UAT profiles: meet Ibtissam Nkaili

In this new series, get to know some of the people who have taken on new roles as part of the university's operating model.

Ibtissam Nkaili

• Current position: Finance Partner, Campus Saint-Jean
• Time with the university: 3 years
• Former position: Finance Lead and Controller, Campus Saint-Jean

What do you like most about your current position?

I like being part of the finance partnership network. It provides us with opportunities to learn from each other and act on issues that affect multiple units as a group.

How was the transition into your new position?

The transition to my new role as a Finance Partner was successful as I have already been serving Campus Saint-Jean as a Finance Lead for three years. The main change for me is now being the touchpoint with central Finance which provides more support and allows me to further my knowledge of the rest of the university.

Has your unit experienced any successes or progress as part of the UAT initiative?

One success is the easy access to information and more opportunities to create a more consistent practice across the university.

What aspect of UAT has been more challenging than you expected?

With this bold transformation, I think one challenge is understanding and taking into account the particularities of different units across the university. Campus Saint-Jean for instance not only offers post secondary education in French in a minority context, but also operates and needs to maintain its services in French.

When you think of the U of A of Tomorrow, what are you most looking forward to?

With the budget constraints and the pandemic, this is truly a difficult time for all of us. I am looking forward to the stabilization phase of implementing the new operating model. On another note, I am looking forward to meeting my colleagues in person.

Finance Partners are a brand new role to the university and deliver financial advice, guidance, and solutions to academic and administrative leaders including faculty deans, faculty general managers, and chiefs of staff. They draw on their deep understanding of the university, its operations, and its challenges to deliver appropriate financial solutions to their respective area(s).

If you'd like to be featured in the UAT profile series, or would like to nominate someone, please contact uat@ualberta.ca.