Financial Assistant

FINANCIAL ASSISTANT

La version française ici.

This is a hybrid position based out of the CIFAR office located in the MaRs Discovery building. Staff are required to be in the office three days a week, ensuring a balance of in-person collaboration and flexibility.

This posting is for an existing vacancy.

About CIFAR:

The Next Leap Starts Here. At CIFAR, we don’t just solve complex challenges; we imagine new possibilities for humanity. We are a global catalyst for breakthroughs, mobilizing the world’s most brilliant minds to tackle the questions that define our future. Founded in Canada and connected to the world, CIFAR is a not-for-profit research organization that provides the platform for high-risk, high-reward research. When you join CIFAR, you aren’t just taking a job: you are joining a community dedicated to the long-term benefit of people and the planet.

For more information, please visit   our website .

The Opportunity

As Financial Assistant, you will join CIFAR’s Strategic Operations team and play an important role in keeping our day-to-day financial operations running smoothly. Reporting to the Director, Finance, you will support accounts payable, financial transactions, reconciliations, reporting and other core accounting activities.

This is a great opportunity for someone who enjoys working with numbers, takes pride in accuracy and organization, and wants to build their accounting experience in a collaborative, mission-driven environment. You will work closely with members of the Finance team and colleagues across CIFAR, gaining exposure to a broad range of financial processes and activities.

Key Responsibilities & Impact:

- Process and enter accounts payable transactions, including reviewing vendor invoices, travel claims and meeting-related expenses.

- Review supporting documentation to ensure payments are complete, appropriately approved and compliant with CIFAR policies.

- Assist with weekly payment processing, including EFTs, online bill payments and wire transfers.

- Review monthly credit card transactions through DEXT and ensure expenses are accurately recorded.

- Support monthly financial reporting, account reconciliations and balance sheet analysis.

- Assist with preparing invoices for partners, donors and vendors.

- Assist with bank deposits, monitor bank balances and report receipts to internal stakeholders.

- Reconcile event-related financial details, track data and calculate and record accruals and general ledger entries in QuickBooks.

- Assist with preparing adjusting journal entries and other financial documentation.

- Support year-end activities and preparation for CIFAR’s annual audit.

- Maintain accurate and organized financial records, including the appropriate scanning and filing of supporting documentation.

- Work with the Senior Financial Officer to review and improve financial processes, with a focus on accuracy, timeliness and meeting stakeholders’ needs.

- Provide day-to-day financial support to the Director, Finance, Senior Financial Officer and Financial Coordinator.

About You

You are a detail-oriented and organized accounting professional who enjoys working with numbers and ensuring financial information is accurate and complete. You are comfortable managing routine transactions while also taking the initiative to ask questions, identify discrepancies and follow up when something does not look right.

You bring:

- A completed Accounting Diploma or equivalent knowledge and skills gained through relevant work experience.

- 1–2 years of related accounting experience, ideally with exposure to full-cycle accounting activities.

- A solid understanding of bookkeeping and accounting principles.

- Experience processing financial transactions, maintaining records and working with spreadsheets.

- Strong attention to detail, accuracy and organization.

- Strong numerical and analytical skills.

- Proficiency with Microsoft Office and Google Sheets.

- Experience with accounting software; QuickBooks Online experience is an asset.

- Experience with online expense reimbursement systems and DEXT is an asset.

- The ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines and maintain accuracy in a busy environment.

- Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work collaboratively with colleagues across the organization.

Hiring Salary Range

$51,654.50 - $60,770.00. To ensure fair and equitable pay at CIFAR, placement on the salary range will be based on your years of experience, skills, and qualifications relevant to the role.

What We Offer

Just as we champion the world's best researchers, we champion our people. We offer a culture of collaboration, courage, clarity and curiosity. Our benefits prioritize your well-being, growth and inclusion so you can do your best work in a community of extraordinary thinkers.

Our team members benefit from

- Comprehensive wellness and benefits - extended health coverage, mental health supports, a defined benefit pension, 4 weeks’ vacation, and “CIFAR Days” (days off with pay) throughout the year.

- Opportunities for learning and growth - supported by professional development resources.

- An inclusive, collaborative culture - grounded in our values the “4Cs” (Collaboration, Curiosity, Courage and Clarity), where diverse perspectives are valued and ideas are encouraged.

- Work Flexibility - We encourage a hybrid working model that includes work-from-home arrangements with a minimum of 3 days in the office and Focus Fridays (meeting-free Fridays every week).

- Employee Focused - We offer generous maternity and parental leave top-ups and a flexible work environment, including CIFAR Days (designated days off in addition to vacation allotments).

Apply:

Qualified applicants are invited to apply by Sunday, October 4 at 11:59pm EST. We appreciate your interest in this opportunity, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted via email.

Our Commitment to Inclusion

CIFAR is committed to equity, diversity and inclusion. We recognize that bringing together individuals from multiple backgrounds, perspectives and experiences is integral to advancing excellence and increasing the impact of our organization. Our leadership, staff and volunteers strive to create an equitable, diverse and inclusive workplace and, in turn, an environment that will give our diverse global community of researchers the support to successfully address the most important questions facing science and humanity. Ensuring that every person feels valued and welcome, regardless of age, education, sexual orientation, gender expression and identity, parental status/responsibility, immigration status, Indigenous status, religion, disability, language, race, place of origin, ethnicity, culture, socio-economic status, and other attributes is vital to achieving our mission. We strongly encourage applications from members of our society who face systemic barriers and biases, including, but not limited to, women, Indigenous persons, members of visible minority/racialized communities, 2SLGBTQ+ persons, members of marginalized gender identity communities, and persons with disabilities. Applicants may confidentially self-identify at the time of application.

ACCESSIBILITY FOR APPLICANTS WITH DISABILITIES - CIFAR is committed to providing accommodations throughout the recruitment and selection process to applicants with disabilities, in accordance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005, and the Ontario Human Rights Code. To request a reasonable accommodation, please email [email protected] and include the term ‘Accessibility’ in the Subject Line, or call 416-971-4251. Please provide your name, preferred contact method, and a detailed description of the nature of any accommodation that you may require. Please include any materials or processes that may be used to ensure your equal participation.

CIFAR frequently communicates in both official languages and our preference is to hire employees who are fluent in both English and French where possible.  Other languages are also considered an asset. For a French version of the job posting, please visit www.cifar.ca .

CIFAR is supported by the governments of Canada, Alberta, and Quebec, as well as international partner organizations, individuals, foundations, and corporations.