FINANCIAL CONTROLLER

Our client, a leading company in the distribution sector is seeking a highly motivated and experienced Financial Controller to join our team. This is a permanent, full-time opportunity based at their head office and distribution center in Thorold, ON. The successful candidate will play a pivotal role in maintaining robust financial operations and leading a dedicated finance team.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field
• CPA designation preferred.
• 7-10 years of progressive accounting/finance experience.
• Proficiency with ERP accounting software (e.g., Sage 300 ERP, Sage 50), ADP Payroll, and advanced Excel skills.
• Comprehensive knowledge of Canadian ASPE and Canadian corporation tax laws

Reporting to the Vice President of Finance, you will be responsible for establishing and maintaining accounting standards, practices, and procedures to ensure accurate and timely financial statements. You will lead a team of 4-5 finance professionals, overseeing all aspects of financial management, from strategic planning to day-to-day operations, ensuring compliance with tight deadlines and a multitude of accounting activities.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead and develop a team of finance professionals, fostering a culture of accountability and continuous improvement, and providing leadership, mentorship, and direction.
• Oversee the accurate and timely monthly and year-end close processes, including journal entries, GL postings, account reconciliations, and adjustments, as well as the review of multiple bank reconciliations in multiple currencies, HST remittances, and USD Sales Tax reporting.
• Prepare and review comprehensive financial statements and reports, including Balance Sheets, Income Statements, Summary Statements, Cash Flow Statements, and Budget Reports.
• Contribute to the strategic planning process, providing financial insights and analysis to senior leadership, and assisting with financial models and analysis.
• Manage and monitor operating cash flow, Accounts Payable, and Accounts Receivable to ensure financial stability and strong vendor relationships, including reviewing turnover to stay in good standing with vendors and bring in collections within appropriate timeframes.
• Ensure adherence to budgets across all departments, minimizing variances and optimizing spend, and holding Executive Officers and Vice Presidents accountable for their respective departmental spend.
• Handle multi-currency transactions, including the conversion of source currency funds to functional through spot market transactions to fulfill financial obligations, and oversee automated currency set up and daily rate maintenance.
• Oversee all tax-related activities, including HST, PST, and USD Sales Tax reporting and remittances, ensuring compliance with Canadian corporation tax laws, and monitoring Tax Authorities and tax rates set up and maintenance.
• Drive process improvements and assist in the development and implementation of new systems and processes to enhance departmental workflow and automate accounting processes, and supporting Executive Officers and Vice Presidents with special projects.
• Provide financial guidance and support to executive officers and vice presidents, holding them accountable for departmental expenditures and assisting in providing the necessary guidance to use available tools.
• Manage and review day-to-day accounting operations, including vendor invoice processing, credit card reconciliations, customer invoicing and receipt processing, and cash management, ensuring a redundant process backup for every critical operation.
• Collaborate with the VP, People & Culture regarding Payroll processes and controls and provide approval on payroll exceptions, and reviewing bi-weekly Source Deductions and monthly EHT, WSIB payments.
• Review and coordinate inter-company transactions with accounting leaders of sister companies.
• Monitor and analyze key financial metrics and KPIs, communicating GL variances, financial metrics, KPIs and insights to the Vice-President, Finance.
• Ensure robust internal controls are in place and consistently followed to safeguard company assets and ensure data integrity.
• Assist in the consolidation of year-end documentation for tax preparation, including Financial Reports, Capital Asset Invoices, Property Tax invoices, relevant payroll audit reports, HST remittances, Bank Statements and reconciliation reports, and covenant reporting to the Bank.
• Provide training to new and existing staff as needed, and actively empower the learning and professional growth of your team through coaching and encouraging participation in the company’s internal training programs.
• Model the company’s values in all interactions and hold others accountable in maintaining the integrity of them, and leading an engaged team that is agile, service-oriented, and task-driven.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field
• CPA designation preferred.
• 7-10 years of progressive accounting/finance experience.
• Proficiency with ERP accounting software (e.g., Sage 300 ERP, Sage 50), ADP Payroll, and advanced Excel skills.
• Comprehensive knowledge of Canadian ASPE and Canadian corporation tax laws.