Controller

Vaco Recruiter Services; Hamilton; On-site; CAD 100,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Mentorship

Growth opportunities

Competitive compensation

Collaborative team

Job summary

The Hamilton, Ontario-based client seeks a Controller to lead all finance and accounting activities, ensuring compliance with Canadian standards and robust internal controls. You will oversee month-, quarter-, and year-end closes, and produce timely financial statements and management reports.

You will own budgeting, forecasting, FP&A, and cash flow management, mentor a small finance team, and partner with operations to optimize profitability while driving automation, including AI-enabled tools.

Qualifications

• CPA designation required.
• 3+ years progressive accounting and finance experience with leadership.
• Experience in private, entrepreneurial, or owner-managed organization.
• Strong financial reporting, budgeting, forecasting, and cash flow management.
• Experience supporting commercial decision-making, pricing, or tender analysis.
• Exposure to mergers and acquisitions or corporate finance is a strong asset.
• Advanced proficiency with QuickBooks Online and Microsoft Excel.
• Ability to leverage technology to improve efficiency and processes.

Responsibilities

• Lead accounting and financial reporting for the organization.
• Oversee month-, quarter-, and year-end close processes.
• Prepare accurate and timely financial statements and management reports.
• Ensure compliance with Canadian accounting standards, tax regulations, and statutory requirements.
• Establish and maintain strong internal controls, financial policies, and procedures.
• Manage external relationships with auditors, bankers, insurance providers, and advisors.
• Identify opportunities to improve financial processes, controls, and reporting capabilities.
• Own cash flow forecasting and liquidity planning.
• Review bids, tenders, and contracts for profitability and risk.
• Lead FP&A, budgeting, forecasting, and KPI reporting.
• Partner with operations to improve cash conversion and financial efficiency.
• Support acquisitions evaluations, due diligence, and integration planning.
• Develop reporting tools to improve project visibility and decision quality.

Skills

Leadership

Financial reporting

Budgeting

Cash flow management

Excel

QuickBooks Online

Communication

Analytical skills

Education

CPA designation

Tools

QuickBooks Online

Microsoft Excel

AI tools (Claude)

Job description

About the Company

Our client is an environmental services company. They are looking for a Controller to join their team!

Why Work Here

• Fantastic boss that will act as a mentor
• Opportunity to grow into more senior roles within the company
• Excellent team
• Opportunity to help to develop many of the processes, tools and infrastructure
• Competitive Compensation Package

About the Opportunity

• Financial Leadership & Accounting
  • Lead all accounting and financial reporting activities for the organization.
  • Oversee month-end, quarter-end, and year-end close processes.
  • Prepare accurate and timely financial statements and management reports.
  • Ensure compliance with Canadian accounting standards, tax regulations, and statutory requirements.
  • Establish and maintain strong internal controls, financial policies, and procedures.
  • Manage external relationships with auditors, bankers, insurance providers, and professional advisors.
  • Identify opportunities to improve financial processes, controls, and reporting capabilities.
• Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A)
  • Lead the annual budgeting process and ongoing forecasting activities.
  • Develop financial models and KPI reporting to support decision-making.
  • Analyze business performance, profitability, and operational trends.
  • Provide meaningful variance analysis and recommendations to senior leadership.
  • Deliver financial insights to support strategic planning and resource allocation.
• Cash Flow & Working Capital Management
  • Own cash flow forecasting and liquidity planning.
  • Monitor receivables, payables, and working capital performance.
  • Provide recommendations regarding financing requirements and capital allocation.
  • Partner with operations to improve cash conversion and financial efficiency.
• Operational Finance & Commercial Support
  • Review bids, tenders, and customer contracts to assess profitability, pricing, risk, and return on investment.
  • Support project costing, project profitability analysis, and operational decision-making.
  • Collaborate with business leaders to evaluate growth opportunities and operational initiatives.
  • Develop reporting and analytical tools to improve project visibility and decision quality.
• Mergers & Acquisitions Support
  • Assist ownership with acquisition evaluations and due diligence activities.
  • Support financial analysis, valuation reviews, and integration planning.
  • Participate in strategic growth initiatives and corporate development opportunities.
• Team Leadership
  • Lead, mentor, and develop the finance team consisting of a Bookkeeper and two Accounts Payable Coordinators.
  • Establish performance expectations and promote continuous improvement.
  • Foster a collaborative and accountable team culture.
• Systems, Process Improvement & AI Enablement
  • Act as the primary finance lead for QuickBooks Online.
  • Identify opportunities to automate manual processes and improve reporting capabilities.
  • Help evaluate and implement emerging technologies, including AI tools such as Claude and other automation platforms.
  • Partner with operational leaders to streamline workflows and improve productivity through technology.

About You

• CPA designation required.
• 3+ years of progressive accounting and finance experience, including leadership responsibilities.
• Experience working within a private, entrepreneurial, or owner-managed organization.
• Strong financial reporting, budgeting, forecasting, and cash flow management expertise.
• Experience supporting commercial decision-making, pricing, contract review, or tender analysis.
• Exposure to mergers and acquisitions, due diligence, or corporate finance activities is considered a strong asset.
• Advanced proficiency with QuickBooks Online and Microsoft Excel.
• Demonstrated ability to improve processes, implement systems, and leverage technology to enhance efficiency.
• Strong business acumen with the ability to communicate financial information to non-financial stakeholders.
• Entrepreneurial mindset with a proactive, hands-on approach.
• Comfortable operating independently as the senior finance leader.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities.
• Effective communicator with the confidence to challenge assumptions and influence decisions.
• Highly organized with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a dynamic environment.
• Continuous improvement mindset with an interest in technology, automation, and AI-driven business solutions.

Salary Range

$100,000 - $110,000 / year

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

A recruiter will be in touch with you if your profile meets our client’s requirements for this role.