Senior Director, Research Financial Services

Company Description

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.

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

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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.