Welcome to the VP Finance & Operations portfolio
The nine divisions of the VPFO are responsible for the stewardship of UBC’s physical and financial assets, as well as safety and risk management for our university community.
We oversee a $3.98 billion budget, a $3.38 billion endowment, and all facilities on both campuses, as well as managing the university’s relationships with UBC Investment Management and UBC Properties Trust. In all the portfolio’s responsibilities, we are committed to the values of innovation, unity and accountability.

VPFO Strategic Plan 2024–2027
Having a strategic plan gives us a clear path, keeping everyone on the same page. Learn more about where we’re going next and how we plan to get there.
News from the VPFO
-
University cheque mailing disrupted due to Canada Post strike
Canada Post’s operations have shut down as of November 15, due to a national strike. Please expect delays in mail delivery, including cheque delivery for payroll and suppliers.
-
Learn more about our Campus Security Road Map
Campus Security’s roadmap highlights a series of interconnected projects and essential changes within the department’s organization, services, operations, infrastructure, processes, and culture, all aimed at fostering stronger alignment with the community.
-
Stay visible and safe during the fall and winter
Shorter daylight hours and unpredictable weather conditions are common during the fall and winter. Be sure to prioritize safety both on and off the road during these darker months.
-
International Fraud Awareness Week is November 17-23
See something? Do something. As part of International Fraud Awareness Week, VP Finance & Operations’ Finance & Integrated Services and Enterprise Risk & Assurance (ERA) have partnered to raise awareness about the importance of fraud prevention. Learn more on the…
-
Upcoming payroll will be scheduled one day earlier
UBC is transitioning our banking services to RBC as part of the HSBC Canada sale to RBC. Included in this transition is how employee pay is distributed to employee bank accounts. As a result, the upcoming original UBC pay date…
People of the VPFO
-
Ernesto Castano joins UBC’s Financial Operations group as the Associate Director, Procurement
Ernesto will play a vital role in leading the Procurement function to support our community in meeting their needs through the procurement and competitive bidding processes, leveraging Workday and Planon.
-
Joan Mar and Entela Ifti step into new positions in the Financial Planning & Analysis team
In their new roles, Joan and Entela will work with the Assistant Comptroller to lead the FP&A team and support our partners across the university. Joan Mar will be joining as Director, Financial Planning & Analysis on June 16, and…
-
Susan Johnson steps into her new role as Senior Manager, Privacy and Information Security Risk
In her new role, Susan will continue to oversee the Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) process, including major projects such as the Integrated Security Program Student (IRPS) as well as the portfolio of operational PIAs and advisory services.
-
Norman Kotze joins the Emergency Management team as Associate, Emergency & Continuity Planning
In his new role, Norman will help lead continuity planning for the Vancouver Point Grey campus. Working with academic units, he will assist in the roll-out of our Continuity Planning Framework and the creation of Continuity Plans for faculties using a…
-
Christine Lin joins UBC as Tax Analyst
We are pleased to welcome Christine Lin as Tax Analyst, reporting to Holly Shepherd, Tax Manager effective May 16, 2022. Christine is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) with extensive experience in corporate and indirect tax within the oil and gas…