Controller

Elby Professional Recruitment; Barrie; On-site; CAD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Elby Professional Recruitment seeks a hands‑on, strategic Controller for our Barrie manufacturing client. You will report to the CEO and lead a 5‑person Accounting & Administration team, guiding cost accounting, inventory valuations, and financial strategy.

You will drive GAAP closes, variance analysis, FP&A, treasury, and tax compliance, translating operational metrics into margin improvements and robust financial plans.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or Finance; CPA strongly preferred.
• 6+ years progressive accounting experience, with manufacturing exposure.
• Experience with standard costing, BOM, cost accounting and ERP platforms.

Responsibilities

• Lead monthly, quarterly, and annual close processes with GAAP compliance and accurate statements.
• Oversee cost accounting, inventory valuation, BOM routing, cycle counts, and overhead allocations.
• Drive variance analysis, FP&A, budgets, and rolling forecasts with cross‑functional partners.
• Manage treasury, cash flow forecasting, DSO/DPO optimization, and tax compliance.
• Direct and develop a finance team of 5; implement ERP process improvements.

Skills

Cost accounting

Budgeting & forecasting

Financial analysis

Executive communication

Cross-functional partnering

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting/Finance

CPA preferred

Tools

SAP

Oracle NetSuite

Microsoft Dynamics 365

Epicor

Infor

Job description

We are seeking a hands‑on, strategic Controller to oversee all financial and accounting operations for our manufacturing client located in Barrie. Reporting directly to the CEO, you will serve as a key business partner, leading an Accounting & Administration team of 5.

In this role, you will lead cost accounting, inventory valuations, variance analysis, treasury, cash management, tax compliance, and financial reporting. The ideal candidate thrives in a fast‑paced plant environment, brings deep experience in standard costing and bill of materials (BOM), and can translate operational metrics into actionable financial strategies.

Key Responsibilities:

• Financial Reporting & Governance – Lead the monthly, quarterly, and annual accounting close processes, ensuring GAAP compliance and accurate financial statements (P&L, Balance Sheet, Cash Flow). Prepare executive financial packages and board decks; present monthly operational and financial performance metrics directly to the CEO and executive leadership team. Manage the external audit process, serving as the primary point of contact for accounting firms and financial institutions. Develop, implement, and enforce internal controls, policies, and standard operating procedures (SOPs) across manufacturing and corporate accounting.
• Cost Accounting & Inventory Control – Oversee standard costing systems, overhead absorption rates, machine/labor rates, and Bill of Materials (BOM) routing. Direct physical inventory counts, cycle counting procedures, and audit reconciliations across all warehouse and plant locations. Monitor scrap, yield loss, freight, labor efficiencies, and overhead allocations to maintain precise cost tracking and product margins.
• Variance Analysis & Operational FP&A – Conduct monthly variance analysis comparing actual performance against budget, forecast, and standard costs (e.g., purchase price variances, labor efficiency, material usage, and volume variances). Partner with Plant Operations and Engineering to analyze operational drivers, pinpoint cost inefficiencies, and guide margin expansion initiatives. Build integrated annual budgets and rolling financial forecasts across revenue, gross margins, operating expenses, and capital expenditure (CapEx).
• Treasury & Cash Management – Manage total liquidity, working capital, and daily cash balances; optimize short-and long-term cash flow forecasts. Optimize working capital components, closely managing Accounts Receivable (DSO) and Accounts Payable (DPO) strategies.
• Tax Compliance & Risk Management – Coordinate with external tax advisors to ensure full compliance with federal, state, and local corporate tax filings, sales/use tax, property tax, and R&D credits. Manage corporate risk management programs, insurance renewals, and regulatory compliance.
• Team Leadership & Development – Directly manage, mentor, and build a high-performing finance team of 5 accounting & administrative professionals. Drive continuous automation and process improvements across the ERP system and cross-functional accounting workflows.

Qualifications & Requirements:

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance. CPA strongly preferred.
• Experience: 6+ years of progressive accounting experience, with at least 2+ years in a Controller or Assistant Controller role within a manufacturing or production environment.
• Team Management: Minimum 2+ years of direct supervisory experience leading finance teams.
• Technical Skills: Demonstrated expertise in manufacturing cost accounting, standard costing systems, and inventory valuation. Experience with major ERP platforms (e.g., SAP, Oracle NetSuite, Microsoft Dynamics 365, Epicor, or Infor). Advanced Microsoft Excel skills (financial modeling, pivot tables, complex functions, Power Query/BI).
• Leadership & Soft Skills: Excellent executive communication, leadership, analytical problem-solving, and cross-functional business partnering skills.

This posting is for an open vacancy currently available within our client's organization. We would like to thank all applicants however only those under consideration will be contacted.

To be eligible for this role, you must be legally eligible to work in Canada.

Please note that we use AI tools as part of our recruitment process to enhance efficiency and improve candidate experience.