/15/2025 to 07/03/2026 

If you are a current employee of the University of Guelph you must apply on the internal Career Page in order to be considered as an internal applicant. 
Career Opportunities (sapsf.com)

General Purpose 

In our work, we advance the mission of the University of Guelph by building lifelong relationships with our community: alumni, donors, and friends. Our vision is for the University of Guelph to be personally relevant in the lives of our community members. Through these relationships, we amplify the impact of philanthropy to create unique solutions for the challenges facing our world. As a member of this campus-wide team, the Junior Accountant, Advancement Finance, epitomizes the department’s shared values of respect, empowerment, integrity, appreciation, and forward focus. 

Duties and Responsibilities

• Reporting to the Finance & Accounting Manager in AA&D, the Junior Accountant, Advancement Finance is key to the achievement of effective operations, including management accounting and compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and guidelines. 

• Responsible for maintaining donor grants and endowments, including assessing new and existing grant accounts, processing journal entries, and ensuring grant funding is spent as per the gift agreement and grant purpose. There are currently over 1,100 externally restricted endowments with a value of over $300 Million and over 850 grants with a value of over $60 Million -$75 Million.  

• Responsible for maintaining the books and records of various Alumni Associations, and the OAC Alumni Foundation, including coordinating the year-end audit.  

• Maintains a close working relationship with fundraisers, the AA&D events team, volunteer boards for alumni associations and foundations, and key positions in Offices within the Colleges.  

• Responsible for providing analysis and ad hoc reporting to AA&D management, as it relates to departmental expenses, purchase orders and p-card transactions as well as the administration of the above.   

• The duties are complex, and the consequence of error is high, requiring a high level of attention to detail and involving considerable demands. The ability to work effectively in an evolving and innovative environment and the ability to balance competing deadlines, priorities and tasks is critical to being successful in the position.  

• The successful applicant will work collaboratively within a team as well as independently and must have the ability to work under pressure in a fast-paced environment while balancing competing deadlines and multiple projects simultaneously. This position requires considerable professional judgment and superior communication skills. The need to be flexible to meet the expectations of members within the College(s), and beyond is required. 

Requirements 

The university recognizes that no one individual will have the following skills/experience in equal measure but the qualifications below will be used to assess the suitability of candidates throughout the process: 

• Undergraduate Degree – Business Administration, OR equivalent experience combined with College Diploma considered. 

• CPA registered and within 1-2 years of completion OR equivalent accounting experience (in a not-for-profit setting) considered. 

• Extensive accounting experience in a not-for-profit accounting environment (3+ years) with a primary focus on grant/endowment management, analysis and monitoring. 

• Excellent knowledge of various computer programs and databases that will be required in this role, including bookkeeping software, Oracle, CRM systems, Microsoft Word/Excel. 

• Excellent analytical, project management and problem-solving skills. 

Please include a cover letter along with your resume in your application.  

Why choose the University of Guelph 

• Comprehensive Extended Health Care Benefits: Immediate enrollment in extended health to cover yourself and your family 

• Time off: Strong vacation allocation, floater days, and paid time off during the December closure to ensure that you are at your best 

• Wellness: In addition to extensive wellness programming, the University offers a yearly flexible spending credit that can be allocated to any of the following: Health Spending, Wellness or Professional Development 

• Learning & Development: Learning and development curriculum and other professional growth opportunities 

• On-campus Activities: Discounts on food and apparel, fitness programming, access to networking events and team building opportunities 

• Improve Life: Work that directly impacts a brighter future by turning knowledge into action 

The university provides a flexible work arrangement. This position is required to be fulfilled both remotely and on-campus (Guelph Campus) 

Employee Type: Temporary 
Position Number: 10921259 
Classification: P&M FT- Band 03    
Professional/Managerial Salary Bands 
The target hiring salary for this position is minimum up to 96% of midpoint for the salary grade.

*Tentative evaluation; subject to committee review.

At the University of Guelph, fostering a culture of inclusion is an institutional imperative. The University invites and encourages applications from all qualified individuals, including from groups that are traditionally underrepresented in employment, who may contribute to further diversification of our Institution.

Posting Date:  04/25/2025  
Closing Date:  05/16/2025