Senior Accountant

Alberta Newsprint Company (ANC), a joint venture of the Stern Group and West Fraser Timber Company Ltd., is a leading manufacturer of premium paper products. Located in Whitecourt, and operating with a non-unionized workforce, the firm’s paper mill—the first in Alberta—produces paper of such high quality that it has become the standard by which other paper products manufactured in North America are measured. The company is a successful, well-financed, progressive organization that is regarded as one of the best companies in the paper industry.

Job Title: Senior Accountant

Location: On Site.

Employment Type: Full-Time (Temporary-to-Permanent)

Position begins as a full-time contract role with an evaluation for transition to a permanent contract upon successful performance review.

Job Summary

We are seeking a detail-oriented and analytical Senior Accountant to join our finance team. In this role, you will take ownership of core accounting operations, manage the month-end and year-end close processes, lead year-end audit preparations, and ensure compliance with relevant accounting standards. You will also mentor junior accounting staff and collaborate closely with leadership to provide accurate financial insights.

Key Responsibilities.

• General Ledger & Month/Year-End Close: Manage general ledger activities, execute monthly and annual financial closes, and prepare comprehensive financial statements.
• Year-End Audit Management: Serve as the primary point of contact for external auditors; coordinate, prepare, and deliver audit schedules, work papers, and requested documentation.
• Budgeting & Forecasting: Drive the annual budgeting process, develop quarterly financial forecasts, and conduct variance analysis to explain deviations between actuals and budgets
• Reconciliation & Analysis: Perform complex balance sheet and P&L account reconciliations, analyze variances, and resolve financial discrepancies.
• Compliance & Reporting: Ensure financial records and reporting adhere to GAAP or IFRS standards and local regulatory requirements.
• Team Guidance: Support, train, and review the work of junior accountants and bookkeepers.
• Process Improvement: Assist in developing and implementing internal controls, accounting policies, and ERP/software efficiencies.

Qualifications & Requirements

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in accounting, Finance, or a related field.
• Designation: Active Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) designation required.
• Experience: 3 to 5 years of progressive post-qualification accounting experience.
• Audit Experience: Demonstrated hands-on experience leading or directly supporting year-end audits (either in public accounting or corporate finance).
• Technical Skills:
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel (pivot tables, VLOOKUPs, financial modeling).
• Working experience with major accounting software or ERP systems (e.g., NetSuite, Microsoft Dynamics, SAP, Sage, Caseware).
• Competencies: Strong organizational skills, high ethical standards, analytical mindset, and clear communication abilities.

Alberta Newsprint Company will only consider those eligible to work in Canada either by citizenship, permanent residency, or valid Canadian work permit.

We thank all those who apply, but only applicants being actively considered for employment will be contacted.