Manager, Accounting

at  Porter Airlines Inc

Job Summary:
The Manager, Accounting will be an integral member of the finance team and will report to the Director, Accounting and Reporting. Leading the Accounting team, this position plays a pivotal role in ensuring Porter’s financial statements are accurate, compliant, and reflective of its operational performance. This role is responsible for overseeing all day-to-day accounting operations (excluding Revenue Accounting), ensuring compliance with accounting standards, and maintaining accurate financial records for Porter. This role focuses on managing transactional accounting functions, ensuring strong internal controls, and supporting operational efficiency.

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Lead monthly, quarterly, and annual financial closing activities, including reviewing journal entries, balance sheet reconciliations, and cash flow statements.
• Ensure compliance with internal and external financial policies and regulations, with a focus on major balance sheet reconciliations and sub-ledger integrity.
• Drive continuous improvement in accounting and financial processes by leading initiatives, such as maintaining an issues tracker to achieve a five-day close cycle.
• Stay informed about new and emerging accounting and auditing standards, ensuring timely implementation and compliance.
• Coordinate with external auditors and assist in managing the annual audit process efficiently.
• Enhance the quality, accuracy, and timeliness of financial information, preparing comprehensive materials for regular Audit Committee meetings.
• Contribute to the development of Porter’s internal controls program by documenting significant processes and related key controls, ensuring these are updated annually or as needed.
• Strengthen and maintain robust internal controls over financial reporting to ensure accuracy and compliance.
• Oversee potential general ledger restructuring related to the combination or amalgamation of legal entities.
• Prepare ad hoc analyses and financial reports to support strategic decision-making and organizational goals.
• Collaborate on finance transformation initiatives, including business process outsourcing, to ensure accurate implementation of accounting components.
• Lead and mentor a team of Accounting professionals, fostering a high-performance culture and supporting their career development.
• Manage the accounts payable process and team, ensuring accuracy, efficiency, and adherence to company policies.
• Partner with the broader finance team and other corporate and operational functions to ensure accurate and complete financial reporting.
• Actively engage in Porter’s Safety Management System (SMS), reporting hazards and incidents encountered in daily operations while promoting and adhering to the Company Safety Policy

Behavioural Competencies:

• Concern for Safety: Identifying hazardous or potentially hazardous situations and taking appropriate action to maintain a safe environment for self and others.
• Teamwork: Working collaboratively with others to achieve organizational goals.
• Passenger/Customer Service: Providing service excellence to internal and/or external customers (passengers).
• Initiative: Dealing with situations and issues proactively and persistently, seizing opportunities that arise.
• Results Focus: Focusing efforts on achieving high quality results consistent with the organization’s standards.
• Fostering Communication: Listening and communicating openly, honestly, and respectfully with different audiences, promoting dialogue and building consensus.
• Exemplifying Integrity: Treating others fairly, honestly, and respectfully, furthering the integrity of the organization and its relationships of trust with team members and the broader community.
• Inspiring Others: Energizing and inspiring others to strive for excellence and commit to common goals and purposes, creating a sense of self-efficacy, resilience, and persistence in followers.
• People Leadership: Assuming a leadership role in helping others achieve excellent results.
• Leading Change: Recognizing the need for change, being open to new ideas and methods, and championing transformational change within the organization and beyond.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Business, or a related discipline, combined with a CPA, CA, or equivalent professional designation.
• A minimum of 7 years of progressive financial accounting experience, including direct collaboration with external auditors (experience in the airline industry or transportation sector is considered an asset).
• Previous experience in a major public accounting firm is preferred.
• Experience in industry having managed a financial statement close process.
• Strong technical accounting expertise with a comprehensive understanding of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), and consolidated financial reporting.
• Advanced proficiency in Excel with strong foundational skills required.
• Proven leadership abilities to effectively develop, mentor, and strengthen team performance.
• Demonstrated success in management roles within larger organizations, with the capability to attract, motivate, and retain top-tier talent.
• Exceptional financial discipline, particularly in compliance and technical accounting.
• Highly organized with a strong focus on accuracy, efficiency, and meeting deadlines.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to clearly articulate complex financial concepts to non-finance stakeholders.
• Strong team player with the ability to collaborate effectively across multiple functions and influence cross-functional teams.
• Familiarity with large Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems, API integrations, and other autonomous technologies.

Company Description:
Since 2006, Porter Airlines has been elevating the experience of economy air travel for every passenger, providing genuine hospitality with style, care and charm. Porter’s fleet of Embraer E195-E2 and De Havilland Dash 8-400 aircraft serves a North American network from Eastern Canada. Headquartered in Toronto, Porter is an Official 4 Star Airline® in the World Airline Star Rating®. Visit www.flyporter.com or follow @porterairlines on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter

• Lead monthly, quarterly, and annual financial closing activities, including reviewing journal entries, balance sheet reconciliations, and cash flow statements.
• Ensure compliance with internal and external financial policies and regulations, with a focus on major balance sheet reconciliations and sub-ledger integrity.
• Drive continuous improvement in accounting and financial processes by leading initiatives, such as maintaining an issues tracker to achieve a five-day close cycle.
• Stay informed about new and emerging accounting and auditing standards, ensuring timely implementation and compliance.
• Coordinate with external auditors and assist in managing the annual audit process efficiently.
• Enhance the quality, accuracy, and timeliness of financial information, preparing comprehensive materials for regular Audit Committee meetings.
• Contribute to the development of Porter’s internal controls program by documenting significant processes and related key controls, ensuring these are updated annually or as needed.
• Strengthen and maintain robust internal controls over financial reporting to ensure accuracy and compliance.
• Oversee potential general ledger restructuring related to the combination or amalgamation of legal entities.
• Prepare ad hoc analyses and financial reports to support strategic decision-making and organizational goals.
• Collaborate on finance transformation initiatives, including business process outsourcing, to ensure accurate implementation of accounting components.
• Lead and mentor a team of Accounting professionals, fostering a high-performance culture and supporting their career development.
• Manage the accounts payable process and team, ensuring accuracy, efficiency, and adherence to company policies.
• Partner with the broader finance team and other corporate and operational functions to ensure accurate and complete financial reporting.
• Actively engage in Porter’s Safety Management System (SMS), reporting hazards and incidents encountered in daily operations while promoting and adhering to the Company Safety Polic