Sinopec Canada is a wholly owned subsidiary of a major International upstream oil and gas company, Sinopec International Petroleum Exploration and Production Corporation (SIPC) headquartered in Beijing, China. Sinopec Canada has been an active participant in the Canadian energy industry since 2005. Joining Sinopec Canada means becoming an important part of our team dedicated to making successful contributions to a sustainable future.
Primary Purpose of Position:
Sinopec Canada has a unique opportunity for a Senior Business Operations Analyst. This role is responsible for providing financial and operational analysis to support effective cost management and performance optimization specifically related to production operations. This role ensures the accuracy of OPEX accruals and budgets, develops and reports key performance indicators, and collaborates with Accounting, Finance, and Operations teams to identify cost drivers, benchmark performance, and recommend improvements that enhance operational efficiency and profitability.
Roles and Responsibilities:
- Develop and maintain processes, models, and tools to improve the accuracy and efficiency of OPEX forecasting, budgeting, and reporting.
- Generate estimates for the monthly OPEX accrual, ensuring all operating expense accruals are accurate, reliable, and supported by appropriate documentation.
- Prepare, analyze, and present key operational and financial metrics, including production department Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), to support informed decision-making and achievement of cost and safety targets.
- Identify, evaluate, and implement initiatives that reduce OPEX across operational functions.
- Prepare and coordinate the annual operating cost budget, consolidating input from field operations and corporate departments.
- Conduct detailed variance analysis between budget, forecast, and actual results; collaborate with Operations Accounting and field teams to explain and address variances.
- Benchmark operational performance against key cost and production drivers to identify trends, inefficiencies, and opportunities for improvement.
- Act as the primary liaison between Accounting, Finance, Information Technology, and Production to ensure alignment of data, reporting standards, and performance objectives.
- Partner with the Production department and field operations to develop operating budgets and forecasts that reflect accurate production volumes and cost expectations.
- Provide actionable insights to field leadership on cost drivers and performance trends, supporting initiatives to reduce operating costs and improve profitability.
- Deliver ad hoc analysis and reporting on key business drivers, including production volumes, capital costs, royalties, reserves, and netbacks.
- Support the continuous improvement of operational processes through collaboration, data analysis, and performance monitoring.
- Ensure compliance with internal controls, corporate policies, and reporting standards related to operating costs and performance metrics.
Position Knowledge, Skills, and Experience:
- Strong background in operations accounting, including production, joint ventures, capital, and operating costs, or equivalent experience supporting production operations and OPEX management.
- Experience in budgeting, forecasting, variance analysis, and accruals for operating expenses, with a focus on production departments and field operations.
- Familiarity with field operations and production systems, and the ability to understand operational drivers behind costs and performance metrics.
- Exposure to Oil & Gas software applications (e.g., Qbyte, Mosaic, Prodview, AFE Navigator) is preferred; advanced skills in Excel, including Pivot Tables, are required.
- Experience liaising across multiple functions (Accounting, Finance, IT, Production, and field teams) to align on data, reporting, and operational objectives.
- Demonstrated ability to identify process improvement opportunities, benchmark performance, and implement solutions that enhance profitability and operational efficiency.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with a high attention to detail and accuracy.
- Ability to manage multiple projects under tight deadlines while maintaining quality and reliability of work.
- Excellent relationship-building and collaboration skills, capable of working effectively with all levels of the organization.
- Self-motivated, accountable, and solution-oriented, with the ability to proactively identify issues and recommend improvements.
- Comfortable working in a fast-paced, team-oriented, and changing environment, with a goal-oriented mindset and strong priority-setting skills.
- Strong ethics, integrity, and discretion, particularly in handling confidential or sensitive information related to the company and its operations.
- Effective communication skills, including the ability to present complex operational and financial data in a clear, actionable manner to stakeholders.
Qualifications:
- 10+ years of experience in oil and gas or a similar heavy industry, ideally with exposure to both operations and finance.
- Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, and Business Administration, is preferred. CPA (Chartered Professional Accountant) designation signifies relevance for OPEX, cost tracking, and budgeting.
- A degree in Petroleum Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or Operations Management is a strong asset. Engineering, or a related field will also be considered signifying comprehension and business acumen of industry operations.
- Project Management certifications (PMP, CAPM) contribute to large initiatives.
- Data/Analytics proficiency &/or certifications in business tools such as Power BI, SQL, Spotfire, Tableau contribute to analytics and continuous improvement initiatives.
- Field operations exposure or working with production teams specifically within the oil and gas industry demonstrates understanding of operational drivers behind costs and KPIs. Experience with Oil & Gas software: Qbyte, Mosaic, Prodview, AFE Navigator, or similar is ideal.
- Proficiency in advanced Excel formulas, including INDEX / MATCH, VLOOKUP, & PivotTables.
- Experience in reporting and presenting KPIs to management and stakeholders.
- Strong proficiency with financial and operational reporting systems.
- Ability to integrate operational data with financial reportingfor decision-making.
- Comfortable with process improvement, workflow automation, and benchmarking.
Come work with us!
If you are looking for meaningful new challenges and have a solutions-oriented attitude, we want to hear from you. Join Sinopec Canada for a workplace filled with diversity, rewarding work, and opportunities to develop new skills and grow your career.
At Sinopec Canada, we are committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and accessible environment, where all employees feel valued, respected, and supported. If you require an accommodation for the recruitment/interview process (including accessible meeting rooms or other accommodation), please let us know and we will work with you to meet your needs.
