Chief Financial Officer

Red Leaf Alternative Fibre & Renewable Energy; Kelowna; On-site; CAD 150,000 - 250,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading renewable energy company is seeking a highly experienced Chief Financial Officer (CFO) to oversee financial leadership during rapid growth. The CFO will manage corporate finance, risk management, and stakeholder relations, ensuring compliance with public company standards. Candidates should have 15+ years in finance leadership, particularly in capital-intensive industries like pulp and paper. This role is critical for driving financial operations and strategies aligned with the company's mission.

Qualifications

• 15+ years of progressive finance leadership experience.
• Direct experience in pulp and paper or similar industries.
• Proven track record leading large-scale project financings over C$500M.

Responsibilities

• Lead corporate equity and debt financing strategies.
• Ensure accurate, timely financial reporting and external audits.
• Build and develop a high-performing Finance & Accounting team.

Skills

Industrial project finance

Financial leadership

Investor relations

ESG integration

Financial reporting

Education

CPA, CFA, or MBA

Master’s degree in Finance, Business, or Accounting

Job description

Red Leaf Pulp is seeking a highly experienced and strategic Chief Financial Officer (CFO) to provide enterprise-wide financial leadership during a period of rapid growth, large-scale capital deployment, and preparation for public-company readiness. As a senior member of the Corporate Team, the CFO will lead corporate and project finance, governance, capital markets strategy, and financial operations to support the company’s multi-billion-dollar development pipeline including Canada’s first commercial-scale wheat-straw pulp and lignin facility.

The role requires deep expertise in industrial project finance, pulp and paper sector economics, and complex multi-party financing structures involving private, institutional, and government partners.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic & Financial Leadership

• Partner with the CEO and EVP, Development to shape financial and capital strategy aligned with Red Leaf’s carbon-negative mission.
• Lead corporate equity and debt financing strategies, including engagement with federal/provincial funding agencies.
• Oversee enterprise financial planning, risk management, and performance measurement systems.
• Translate project economics into enterprise forecasts and valuation frameworks for investors and rating agencies.

Corporate Finance & Treasury

• Lead capital structure optimization, liquidity management, and treasury operations.
• Manage relationships with lenders, investment banks, rating agencies, analysts, and financial partners across Canada, the U.S., and international markets.
• Build and lead the Finance department, implementing scalable systems, internal controls, and IFRS-compliant reporting.
• Improve working-capital efficiency during construction and operations.

Project Finance & Industry Engagement

• Structure and negotiate project financings, including senior debt, mezzanine, equity, and guarantee programs.
• Interface with Independent Engineers, lenders, insurers, and advisors to support due diligence and risk mitigation.
• Provide financial oversight for EPCM, EPC, O&M, and feedstock contracts to ensure bankability and cost discipline.
• Apply pulp/paper or industrial sector knowledge to benchmark costs, margin drivers, and performance improvement opportunities.

Accounting, Reporting & Controls

• Ensure accurate, timely financial reporting and external audits.
• Implement IFRS-compliant accounting policies and systems with public-company readiness in mind.
• Deliver quarterly/annual financials, MD&A, Board materials, and investor-grade reporting packages.
• Maintain robust internal controls and enterprise-wide financial governance.

Investor & Stakeholder Relations

• Serve as the primary financial liaison with investors, lenders, analysts, and government partners.
• Prepare financing materials, valuations, and performance updates for external stakeholders.
• Support investor relations strategy and communication.

Risk Management & Governance

• Lead enterprise risk management (financial, operational, compliance), including definition of risk appetite and limits.
• Ensure insurance, bonding, and guarantee programs meet construction and operational needs.
• Oversee ESG-linked financial disclosure and climate-risk reporting aligned with lender and regulatory requirements.
• Advise the Board Audit Committee on capital allocation, governance, and enterprise risk exposure.

Leadership & People Development

• Build, develop, and mentor a high-performing Finance & Accounting team.
• Introduce KPI dashboards and performance systems to support accuracy, timeliness, and internal discipline.
• Strengthen succession planning and capabilities across finance, treasury, and reporting functions.

Requirements

Qualifications & Experience

• CPA, CFA, or MBA required; Master’s degree in Finance, Business, or Accounting strongly preferred.
• 15+ years of progressive finance leadership, including executive or VP-level roles in capital-intensive industries.
• Direct experience in pulp and paper, bio-products, or similar process industries (asset).
• Proven track record leading large-scale project financings (> C$500M) involving multiple lenders, investors, and government funding programs.
• Public-company finance expertise: IFRS reporting, governance requirements, and investor relations.
• Experience with multi-party financing structures including equity, debt, guarantees, and derivatives.
• Strong commercial acumen in project economics, cost control, and margin enhancement.
• Outstanding communication, negotiation, and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Experience integrating ESG metrics and sustainability-linked financing (asset).