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

  • Three recipients of this year’s Campus as a Living Lab ‘Grand Challenge’ are from the VPFO portfolio

    Three recipients selected for this year’s Campus as a Living Lab ‘Grand Challenge’ all belong to the VPFO portfolio and will be moving forward with a total of $600k in funding. Congratulations to Facilities, Safety & Risk Services, and Campus…

    Read more: Three recipients of this year’s Campus as a Living Lab ‘Grand Challenge’ are from the VPFO portfolio
  • Get to know the senior leadership team: John Metras

    Fostering a culture of purpose driven leadership, get to know John Metras, Associate Vice-President, Facilities and his leadership vision: “I am an inclusive, action-oriented leader. I engage and empower my team and collaborate with stakeholders to build and maintain a…

    Read more: Get to know the senior leadership team: John Metras
  • T2200S Update – Temporary Flat Rate method of claiming home office expenses discontinued for the 2023 tax year

    The “Temporary Flat Rate Method” of claiming home expenses on the T2200S form ended December 31, 2022, and is no longer available for the 2023 tax year. If you require a T2200 detailed form, please ask your faculty/department to complete…

    Read more: T2200S Update – Temporary Flat Rate method of claiming home office expenses discontinued for the 2023 tax year
  • Jack Bell Building Renewal

    Construction will begin this month on the Jack Bell Building Renewal. This project will mitigate deferred maintenance and seismically upgrade the building, while also reconfiguring its existing spaces to support state-of-the-art learning environments for the School of Social Work in…

    Read more: Jack Bell Building Renewal
  • Derek Ho joins Safety & Risk Services as Lead Advisor, Privacy & Information Security Risk

    Derek Ho joins Safety & Risk Services’ Privacy & Information Security Management (PrISM) team as Lead Advisor in Privacy & Information Security Risk. The SRS PrISM team delivers privacy and security risk assessments, campus-wide training and risk advisory services to…

    Read more: Derek Ho joins Safety & Risk Services as Lead Advisor, Privacy & Information Security Risk

People of the VPFO

  • Wendy Lam joins Customer Services & Informatics in Facilities as Clerk

    Through supporting engagement and communication activities, Wendy will enhance the team’s ability to make data readily available to staff managers.

    Read more: Wendy Lam joins Customer Services & Informatics in Facilities as Clerk
  • Custodial Services celebrates Vaisakhi  

    Custodial Services’ staff celebrated Vaisakhi on Friday morning at the start of the shift in the UBC Life Building Custodial deployment office. Special thanks to Balvir Bains and Charanjit Bains for organizing this celebration!

    Read more: Custodial Services celebrates Vaisakhi  
  • UBC Emergency Management welcomes two new team members, Mariyam Syed and Alicia Head

    Mariyam Syed, Emergency Management & Continuity Planning Advisor, will spearhead UBC’s Continuity Planning Program while also providing expertise to numerous other program elements, and Alicia Head, Emergency Management & Continuity Planning Associate, will have a broad support role on the…

    Read more: UBC Emergency Management welcomes two new team members, Mariyam Syed and Alicia Head
  • “What are we doing? Where can we improve?” Continuous improvement in action

    Adam started at UBC as a Warehouse Clerk for UBC Bookstore in 2011 and moved into the role of Storeperson at Stores in UBC Facilities in 2016. Since then, through learning continuously, developing strong relationships and providing leadership, Adam has…

    Read more: “What are we doing? Where can we improve?” Continuous improvement in action
  • Announcing Helen Yung as the new Comptroller for UBC

    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.

    Read more: Announcing Helen Yung as the new Comptroller for UBC