Controller

Gay Lea Foods; Toronto; On-site; CAD 95,000 - 146,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading Canadian dairy co-operative is seeking an experienced candidate to manage accounting responsibilities for financial statements and budgets. The role requires a minimum of 5 years in cost accounting, preferably within a dairy manufacturing environment. Key duties include preparing financial statements, analyzing variances, and providing monthly budgeting information. This position offers a comprehensive benefits package and competitive salary within a supportive team atmosphere.

Benefits

Comprehensive benefits

Retirement savings plan

Paid vacation

Bonus opportunities

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of cost accounting experience.
• Strong conceptual knowledge in operational accounting.
• Experience in a dairy manufacturing environment is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Manage all accounting responsibilities for financial statements.
• Prepare monthly and annual financial/operating statements.
• Analyze variances to standard costs.

Skills

Cost accounting experience

Leadership & People Management

Analytical skills

Problem-solving capabilities

Interpersonal & communication skills

Education

Professional accounting designation

5 years experience in cost accounting

Tools

MS Office

ERP system (MS D365 preferred)

Job description

100 Clayson Rd, North York, ON M9M 2G7, Canada

Job Description

Posted Friday, February 6, 2026 at 5:00 AM

Department: Finance

Reports to: Director Operations Finance- Culture, Butter, Ingredients

Status: Full-time, Onsite

The pay range for the role is $95,300 to $145,300 plus bonus, comprehensive benefits, retirement savings plan, paid vacation, and other perks and opportunities.

Job Scope:

Reporting to the Director, Operations Finance- Culture, Butter, Ingredients, the scope of this position will be responsible for managing all accounting responsibilities associated with the preparation of the plant’s financial statements and budgets. This role will work closely with the operations management team to drive growth and improve profitability at the plant level.

Key Responsibilities:

• Support other site locations
• Prepare analysis of accurate monthly and annual financial/operating statements and variance analysis
• Liaise with the production management team in order to provide information and guidelines regarding plant efficiencies on daily/weekly basis
• Analyze variances to standard costs & operation benchmarks
• Prepare and submit Milk utilization report to Dairy Board.
• Prepare cost estimates for new products
• Assist with cost benefit analyses for CapEx projects, monitor spend
• Calculate actual savings from Cost savings initiatives
• Financial modelling/Scenario analysis, as from time to time need to determine impact/opportunity cost of decision e.g. disco SKU/Customer or Capacity/Volume analysis
• Research and co-ordinate costing, pricing and customer and product margins for all division’s products and services while working closely with the sales, marketing, production and distribution teams
• Provide monthly/annual budgeting information as it relates to the corporate consolidated operating budget
• Analyze analysis on direct and indirect labour and other manufacturing key drivers
• Other ad hoc projects as assigned by management

Qualifications:

• Professional accounting designation an asset
• Minimum 5 years cost accounting experience is required with strong conceptual knowledge
• Experience in operational accounting, cost analysis, plant standards, and variance analysis considered an asset
• Experience working in a dairy manufacturing environment considered a strong asset
• Demonstrated Leadership & People Management / Team development skills;
• Experience working in a food manufacturing environment
• Good decision making & problem-solving capabilities
• Highly analytical skills and process driven
• Excellent interpersonal & communication skills, including written and verbal
• Strong computer skills – experience with MS Office (Excel, Word, Outlook, etc.)
• Experience with an ERP system. Preferably with MS D365.

Gay Lea Foods is a leading Canadian dairy co-operative renowned for producing high-quality, nutritious dairy products that Canadian families love and trust. From farm to table, our 1,200 farmer members in Ontario and Manitoba, and more than 1,200 employees across four provinces, work together to nourish communities through award-winning brands including Gay Lea, Nordica, Salerno, Bothwell Cheese, and more. As part of its deeply rooted, balanced commitment to people, profit, and planet, Gay Lea Foods proudly invests one percent of pre-tax earnings back into Canadian communities through a national food security partnership with Second Harvest, and the community-building efforts of the Gay Lea Foundation. To learn more, visit gayleafoods.com .

Gay Lea Foods is an equal-opportunity employer and values diversity in our workplace.

Reasonable accommodation is available upon request throughout our recruitment and selection process.

Gay Lea Foods may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support aspects of the recruitment process, including screening and assessment.

We are currently accepting applications for this open position.

Thank you for your interest in Gay Lea Foods.

Wishing you all the best with your career search!

100 Clayson Rd, North York, ON M9M 2G7, Canada