Corporate Controller – Manufacturing

Our client is a privately owned, Canadian organization operating within the manufacturing sector. The company has a growing and diversified business with multiple operating entities and is continuing to invest in its people, systems, and processes to support future growth.

They are seeking a Corporate Controller to join the finance leadership team and oversee the accounting function across the organization. Reporting to the VP of Finance, this is a hands-on and highly visible role responsible for financial reporting, month-end close, budgeting and forecasting, manufacturing accounting, cash flow, internal controls, and leadership of a small accounting team.

The successful candidate will also play an important role in ERP implementation, process improvement, acquisition integration, and the continued development of the organization's finance infrastructure.

Key Responsibilities

Financial Leadership

• Take ownership of the organization's month-end and year-end accounting cycles, ensuring financial information is complete, accurate, and delivered on schedule.
• Oversee the preparation of financial statements, management reporting, and reporting packages for senior leadership and ownership.
• Review key balance sheet accounts, reconciliations, intercompany activity, and other areas requiring strong financial oversight.
• Establish consistent accounting practices and reporting standards across the business.
• Strengthen the organization's financial controls and accounting infrastructure in preparation for future audit requirements.
• Act as a key finance resource for complex accounting and business issues.

Manufacturing Finance

• Provide financial oversight of manufacturing operations, with a strong focus on job costing, WIP, inventory, standard costs, and overhead allocation.
• Work with operational leaders to understand cost drivers and investigate significant variances.
• Help improve visibility into product and job profitability.
• Identify opportunities to improve margins, reduce costs, and strengthen operational efficiency.
• Enhance inventory reporting and controls, including inventory accuracy, turns, and obsolete or slow-moving inventory.

Planning & Business Analysis

• Lead the annual budgeting and forecasting process in partnership with business leaders.
• Develop meaningful financial analysis to help management understand business performance and make informed decisions.
• Monitor results against budget and forecast, identifying material variances and underlying drivers.
• Provide financial modelling and analysis to support growth initiatives, capital decisions, and business planning.
• Help leadership understand the financial implications of operational decisions.

Systems & Finance Transformation

• Play a key role in the organization's ongoing SAP implementation and ERP standardization.
• Work cross-functionally with Operations and IT to improve financial systems, data integrity, and reporting.
• Help identify and implement automation opportunities within the accounting function.
• Improve the efficiency and scalability of core finance processes.
• Support the development of standardized processes and systems that can accommodate future growth.

Acquisitions & Integration

• Participate in the finance workstream for newly acquired businesses.
• Help transition acquired entities onto common accounting systems, processes, and reporting structures.
• Identify differences in accounting practices and implement consistent processes across the organization.
• Contribute to the development of an integration framework that can be leveraged for future acquisitions.

Cash Management

• Maintain visibility into short- and medium-term cash requirements.
• Prepare and monitor cash flow forecasts and working capital needs.
• Work with senior leadership and financial institutions on banking and treasury requirements.
• Identify opportunities to improve working capital and cash conversion.

Team Leadership

• Lead and develop a small accounting team, providing direction, coaching, and technical support.
• Establish clear expectations and promote a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.
• Remain hands-on with accounting activities and provide support during complex or high-volume periods.
• Review work for accuracy and ensure appropriate controls and processes are followed.

Requirements

• CPA designation required.
• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related discipline.
• 5+ years of progressive accounting experience with demonstrated Controller-level or full-cycle responsibility.
• Strong experience within a manufacturing accounting environment.
• Demonstrated experience with job costing, WIP, inventory valuation, standard costing, and overhead allocation.
• Experience working with an ERP system; SAP experience strongly preferred.
• Experience participating in an ERP implementation, migration, or system integration project.
• Multi-entity accounting experience is an asset.
• Acquisition integration experience is an asset.
• Experience within a privately owned, entrepreneurial, acquisition-driven, or PE-backed organization is an asset.
• Previous experience supervising or mentoring accounting professionals.
• Strong Excel and financial analysis skills.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills, with the ability to work effectively with both finance and operational stakeholders.
• Highly organized, analytical, and comfortable managing competing priorities.
• A hands-on approach and willingness to work closely with the details while maintaining a broader business perspective.

Additional Information:

The Mason Group is committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and accessible recruitment process. We welcome applicants from all qualified candidates. Accommodations are available upon request for candidates participating in all stages of the recruitment process, in accordance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA).

This role is for an immediate vacancy, and we are actively hiring.

If you are already registered with The Mason Group, please contact your Recruiting Consultant directly with reference to job #21255.