UHN is Canada’s #1 hospital and the world’s #1 publicly funded hospital. With 10 sites and more than 44,000 TeamUHN members, UHN consists of Toronto General Hospital, Toronto Western Hospital, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, The Michener Institute of Education and West Park Healthcare Centre. As Canada's top research hospital, the scope of biomedical research and complexity of cases at UHN have made it a national and international source for discovery, education and patient care. UHN has the largest hospital-based research program in Canada, with major research in neurosciences, cardiology, transplantation, oncology, surgical innovation, infectious diseases, genomic medicine and rehabilitation medicine. UHN is a research hospital affiliated with the University of Toronto.

UHN’s vision is to build A Healthier World and it’s only because of the talented and dedicated people who work here that we are continually bringing that vision closer to reality.

www.uhn.ca

Union: non-union
New or Replacement Position: Replacement
Site: 700 University Avenue- Hydro Building
Department: Research Financial Services
Reports to: Deputy Chief Financial Officer
Hours: 37.5 hours per week
Status: Permanent, Full-time
Closing Date: March 31, 2026

Position Summary  

The Senior Director, Research Financial Services, provides executive leadership for all aspects of financial management, planning, and oversight for the Research Portfolio, and its Institutes, within Canada’s largest hospital network. This role is accountable for the strategic and operational leadership of research financial services, ensuring financial integrity, sustainability, and alignment with institutional priorities, regulatory requirements, and sponsor expectations.

Reporting to the Deputy CFO, the role serves as a critical bridge between Finance and Research, enabling effective stewardship of public, private, philanthropic, and industry-sponsored research funding. Together the Research portfolio spends over $600M annually to deliver world class research. As a trusted advisor to the Executive Vice President of Research, senior research operations leadership, and institute leaders, the Senior Director, RFS, delivers expert financial and business advice to support decision-making across a highly complex, multi-institute portfolio.

Duties:

Strategic and Innovative Financial Leadership

• Lead the overall financial strategy for the Research Portfolio within UHN, ensuring alignment with organizational, academic, and clinical priorities
• Provide expert financial and business advice to the EVP, Science and Research, to the Deputy CFO, and senior leaders on long-term sustainability, resource allocation and investment decisions
• Lead research and organizational business innovation and technology initiatives to work smarter, adapt faster, and deliver better outcomes, and integrate research financial planning into enterprise-wide financial strategies

Research Financial Operations

• Responsible for a team of 60+ finance staff that provide financial and business support to over 1,200 principal investigators and researchers who receive funding from over 900 research sponsors.
• Oversee all aspects of research financial services, including financial accounting, budgeting, forecasting, financial reporting, preparation and management of operating and capital budgets, research balance sheet activities, and cash flows.
• Ensure effective financial oversight across a diverse portfolio of funding sources (tri-council, foundations, philanthropy, industry, international sponsors) and compliance with all funding agency guidelines
• Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing team of research finance professionals

Governance, Risk & Compliance

• Establish and maintain robust financial controls, policies, and processes to support complex operations
• Ensure compliance with sponsor requirements, institutional policies, and applicable legislation and regulations.
• Identify and manage financial risks related to research funding, contracts, and operational complexity.
• Support audits and financial reviews related to research activities

Leadership & Stakeholder Engagement

• The Senior Director works with many internal and external stakeholders including auditors, granting and reporting agencies, commercialization entities, UHN-affiliated Foundations and others
• Build strong partnerships with institute leadership, researchers, research operations, legal, procurement, and corporate finance teams

Continuous Improvement & Innovation

• Drive continuous improvement in financial systems, reporting, near real-time analytics and AI adoption, to enhance decision making, transparency and efficiency
• Support modernization initiatives and process standardization

• Undergraduate degree in Finance, Commerce, Business Administration, or a related field; CPA or equivalent professional designation required.
• Minimum 10 years of progressive senior financial leadership experience within a large, complex organization; experience in healthcare, research, or public-sector environments strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated experience managing complex funding models, large budgets, and diverse stakeholder groups.
• Strong strategic thinking, executive presence, and ability to influence at the senior leadership level.
• Proven senior leadership skills with demonstrated ability to inspire and motivate others and create an environment conducive to team building
• Experience in developing and sustaining effective and collaborative professional working relationships and partnerships
• Experience interacting with and presenting to Senior Management and Board Committees
• A proven track record of creating and maintaining large high performing teams
• Exceptional service orientation and strong interpersonal and verbal/written communication skills required

Key Competencies:

• Reputation for strategic financial leadership and sound judgment
• Deep understanding of health system and research funding and compliance environments
• Exceptional communication and advisory skills
• Change leadership in complex, matrixed organizations
• Commitment to accountability, integrity, and public stewardship

In addition to working alongside some of the most talented and inspiring healthcare professionals in the world, UHN offers a wide range of benefits, programs and perks. It is the comprehensiveness of these offerings that makes it a differentiating factor, allowing you to find value where it matters most to you, now and throughout your career at UHN.

• Competitive offer packages
• Government organization and a member of the Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan (HOOPP https://hoopp.com/)
• Close access to Transit and UHN shuttle service
• A flexible work environment
• Opportunities for development and promotions within a large organization
• Additional perks (multiple corporate discounts including: travel, restaurants, parking, phone plans, auto insurance discounts, on-site gyms, etc.)

Current UHN employees must have successfully completed their probationary period, have a good employee record along with satisfactory attendance in accordance with UHN's attendance management program, to be eligible for consideration.

All applications must be submitted before the posting close date.

UHN uses email to communicate with selected candidates.  Please ensure you check your email regularly.

Please be advised that a Criminal Record Check may be required of the successful candidate. Should it be determined that any information provided by a candidate be misleading, inaccurate or incorrect, UHN reserves the right to discontinue with the consideration of their application.

UHN is an equal opportunity employer committed to an inclusive recruitment process and workplace. Requests for accommodation can be made at any stage of the recruitment process. Applicants need to make their requirements known.

We thank all applicants for their interest, however, only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.