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
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Register for the upcoming webinar on Chemical Inventory Management
Join us in a webinar on September 21 at 2:00 pm to learn about inventory management requirements and best practices from UBC Safety & Risk Service’s Chemical Safety Advisor, Dr. Peggy Paduraru. Click through for more information, including Zoom details.
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Workday Adaptive Planning Replacing Hyperion in Summer 2023
The Adaptive Planning implementation will reduce reliance on manual systems and streamline budgeting and forecasting, while also capturing more detailed finance information and in-depth reporting. For more information and project updates, visit the UBC Adaptive Planning website.
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Upcoming training workshops for UBC VISA Cardholders
UBC Financial Operations is pleased to introduce its new online, monthly workshop to help UBC Visa cardholders and delegates better understand the university’s Visa program policies and their responsibilities as a cardholder.
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Ready Week 2022: Increasing emergency preparedness for the new school year
As the university welcomed students back on campus for the fall term last week, Safety & Risk Services’ Emergency Management team set up a booth and Quake Cottage, an earthquake simulator to help elevate our campus community’s resilience, emergency awareness…
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Protecting yourself from wildfire smoke
Lower Mainland continues to see poor air quality values as a result of the thick wildfire smoke in BC. Find resources about air quality health and safety awareness and the best ways to protect yourself.
People of the VPFO
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Esther Li promoted to Senior Financial Processing Specialist in Treasury
Reporting to Chen Shi, Treasury Accounting Manager, Esther will continue to be responsible for the incoming payments while playing a critical role in more complicated bank reconciliations and other banking side responsibilities.
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Creating inclusive spaces beyond the public realm
Jen Sheel takes pride in what her team does… and it shows. When you meet Jen, one of the first things you see is her dedication to making UBC a place that invites and builds connections. She fiercely believes that…
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Josephine Shen joins the Financial Planning and Analysis (FP&A) team as a Financial Analyst
In her new role, Josephine will play a key role in developing the Strategic Initiatives’ multi-year forecasting model and maintaining various financial models (i.e. Contingency and PAEI) at UBC.
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Celebrating UBC VPFO’s long-serving member inductees in 2022
The VPFO team has a number of long service member inductees this year. This is an amazing personal accomplishment for the individuals and a true testament to their devotion to service at UBC.
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Holly Shepherd promoted to Director, Treasury
Holly Shepherd has been promoted to Director, Treasury with overall responsibility for overseeing tax, contracts, leases & licences, housing loans, payment card industry compliance, service levy and Treasury Accounting.