JUSTYNA CANNING, MBA

● Provide strategic leadership to the finance team, including the Finance and Budget Manager, Finance Specialist, and Contract Monitors.

● Direct the procurement, development and successful implementation of a new financial management system, ensuring compliance with fiscal year-end requirements.

● Redesign and enhance the organization’s budgeting processes in partnership with executive leadership.

● Monitor and report on project progress, status, risks, and next steps utilizing a centralized project management platform.

● Oversee all year-end financial close activities to ensure accuracy and compliance.

● Develop and implement robust processes to ensure budget adherence and proactively address potential overspending by budget owners.

● Partner with Human Resources to revamp salary-setting procedures and guidelines for both vacant and rehire positions.

● Manage the full contract lifecycle, including negotiation of amendments and timelines with external vendors.

• Oversee operations and provide corrective feedback to achieve daily and long-term goals for four of the largest divisions within the organization.
• Monitor office workflow and administrative processes to keep operations running smoothly.
• Manage daily operations while oversee multiple locations to foster increased productivity.
• Work closely with organizational leadership to guide operational strategy.
• Monitor expenditures to mitigate risk of overages.
• Train new hires, providing information, and insight into organization policies and procedures.

• Served as principal advisor to Vice President and upper administration for all financial, budgetary and operations matters including the development, execution and audit of expense budgets totaling $320+ million.
• Monitored and approved budgets that accurately reflect expenditures and revenues including multi-year budget plans to align with the overall strategic plan.
• Identified risks and opportunities and initiated timely actions to address, resolve and implement solutions to any budgetary problems or restrictions.
• Analyzed current processes related to financial and operational performance to ensure resources are being allocated and utilized efficiently.
• Support and review capital project planning and expenditures.
• Created organizational structures to improve accounting and finance functions.
• Provided fiscal support for all externally and internally funded grants.
• Review all contracts and agreements with outside vendors and negotiate any necessary terms to abide by university policies, and collaborate with General Counsel, Risk Management, ITS and Finance for additional assessment when necessary, prior to final approval from the appropriate Authorized Officer.
• Issue contracts compliant with Collective Bargaining Agreement for 300-400 members quarterly.
• Evaluate all staff hiring requests and make recommendations based on financial positioning and long-term goals.
• Support administrative units by communicating and executing changes in policies related to all operational matters.

• Worked closely with management to provide effective assistance for specific aspects of business operations.
• Created and updated physical records and digital files to maintain current, accurate, and compliant documentation.
• Created organizational structures to improve accounting and finance functions.
• Tracked key business metrics and made recommendations for proactive adjustments to policies and procedures.
• Trained and mentored new employees on industry practices and business operations.

• Responsible for the day-to-day fiscal operations and financial integrity of the unit’s business affairs and provided critical support to senior leadership for all budgetary and financial matters.
• Strategically allocated and managed budgets and resources including annual operating, gift, grant, endowment, carry forward and capital funds.
• Forecasted revenues and expenses on three- and five-year cycles, and reconciled variances.
• Ensured coordination and management of fiscal operations are within policies and procedures of Accounts Payable, Human Resources, ITS and other areas as needed.
• Partnered with stakeholders in identifying new revenue strategies and business goals for the future of the school.
• Prepared new spending, capital and technology improvement requests in alignment with the unit’s initiatives and future goals.
• Conducted bi-monthly reviews of all departmental procurement card transactions.
• Collaborated with ITS and Technology Coordinator to assess and facilitate timely equipment upgrades within allowable budgetary parameters while also maximizing efficiency and use of resources.
• Coordinated the development of two major SaaS projects for the School of Communication’s Center for Digital Ethics and Policy and the Career and Internship site.
• Oversaw all part-time faculty funding and facilitated contract generation on behalf of the unit and Faculty Administration.
• Assisted with new hire applications, interviews and hiring procedures as set forth by HR.
• Developed and implemented various financial and business best practices, policies and procedures.
• Served as scholarship committee chair and administered application procedures.

• Responsible for oversight and accurate tracking of division expenses.
• Analyzed financial discrepancies and variances and provided solutions.
• Assisted in managing endowment and scholarship funding
• Oversaw and closely monitored all new employee start-up funding and expenses.
• Annually created and managed multiple databases concurrently for accurate financial tracking.
• Analyzed and verified all accounts to ensure accurate budget documentation had been submitted.
• Balanced and provided quarterly and yearly statements of all College accounts to upper administration and Business Manager.
• Initiated all budgetary expense transfers as necessary.
• Compiled financial documentation in preparation for regular analysis and yearly audits.
• Maintained client relationships and served as a liaison within unit and outside vendors.
• Entrusted with the most complex customer service issues as a result of exceptional ability to promptly resolve concerns and satisfy customers.