Job Title: Senior Manager, Accounting - Canada (Bilingual French – English is an asset)
Location(s): Downtown Toronto (presence at the office 5 days a week is preferred)
Reporting to: COO, CFO, Finance Group Officers
Senior Manager, Accounting – UNIQLO Canada
Be the Strategic Accounting Leader to bring UNIQLO to the next level

POSITION OVERVIEW:

The Senior Manager of Accounting for Uniqlo Canada will play a pivotal role in overseeing and managing the company’s accounting operations, ensuring accuracy, compliance with applicable regulations, and enabling strategic financial reporting. This position requires a highly organized, detail-oriented, and experienced professional with a strong background in accounting, ideally within a retail or multinational corporation environment. This hands-on leader operate at both strategic and operational levels, acting as a strong business partner to the store managers and the executive team, and a key contributor to our continued expansion in the Canadian retail market.
This is a high-impact role for a decisive leader who thrives in fast-paced environments, enjoys solving complex problems, and is driven to build and optimize financial systems to support long-term success. The ability to work in alignment with our US regional management team and our global headquarters in Japan is crucial.

QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS

Educational Background

• Degree in Accounting or a related field; CPA designation preferred.

Professional Experience

• Minimum 7 years of progressive experience in accounting, with at least 4 years in a leadership role.
• Proven experience in a retail environment or multinational corporation is highly preferred.
• Advanced knowledge of IFRS (International Financial Reporting Standards), especially IFRS 16
• Expertise in Canadian tax compliance and reporting requirements to ensure proper filing and remittance

Technical Skills

• Proficiency in accounting software and ERP systems, such as SAP and Coupa.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills and the ability to interpret complex accounting data.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills to address accounting challenges effectively.Leadership and Communication
• Excellent leadership and interpersonal skills, with the ability to inspire and manage diverse teams.
• Outstanding verbal and written communication skills to present accounting insights to non-accounting stakeholders.
• Ability to build and maintain strong relationships with internal and external partners, including auditors and regulatory bodies.
• Bilingual in English and French (written and spoken) is preferred

Other skills:

• A true passion for UNIQLO brand, with the ability to explain our products features and to resonate with our corporate philosophy / values
• Proven ability to manage people, prior supervisory experience of leading a small team (in finance or other settings)
• Proven ability to lead strategic initiatives while managing day-to-day finance functions

ABOUT US

https://www.uniqlo.com/ca/en/spl
Welcome to Uniqlo, where our journey from a single store in Hiroshima to a global brand embodies the essence of Japanese simplicity and innovation. Our founder, Tadashi Yanai, envisioned a company that transcends traditional fashion, focusing instead on creating high-quality, functional clothing that serves the everyday needs of people worldwide. This vision gave birth to our LifeWear concept—apparel that is simple, yet essential; designed to make life better for all.
As you embark on your journey with UNIQLO, know that you are joining a company that never gives up. Every challenge we have faced has made us stronger, smarter, and more determined to push boundaries. We are more than just a fashion brand—we are a global movement driven by sustainability, purpose, discipline, and the belief that great clothing can change lives.
Vision and Culture
At Uniqlo, we embrace the Japanese philosophy of continuous improvement. This principle drives us to constantly refine our products and processes, ensuring that we deliver clothing that offers new and unique value. Our commitment to quality and innovation is evident in our fabric technologies, such as HEATTECH, which provides warmth without bulk, and AIRism, designed to keep you cool and comfortable. These advancements reflect our dedication to enhancing the everyday experiences of our customers.
Our name, UNIQLO, is a blend of ‘unique’ and ‘clothing,’ symbolizing our mission to provide distinctive apparel that meets universal needs. We believe in the power of simplicity and strive to create designs that are both timeless and accessible, allowing individuals to express their personal style effortlessly.
We invite you to embrace our core values of simplicity, quality, and continuous improvement. Together, we will continue to innovate and inspire, bringing the best of Japanese craftsmanship and philosophy to wardrobes around the world.
Welcome to the Uniqlo family, where we are united in our pursuit of making everyday life better through exceptional clothing

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Accounting Strategy and Leadership

• Provide strategic advice to senior management and collaborate closely with other departments to align accounting practices with organizational priorities.
• Monitor industry trends and regulatory changes to recommend proactive adjustments in accounting procedures.
• Collaborate with US and Japan team members to provide accounting guidance and support organizational projects globally and in Canada

Accounting Operations

• Oversee all accounting functions, including accounts payable, accounts receivable, fixed assets, lease accounting, tax filings, and general ledger accounting.
• Ensure timely and accurate preparation of financial reports, statements, and budgets
• Maintain and optimize accounting systems and procedures to improve efficiency and effectiveness.
• Ensure compliance with Canadian accounting standards, taxation laws, and other regulatory requirements.
• Ensure compliance with Fast Retailing’s global accounting policies and procedures.

Audit and Risk Management

• Lead internal and external audits to ensure transparency and accuracy in financial reporting.
• Identify accounting risks and implement controls to mitigate them.
• Ensure proper documentation and adherence to compliance protocols to maintain corporate integrity

Team Management And Development

• Recruit, train, and mentor accounting staff to foster growth and maintain high performance standards.
• Promote a culture of collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement within the accounting department.
• Set clear goals and provide regular feedback to team members to ensure alignment with organizational objectives.

CORE TASKS

• Prepare IFRS reports, including additional quarterly and annual disclosure
• Monitor and implement accounting controls effectively
• Lead month-end P&L reviews and balance sheet analysis meetings while preparing monthly journals and reconciliations for assigned markets
• Conduct regular discussions with Corporate Planning to support P&L management and business insights, while proactively identifying cost-saving opportunities
• Deliver key financial findings to management monthly for designated markets
• Mentor and train accounting and AP teams handling transactional processes within the Global Finance function abroad
• Develop strong relationships with store management and the EC business to identify potential accounting concerns and improve P&L understanding
• Manage compliance for designated countries, ensuring adherence to local reporting requirements, coordination with third-party tax consultants, VAT data submission, and completion of business statistics questionnaires
• Approve and review processed A/P vouchers using Coupa system and SAP
• Support various ad hoc projects and respond to special requests as required
• Support HR team in developing financial planning for new employees’ benefits policies (pension plan)
• Other duties as assigned