Assistant Controller

Creative Energy; Vancouver; On-site; CAD 115,000 - 144,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Bonus program

RRSP matching 5%

Comprehensive benefits

Job summary

Creative Energy, a leader in sustainable district energy systems, seeks an Assistant Controller to lead the finance team in Vancouver. You will drive monthly and quarterly reporting, strengthen controls, and partner with FP&A to deliver insights across projects and business development.

You will mentor junior staff, oversee accounting operations, and ensure accurate statutory reporting for City of Vancouver and regulatory bodies. CPA designation and ASPE knowledge are essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting or finance.
• CPA designation.
• 5–8 years of related accounting and finance experience with ASPE knowledge.
• Minimum of 2 years’ experience leading and managing junior/intermediate accounting or finance team members.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, organizational, and time management skills with high accuracy.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and deliver high-quality work in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with internal teams, auditors, tax advisors, lenders, and regulatory stakeholders.
• Experience with Sage Intacct is highly valued.
• Big 4 experience is highly valued.
• Knowledge of BC Utilities Commission regulatory impact is an asset.

Responsibilities

• Lead, coach, and develop a team of junior and intermediate accounting and finance professionals.
• Oversee day-to-day operation of financial control systems, transaction-processing activities, and accounting policies and procedures.
• Deliver accurate and timely monthly financial reporting, including analysis of KPIs and variances.
• Prepare annual financial statements and notes, coordinate information for external auditors, improve audit efficiency.
• Prepare external financial reporting, including City of Vancouver compliance reporting and the BCUC Annual Report.
• Oversee project accounting deliverables and integrate into overall financial reporting.
• Manage working capital including accounts payable/receivable and cash flow monitoring.
• Support tax compliance activities (GST, PST, HST) and outsourced processes.
• Prepare quarterly financial statements and covenant calculations for lenders.
• Improve financial processes, controls, and COA visibility.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Communication skills

Time management

Attention to detail

Problem solving

Relationship building

Education

Bachelor's degree in accounting or finance

CPA designation

Tools

Sage Intacct

Job description

The Opportunity

We are looking for an Assistant Controller to join our Finance team. Reporting to the Controller, this role is ideal for a CPA-designated finance leader who brings strong technical accounting expertise, a continuous improvement mindset, and a passion for developing people. You will play a key role in delivering accurate, timely financial reporting, strengthening financial processes and controls, and supporting informed decision-making across operations, projects, and business development.

You will lead the accounting team through month-end, quarter-end, annual audit, tax, treasury, and reporting cycles. You will work closely with the Controller and partner with FP&A to provide meaningful insights into financial performance, key variances, KPIs, cash flow, and business results.

What You’ll Do

• Lead, coach, and develop a team of junior and intermediate accounting and finance professionals through daily mentorship, workload management, training, and performance support.
• Oversee the day-to-day operation of financial control systems, transaction-processing activities, and accounting policies and procedures.
• Deliver accurate and timely monthly financial reporting, including analysis of financial performance, KPIs, and key budget variances in partnership with FP&A.
• Prepare annual financial statements and notes, coordinate information for external auditors, and identify opportunities to improve audit efficiency.
• Prepare external financial reporting, including City of Vancouver compliance reporting and the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) Annual Report.
• Oversee project accounting deliverables, including project reports and capital forecasts, ensuring they are accurate, timely, and integrated into overall financial reporting.
• Manage working capital by supporting timely accounts payable processing, prompt accounts receivable collection, short-term cash flow monitoring, and operating line draws as required.
• Support tax compliance activities, including GST, PST, HST, and outsourced tax compliance processes.
• Prepare quarterly financial statements and covenant calculations for lenders.
• Improve financial processes, controls, and chart of accounts visibility to support better decision-making across the business.

What You Bring

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting or finance.
• CPA accounting designation.
• 5–8 years of related accounting and finance experience, with strong knowledge of financial reporting standards, particularly ASPE.
• Minimum of 2 years’ experience leading and managing junior and intermediate accounting or finance team members.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, organizational, and time management skills, with a high level of accuracy and attention to detail.
• Demonstrated ability to manage competing priorities and deliver high-quality work in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to build trusted relationships with internal teams, auditors, tax advisors, lenders, and regulatory stakeholders.
• Experience with Sage Intacct is highly valued.
• Big 4 experience is highly valued.
• Knowledge of the regulatory impact of the BC Utilities Commission is considered an asset.

About Us

Recognized as a leader in innovative energy solutions, Creative Energy is the developer, owner, and operator of sustainable district energy systems across North America. Our team has a client-focused, community-driven approach to projects that deliver outstanding quality and service while providing clear, measurable benefits that direct long-term growth and sustainability.

As developer, owner, and operator of one of Canada’s largest thermal networks in downtown Vancouver, we provide significant value to developers, landowners, end-users, and the broader community through flexible thermal energy solutions by reducing carbon emissions, lowering energy costs, and improving energy reliability. With sixteen bespoke projects across Ontario, British Columbia, and Washington State, we are helping communities transition to cleaner, more resilient energy infrastructure.

Our projects focus on innovation, resiliency, and sustainability, and span across a broad spectrum of technologies including geo-exchange, ocean exchange, sewer heat recovery, thermal storage, and microgrids.

Utilizing experience and expertise developed through over 56 years of service, Creative Energy is advancing a wide portfolio of new low-carbon district energy systems across North America, including the revitalization and decarbonization of our downtown Vancouver steam energy centre. This will be one of North America’s largest thermal fuel-switch projects and will provide downtown Vancouver with renewable energy infrastructure for decades to come.

What We Offer

• Be part of a team that values ingenuity, tenacity, partnership, agility and integrity.
• Enjoy opportunities for professional growth and development.

• Competitive starting salary and performance-based bonus program. The hiring salary range is CAD$115,000 - CAD$143,600. Within the range, individual pay is determined by factors such as job-related skills, relevant experience, education and/or training. The upper end of the range is typically reserved for candidates with demonstrated expertise that is above job requirements or who bring exceptional directly transferable experience.

• Comprehensive benefits package, including an RRSP matching program at 5%.

We thank all applicants for their interest; however, we will only be contacting selected candidates for follow-up.