The following is a message to the University community from Vice-President Finance and Administration Carol McAulay:
Dear Colleagues,
I’m writing to share the important news that Wendy Miller, CPA-CA, has accepted the appointment to the role of Assistant Vice-President Finance and Chief Financial Officer of York University. Wendy will be joining the University on April 5.
Sanish Samuel graciously assumed the interim role of AVP Finance and CFO in November 2020 following the departure of Terry Shields. Sanish and I have worked closely since November, he providing invaluable advice and exemplary leadership to the team — a bedrock for a successful interim period. His strong business acumen combined with his deep knowledge and understanding for advancing change has been crucial for the work that we are doing on key institutional priorities such as Service Excellence, the SSRP and the Markham Centre Campus. Interim leaders provide strength during times of transition and I am grateful and thankful to Sanish for stepping up to the challenge, a testament to his dedication and commitment to the University.
As a senior member of the leadership team in the Division of Finance and Administration, Wendy will work together with University executives and the Board of Governors to provide leadership and direction for the Finance portfolio. She will participate in and support strategic and operational decision making, and work to advance York’s vision for service excellence.
Wendy is a senior finance executive with more than 20 years of experience in both the public and private sector. She joins us from Strellson North America Ltd., where she has been the Chief Financial Officer since 2017, managing risk and leading the organization through transition and change to ensure financial stability. Prior to that she worked as an independent accounting and financial consultant, accounting for portfolios up to $100 million, delivering business results and managing organizational risk through the development of strategy in the areas of budget and accounting, financial management, change and knowledge management. In addition, she held progressively senior positions with Ernst & Young LLP as assurance manager, senior manager, and associate partner, specializing in the not-for-profit sector. She also worked with a portfolio of public, private, government, public private partnerships and not-for-profit clients including York University.
An active volunteer, Wendy donated her time and knowledge as a member of the Finance committee of the Mary Centre from 2012 to 2020 and currently serves as the Treasurer of her son’s school council.
In addition to her Chartered Professional Accountants designation (CPA-CA), Wendy holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from McMaster University.
Please join me in welcoming Wendy to the York family.
Sincerely,
Carol McAulay,
Vice-President Finance and Administration