Dale Mountain, CPA-CGA

• Support Athabasca University's academic, teaching and research mission and strategic direction through planning, directing and overseeing administrative and business functions of the university.
• Oversees Financial Services, Financial Planning, Reporting and Operations, Budgeting and Capital Projects, Operational and Business Services, Emergency Management and Business Continuity Planning, Enterprise Risk Management and Insurance, Facilities Operations, Asset Management, Procurement and Contracting Services, Internal Audit, Treasury and Investments of the University
• Co-Chair of Athabasca University Hybrid Working Group. Led strategy development to implement a place based Hybrid Work model from a near virtual model in Athabasca based on employee choice. Led in-person and virtual employee engagement sessions, development and implementation of a space allocation plan. In four months, doubled the number of employees on campus in Athabasca.
• In collaboration with the Provost and Vice President Academic led the 2024-25 Integrated Resource Plan for a balanced budget addressing $12 million in operational inflationary pressures, while funding new Strategic Enrolment Management initiatives to increase student enrolments and improve learner services and experience.
• Fostered positive community and external relationship by building trust with community stakeholder. I am the only Executive Position fully based out of Athabasca. Members of the Athabasca Rotary Club and Board Director and Treasurer of the Athabasca & Region Chamber of Commerce
• Vice-chair and employer sponsor representative with the Universities Academic Pension Plan (UAPP) and member of the Board of Trustees. UAPP is a $6.5B pension Plan administered by the UAPP Board of Trustees for over 8,000 plan members.
• Currently conducting a portfolio review to ensure Athabasca University is strategically positioned for growth and transformation.
• Led the review and revision of the university's ERM to align with Athabasca University's new Strategic Plan "Like No Other"
• Introduced Facilities Assessment planning in the absence of a Campus Master Development Plan.
• Collaborate with the Senior Leadership Team and CHief Governance Officer to enhance University governance structure and process.

• Support Indigenous Business Clients with business development, financial planning, accounting, tax planning, reporting and analysis in the energy sector
• Provide Indigenous Business Clients with leadership training, guidance and development
• Establish systems, processes and procedures for financial reporting and stewardship for client contracts
• Provide strategic and operational consultation and advice to improve operational success and contract award
• Develop proposals
• Grant writing

• Responsible for day-to-day operations and leadership of academic and business affairs of Keyano College
• Actively engaged with Academic Council, Deans and Student Association
• Actively engaged with Faculty Association, CUPE and external stakeholders
• Led College through COVID-19 pandemic with minimal "positive" cases. Established oversight committee and ongoing messaging to promote compliance and safety of employees, students and public
• Led College through transition from face-to-face learning to virtual learning for Fall 2020 program delivery
• Expanded Academic Programming with Business Aviation and E-sports Management
• Led College through remediation and restoration of flood damaged facilities (+$55M) permitting academic programming to resume in Fall 2020
• Ensured appropriate measured response to mitigate future overland flood damage by implementing Tiger Dam flood barrier system in April 2021
• Led virtual multi-stakeholder regional consultation sessions in response to Advanced Education's Alberta 2030 Initiative
• Led College through cost savings exercises in response to significant funding reductions by Government of Alberta exceeding 17% since 2019
• Led implementation of Legal Counsel's recommendations to address College Land Trust issues, resulting in Board approved Amended Land Trust Agreement and Revised By-laws
• Established regular governance meetings for Land Trust Board of Directors dormant since 2015
• Launched renewed Land Trust Development
• Stabilized worried and anxious workforce amidst abrupt leadership change, significant funding reductions, pandemic concerns, flood remediation and uncertainty over future
• Maintained excellent relations within Post-secondary Sector and with Ministry of Advanced Education. Member of Council of Post-secondary Presidents of Alberta and MLAs
• Introduced creative measures to increase revenues by pursuing commercial leasing of College facilities, divesture of excess infrastructure and accessing new grant opportunities
• Secured Board approved Strategic Bargaining Plan accepted by Provincial Bargaining Coordination Office (PBCO)
• Expanded College Advancement activities to secure external funding
• Led review and update of Board By-laws and College Polices & Procedures

• Responsible for day-to-day operations of Finance, Keyano Theatre, Legislative Compliance, Policies and Procedures and Procurement (included Facilities and IT until April 2019)
• Advisor to College Board of Governors and Executive employee to College Land Trust Board of Directors
• Led development of College annual budget and financial planning amidst significant funding cuts
• Addressed delinquent grant accountability reporting years overdue
• Built strong Finance Team with core competencies to address poor financial reporting, weak business controls and abysmal audit performance
• Developed and implemented detailed audit recommendation implementation plan to address systemic financial reporting issues
• Stabilized cash flow through effective planning and monitoring
• Stabilized IT infrastructure by establishing plan to replace antiquated servers
• Developed annual operating ($60M+) and capital infrastructure ($3M) budgets and long-term plans
• Addressed legacy accounting issues with capital assets
• Significantly improved quality, accuracy and timeliness financial statement preparation and audit results
• Improved turnaround time in preparation of annual consolidated financial statements from one-year (2018), to six months (2019) to under 50 days (2020)
• Addressed significant issue with accounting of Land Trust Inventory-held for Resale avoiding $4M impairment charge in 2019
• Established proper environmental reporting for Land Trust introducing independent Environmental Site Assessments to identify contamination and remediation
• Launched review of 2014 Land Trust Development Plan
• Completed Annual Comprehensive Annual Plans and Budgets. Annual Budgets ranged between $55M to $78M

Contract position

• Responsible for day-to-day operations of Finance, Facilities, IT, Procurement, Ancillary Services and Keyano Theatre
• Provided Executive support to Land Trust Board of Directors
• Addressed significant reporting and audit issues with Strategic Investment Funding Grants in excess of $6M. Closed-off four of five grant agreements in four months which were delinquent for 18 months
• Stabilized Finance department workforce in upheaval
• Established weekly meetings with Alberta Advanced Education to address and monitor significant operational issues, delinquently grant accountability reporting and concerns over sustainability
• Stabilized cash flow by liquidating portion of unrestricted portfolio investments and completed GOA outstanding grant reporting for holdback releases
• Secured sustainability grants for Keyano Theatre

• Key member of President's Executive Team
• Advisor to Board of Governors and member of Board Finance Committee
• Senior Business Officer for College and representative at post-secondary sector meetings and committees
• Oversaw College financial services, A/R, A/P, fees assessments, student accounts, budget office, book store, central purchasing, central duplicating, food services, mail services, treasury activities, management of investment portfolio and legislative compliance
• Directed College annual budget ($35 M) process, quarterly forecasts, pro-forma financial statements, MD&A and related provincial and federal regulatory reporting
• Instrumental in implementing $10 M in risk based budget reductions due to reduced government funding and shrinking enrollments over seven year period to ensure viability and sustainability of College
• Ensured financial solvency through oversight, monthly and quarterly reporting, financial planning and implementation of appropriate fiscal policies and financial management processes
• Oversaw preparation of College annual financial statements and coordination of annual audit
• Led design and implementation of College legislative compliance program (OAG sign-off in 2017)
• Served as College Chief Investment Officer
• Chair of College operations committee
• Led various request-for-proposals, request-for-information and tenders for College service contracts
• Member of Management Collective Bargaining Team

• Subsidiary of Publicly Traded Canadian Corporation

• Tribal Council representing five First Nations: Mikisew Cree First Nation, Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation, Fort McMurray First Nation #468, Fort McKay First Nation and Chipewyan Prairie First Nation

• Acclaimed Indigenous Business and Contractor to the Oilsands sector