PROJECT DIRECTOR (Finance Operations)
Job ID: 64270
Job Category: Project Director
Division & Section: Finance Shared Services, Business Transformation
Work Location: Metro Hall, 55 John St, Toronto, ON M5V 0C4, 15th Floor
Job Type & Duration: Full-time, Permanent Vacancy
Salary Range: $144,591.00 - $196,565.00
Hiring Zone: $157,710.00 - $170,991.00
Shift Information: Monday to Friday, 35 hours per week
Affiliation: Non-Union
Number of Positions Open: 1
Posting Period: 12-May-2026 to 29-May-2026
Project Director, Finance Operations
Lead the engine that powers Finance Shared Services.
As Project Director, Finance Operations, you will provide senior leadership, strategic direction, and operational oversight for the establishment, stabilization, and long‑term success of Finance Shared Services.
Reporting to the Executive Director, Finance Shared Services, you’ll be accountable for the end‑to‑end delivery of high‑volume transactional finance services, ensuring they operate with excellence, integrity, and reliability. At the same time, you’ll be a key driver of modernization actively shaping the operating model, supporting transformation initiatives, and ensuring Finance Operations are scalable, resilient, and aligned with the future state vision.
This is a role for a seasoned leader who can balance day‑to‑day operational accountability with long‑term strategy, transformation, and people leadership in a complex public‑sector environment.
The Story of the Role
In this role, you will lead the design, implementation, and evaluation of Finance Shared Services and Finance Operations improvements, translating City Council direction and divisional priorities into practical, measurable outcomes. You will develop and implement functional policies, programs, and management practices that improve business performance, service delivery, and financial outcomes always with an eye on long‑term sustainability and evolving organizational needs.
This role works in close partnership with the FSS Project team, including the Project Director, FSS Project, and serves as a key operational stakeholder throughout the FSS initiative. The focus of this position is on leading the day-to-day finance operations and ensuring operational readiness, continuity, and alignment as FSS is implemented and transitions to steady‑state.
You will oversee Finance Operations through subordinate management teams, setting clear direction while empowering leaders to deliver results. Leading a large, diverse, and unionized workforce, you’ll foster a culture of accountability, continuous learning, collaboration, and innovation. You’ll address complex and sometimes contentious labour relations matters, ensure high standards of work quality, and motivate teams to contribute to operational excellence.
As the accountable leader for finance operations, you’ll ensure the accurate, efficient, and compliant delivery of high‑volume transactional services in line with corporate policies, service standards, Service Level Agreements, and legislative requirements. You will establish and monitor service delivery standards, performance indicators, and reporting frameworks that drive transparency, accountability, and continuous improvement.
You’ll play a central role in modernizing finance by supporting transformation initiatives, process optimization, automation, and enterprise‑wide systems and technology initiatives. Working closely with divisional management, sector partners, and shared services providers, you’ll help define and advance the future‑state operating model ensuring Finance Operations evolves to meet changing service, technology, and customer expectations.
Strong financial stewardship will sit at the heart of your work. You will provide input into annual budgets, oversee operating and capital expenditures, and ensure financial resources are managed within approved limits. You will maintain strong financial controls, risk management practices, and compliance with audit requirements, corporate policies, and applicable legislation across all areas of responsibility.
As a senior representative of the Division, you will work closely with the Division Head to identify, manage, and resolve emerging risks, service issues, complaints, and customer service challenges. You will represent divisional leadership when liaising with Members of Council, senior City officials, partners, and the public, navigating complex issues with professionalism, credibility, and sound judgment.
You will build and sustain strong partnerships with client divisions, corporate partners, external agencies, and service providers serving as a senior point of contact and ensuring issues are addressed, services are responsive, and relationships are actively managed. You will inform the design and implementation of new programs, program changes, and pilot initiatives to better meet client needs, while advocating for equitable processes, improved access to services, and better program outcomes for the public and community.
You’ll provide program leadership that promotes excellence in customer service, efficient and accountable service delivery, and consistent service experiences across the organization. This includes developing strategic business plans, contributing to divisional and unit‑level strategic planning, monitoring and directing risk collaboratively, and ensuring effective communication with divisional management.
You will prepare monthly, quarterly, annual, and ad‑hoc reports that support legislative compliance, financial accountability, service transparency, and performance management. Through thoughtful analysis and clear reporting, you’ll provide leadership with the insight they need to make informed decisions and ensure Finance Operations continue to deliver value.
What You Bring to the Role
You bring a strong foundation in public administration and financial management, supported by post‑secondary education and a professional accounting designation (CPA—CMA, CA, or CGA). You have built your career as a senior finance leader, with extensive experience overseeing shared services or complex finance operations that include high‑volume transactional accounting functions.
You are an experienced people leader who knows how to coach, motivate, and hold leaders accountable. You bring strong human resources management skills, ideally gained in a unionized environment, and are comfortable guiding teams through competing priorities, tight deadlines, and organizational change.
You have led major finance transformation initiatives, including process optimization, automation, reporting modernization, budgeting, and enterprise technology implementations. You are experienced with ERP systems and bring strong knowledge of platforms such as SAP S/4HANA and Ariba Invoice Management.
Your expertise includes managing operating, capital, and financial budgets end‑to‑end, with strong oversight of balance sheet components, financial controls, and risk. You have a deep understanding of governance and accountability frameworks, especially within large, complex public‑sector organizations, and are well‑versed in relevant legislation related to finance, budgeting, reporting, service delivery, labour relations, and occupational health and safety.
You are a strategic and lateral thinker, capable of setting long‑term objectives, developing business strategies, and leading enterprise‑wide projects, restructurings, and change initiatives. You are decisive, analytical, and solutions‑focused, with the ability to navigate ambiguity and competing stakeholder interests.
Your communication skills allow you to distill complex financial, technical, and organizational issues into clear, compelling briefings and presentations for senior leadership, Council, and decision‑makers. You build strong relationships across multidisciplinary environments and bring a service‑oriented mindset that balances policy, standards, and operational realities always focused on results and positive outcomes.
Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
The City is an equal opportunity employer, dedicated to creating a workplace culture of inclusiveness that reflects the diverse residents that we serve. Learn more about the City’s commitment to employment equity.
Accommodation
The City of Toronto is committed to creating an accessible and inclusive organization. We are committed to providing barrier-free and accessible employment practices in compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). Should you require Code-protected accommodation through any stage of the recruitment process, please make them known when contacted and we will work with you to meet your needs. Disability-related accommodation during the application process is available upon request. Learn more about the City’s Hiring Policies and Accommodation Process.