Updates from UBC
Updates from the VPFO
Welcome Helen Yung, UBC's new Comptroller!
Helen Yung joins UBC today as the university’s new Comptroller, overseeing the VPFO’s budget and financial reporting functions as well as delivering financial support to all of UBC’s faculties and administrative units. Helen joins us from Vancouver Coastal Health, where she has served as a valued senior finance leader for over 20 years, most recently as Executive Director, Controller and Financial Services. Learn more about Helen on her bio page.
We’d love your feedback on the ‘We are the VPFO’ event
Thank you to everyone who attended the ‘We are the VPFO’ team event, and for your participation and enthusiasm! We hope you enjoyed hearing from our Vice-President Frank Laezza and to connect with each other across the portfolio.
Frank shared his reflections on the importance of being connected as a team, and stressed that everyone’s role within the portfolio plays a part in our shared success. Attendees also participated in a teambuilding activity that involved individuals from across all of our teams to gather and form new groups based on our portfolio values of Safety, Respect, Integrity, Accountability, and Excellence.
Share your thoughts on the event
We’d love to hear what you enjoyed about the event and how we can improve. This survey will only take a few minutes to complete. All responses are confidential and respondents will be in no way identified personally.
Take the survey
Missed the event?
Operations updates
Facilities
Building Operations, Custodial Services, Customer Services & Informatics, Energy & Water Services, Infrastructure Development, and Municipal Services
- MOA Great Hall Renewal project featured in Engineers & Geoscientists British Columbia’s Innovation magazine: The project was featured in the annual project highlights issue of Engineers & Geoscientists British Columbia (EGBC)'s Innovation magazine, a showcase of innovative and sustainable projects. Read more
Finance
Comptroller, Finance & Operational Excellence and Treasury
- Realignment of roles within Financial Service & Strategic Procurement within Finance & Operational Excellence: Learn more how this structure realignment will improve their service level and standardize processes to better support the faculties on the UBC Finance website.
- Financial Operations service delivery levels: The May dashboards are now available to view on the UBC Finance website, and focus on three key operational finance processes: invoicing, expense reimbursement, and purchase requisition/purchase order production.
Operations & Advising
Communications & Engagement, Human Resources, and Safety & Risk Services
- Take part in the Mass Care Open House & Preparedness Fair to better prepare for emergencies: Join us on June 28 to find out what UBC is doing to prepare for major regional emergencies and how you can be prepared, or sign up to be a volunteer and practice the activation of Mass Care. Learn more about the event and how you can participate
- Communications toolkit for the Mass Care Open House & Preparedness Fair: Communications & Engagement has developed a toolkit to help you find more information and spread the word about this initiative. Access the toolkit
The VPFO consists of individuals doing important work to support the university. Our people bring our strategy to life and make our plans into reality. Read more about the people of the VPFO.
Shout outs
- Thank you to Caroline Macleod, April Wong, Virginia Langone and Amrita Bastians for efficiently and seamlessly facilitating the booking of meeting rooms for both testing and interviews at the University Services Building, Campus Energy Centre and Campus and Community Planning facilities. We’re so grateful!
- Special thanks to Tracy He, Amelia Libonao and Helga Pereira for working closely together in resolving several adjustments on our employees’ vacation and payroll-related transactions through Workday. Amazing teamwork all around!
- Shout out to Mike Soriano, Marc Gronberg, Johnny Flores and Jeff Georgilas for their help changing the lightbulbs and fixing the plumbing requirements at the HR office. Your helpfulness and timeliness were much appreciated! Also shout out to the Service Centre team for being amazing in navigating the requests!
Well done! Want to give someone a shout out in the next edition? Submit your kudos in your local recognition program or email communications@vpfo.ubc.ca
People in motion
- Matheus Thom Vasconcelos has joined Treasury as the new Senior Treasury Analyst starting June 5.
- Ayoub Tennoune joins Facilities' Municipal Services as a Labourer 3 starting today, June 12.
- Farewell to Shannon Boychuk, Director of Insurance and Loss Prevention, whose last day at UBC will be June 16. Shannon has decided to be closer to her family in the Okanagan. Your expertise, leadership and sense of humour will be missed. All the best!
- Farewell to Ali Mojdehi, Associate Director of Campus Security. Thank you for your long-standing support and service within the UBC community.
- Farewell to John Ede and Anna Grewal, Procurement Partners. Thank you for your service and we wish you all the best.
Read more about our people on the VPFO website.
Job openings
All positions at UBC are available on the UBC HR Careers website, or through the career application in your Workday account. Please note that applications will be accepted until 11:59 p.m. on the day prior to the posting end date. The following VPFO positions are currently open:
- Night Service Worker (JR13158) – 6/12/2023
- Continuous Improvement Program Manager-1 (JR12929) – 6/12/2023
- Financial Specialist – Accounting (JR13137) – 6/13/2023
- Trades 2 - Carpenter (6 Months Term-Fixed) (JR13164) – 6/14/2023
- Auxiliary Service Worker (3 Positions) (JR13142) – 6/16/2023
- Knowledge and Training Analyst (JR13223) – 6/16/2023
- Manager, Mechanical Utilities (JR12801) – 6/16/2023
- Senior Accounts Payable Specialist (JR13189) – 6/16/2023
- Business Data Analyst (JR13116) – 6/19/2023
- Operating Engineer (JR13196) – 6/20/2023
- Financial Specialist - Accounting (JR13203) – 6/21/2023
- Accounts Payable Processor (JR13187) – 6/22/2023
- Senior Financial Specialist 1a (Gr 8) (JR13215) – 6/30/2023
- Financial Analyst (JR13237) – 6/30/2023
- Workday Security Administrator (JR13235) – 7/8/2023
Don't forget to apply as an internal candidate! Please review Apply for an Internal Job Posting in the Workday Knowledge Base for instructions on how to apply. Reminder to attach a copy of your resume when you apply for a career opportunity in Workday.
We are the VPFO: Spotlight
Each week, we'll meet another member of the VPFO as they introduce themselves and their work.
|
|
Crystal Zhou, Customer Payment and Revenue Clerk | Treasury
Annually we handle 6,000+ transactions totaling over $2 billion which are received through electronic transfers into UBC’s various bank accounts. Help us maintain a smooth flow of funds and financial transparency by familiarizing yourself with UBC's banking procedures and ensuring the appropriate handling of financial transactions.
For questions, reach out to us at revenue.accounting@ubc.ca.
|
|
Notable updates
Join us in celebrating Pride Month!
June is Pride Month. It’s a time when we celebrate the diversity of LGBTQ+ communities, while acknowledging the long-standing fight for equality and justice. It is also an opportunity for us to reflect on and consider what each of us can do individually, and institutionally, to be inclusive — so that we all feel welcome and can fully access, participate, and thrive in all aspects of university life.
At UBC, we’re proud of our diverse students, faculty and staff. This June, explore the many Pride activities at UBC, connect with your community, help create positive space on and off campus and stand up for sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) diversity.
Learn about the resources available and events happening at UBC
UBC announces membership of inaugural Accessibility Committee
On February 22, 2023, students, faculty and staff were invited to apply to serve on UBC’s inaugural Accessibility Committee. The Committee will provide on-going guidance and advice to the university on the identification, removal and prevention of barriers to accessibility to help fulfill UBC’s legislative obligations and commitments to disability equity priorities.
We are now pleased to announce the membership of the committee and thank all who applied for their interest in this initiative.
Learn more
Reminder to Sign Up: Heart Health Fair @ The Centre
The Centre for Occupational Health, Safety and Wellbeing in collaboration with the UBC Pharmacists Clinic are happy to be running the very popular Health Fair in June, with the topic on Heart Health.
The Health Fair will be held at The Centre (University Services Building – 2329 West Mall) over two days. This Health Fair is open to VPFO employees and pre-registration is required.
- Tuesday, June 20 | 9:00 am–1:00 pm
- Wednesday, June 21 | 1:30 pm–5:30 pm
Appointments are 15 minutes in duration and participants will receive a cardiovascular risk assessment consisting of:
- Blood pressure measurement
- Body Mass Index (BMI – height & weight) and waist measurement
- Cholesterol measurement (a small finger prick)
- Calculation of heart disease risk (Framingham score)
- 1:1 counseling & interpretation of results
- Recommendations to optimize heart health
All health care services are provided by licensed pharmacists and pharmacy students from the Pharmacists Clinic – UBC Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences.
Click here to register or reach out to Lori Takenaka at lori.takenaka@ubc.ca or 604-822-6732 to register.
Learn more
Helpful news
Some interesting news articles our team members have found informative, helpful, or fun! These are provided for information and entertainment only. Unless noted, UBC doesn’t specifically endorse or supply this content.
- How AI will accelerate the circular economy. Learn more
- Watch Malcolm Gladwell's TED Talk about choice, happiness, and spaghetti sauce. Watch TED Talk.
