Controller

Vaco by Highspring; Cambridge; Hybrid; CAD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work environment

Annual bonus

Pension matching

Comprehensive benefits

Opportunity to lead accounting team

Job summary

Vaco by Highspring is seeking a Controller to lead our accounting function, oversee project financial performance, and partner with senior leadership and operations. This hands-on role blends traditional controllership with project budgeting, forecasting, and commercial decision support.

The ideal candidate will manage budgeting, close processes, and WIP reporting while driving process improvements in a fast-paced, project-based environment.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of progressive accounting and finance experience.
• Experience at the Controller, Assistant Controller, Accounting Manager, or similar level.
• "Demonstrated experience leading and developing accounting staff."
• "Strong full‑cycle accounting background, including month‑end and year‑end close, financial statement preparation, and audit support."
• "Experience within a project‑based industry such as construction, engineering, professional services, consulting, transportation, logistics, mining, or a similar environment."
• "Strong project accounting, job costing, budgeting, and forecasting experience."
• "Experience with WIP reporting, cost‑to‑complete calculations, project profitability, and variance analysis is strongly preferred."
• "Strong analytical skills with the ability to transform financial information into useful business insights."
• "Advanced Excel skills and experience working with accounting or ERP systems."
• "Microsoft Dynamics / Business Central experience is considered a strong asset."
• "Comfortable operating in a hands‑on, entrepreneurial, and fast‑paced environment."
• "Collaborative leadership style with the ability to work effectively across finance and operational teams."

Responsibilities

• Build and manage detailed project budgets from the initial bid stage through project completion.
• Maintain project forecasts including committed costs, incurred costs, cost to complete, and estimated final costs.
• Own the annual operating budget and rolling forecast process.
• Prepare budget-to-actual, WIP, and project profitability reporting for senior leadership and project stakeholders.
• Analyze historical project costs to improve future budgeting and forecasting accuracy.
• Oversee the month-end and year-end close processes, including project accruals, cost of sales, revenue recognition, and account reconciliations.
• Prepare accurate and timely monthly financial statements and management reporting.
• Provide meaningful margin, variance, trend, and profitability analysis to explain financial performance.
• Ensure the integrity and accuracy of underlying financial information.
• Support the organization's transition to a new ERP environment.

Skills

Accounting

Leadership

Project accounting

Job costing

Budgeting

Forecasting

WIP reporting

Excel

ERP systems

Dynamics/BC

Hands-on

Collaboration

Tools

Microsoft Dynamics / Business Central

Job description

Our client is a growing, privately held organization operating within a project-based environment. They are looking for a Controller to lead the accounting function, oversee project financial performance, and partner closely with senior leadership and operations.

This is a hands-on leadership opportunity for someone who enjoys combining traditional controllership responsibilities with project accounting, budgeting, forecasting, and commercial decision support.

Why Work Here?

• Highly visible role working directly with senior leadership and operational stakeholders.


• Opportunity to own and enhance the accounting and financial reporting function within a growing business.


• Entrepreneurial and collaborative culture that values teamwork, accountability, and initiative.


• Hybrid working environment with three days per week in the office.


• Competitive compensation package including annual bonus, pension matching, and comprehensive benefits.


• Opportunity to lead and develop an accounting team while remaining hands-on with the business.


• Exposure to an ERP system implementation and finance process improvements.

About the Opportunity

Budgeting & Forecasting

• Build and manage detailed project budgets from the initial bid stage through project completion.


• Maintain project forecasts including committed costs, incurred costs, cost to complete, and estimated final costs.


• Own the annual operating budget and rolling forecast process.


• Prepare budget-to-actual, WIP, and project profitability reporting for senior leadership and project stakeholders.


• Analyze historical project costs to improve future budgeting and forecasting accuracy.


• Oversee the month-end and year-end close processes, including project accruals, cost of sales, revenue recognition, and account reconciliations.


• Prepare accurate and timely monthly financial statements and management reporting.


• Provide meaningful margin, variance, trend, and profitability analysis to explain financial performance.


• Ensure the integrity and accuracy of underlying financial information.

Project Accounting & Cost Control

• Monitor project costs and investigate significant variances against budgets and forecasts.


• Partner with Operations and Project Managers to identify cost drivers and recommend corrective actions.


• Manage WIP reporting, job costing, project accruals, and profitability analysis.


• Support project pricing, change orders, and budget revisions.


• Provide financial analysis to support project bids and management decision-making.

Cash Flow & Working Capital

• Manage cash flow forecasting across long-cycle projects.


• Oversee billing cycles, accounts receivable collections, and accounts payable timing.


• Monitor working capital and project cash positions.


• Support effective cash management and financial planning.

Controls, Compliance & Audit

• Maintain and strengthen internal controls, accounting policies, and finance procedures.


• Lead the year-end audit or review process and serve as a primary contact for external accountants.


• Oversee applicable statutory, tax, and regulatory reporting with support from external advisors.


• Help improve financial systems, processes, controls, and data integrity.


• Support the organization's transition to a new ERP environment.

Leadership & Business Partnership

• Lead, coach, and develop a team of accounting professionals.


• Establish priorities and ensure financial deliverables are accurate, timely, and complete.


• Remain hands‑on and work alongside the accounting team when required.


• Partner directly with senior leadership, Operations, and Project Managers to improve financial performance.


• Translate financial information into actionable insights that support better business decisions.


• Provide financial support for commercial opportunities and strategic initiatives.

About You

• 7+ years of progressive accounting and finance experience.


• Experience at the Controller, Assistant Controller, Accounting Manager, or similar level.


• Demonstrated experience leading and developing accounting staff.


• Strong full‑cycle accounting background, including month‑end and year‑end close, financial statement preparation, and audit support.


• Experience within a project‑based industry such as construction, engineering, professional services, consulting, transportation, logistics, mining, or a similar environment.


• Strong project accounting, job costing, budgeting, and forecasting experience.


• Experience with WIP reporting, cost‑to‑complete calculations, project profitability, and variance analysis is strongly preferred.


• Strong analytical skills with the ability to transform financial information into useful business insights.


• Advanced Excel skills and experience working with accounting or ERP systems.


• Microsoft Dynamics / Business Central experience is considered a strong asset.


• Comfortable operating in a hands‑on, entrepreneurial, and fast‑paced environment.


• Collaborative leadership style with the ability to work effectively across finance and operational teams.

Salary Range

When referencing this job, quote #306046

You must currently reside within Canada and be permitted to work in Canada to be considered for this opportunity.