Controller

Burdock Brewery; Toronto; On-site; CAD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Burdock Brewery in Toronto, Ontario, is seeking a hands-on Controller to lead accounting and financial operations for our growing brewery and hospitality business.

This broad role covers day-to-day accounting, payroll, and the development of scalable financial processes to support decision-making and growth. A proactive, problem-solving mindset and an interest in beer and hospitality are highly valued.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of progressive accounting experience, including independently managing full-cycle accounting and month-end close.
• Experience with inventory accounting and costing, ideally in manufacturing, food and beverage, or hospitality.
• Hands-on experience with Canadian payroll and a working knowledge of Ontario employment standards.
• Advanced Excel skills and experience with cloud-based accounting or ERP systems.
• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to manage competing priorities independently.
• A practical, solutions-oriented approach, with an interest in improving processes and systems.
• Experience in a brewery, winery, distillery, or similar production environment is an asset.

Responsibilities

• Own the full accounting cycle, including general ledger, accounts payable, accounts receivable, and cash management.
• Complete weekly bank and credit card reconciliations.
• Lead the monthly close process, ensuring accurate and timely financial reporting.
• Maintain accurate inventory and cost accounting across brewery production and hospitality operations.
• Identify opportunities to streamline workflows, improve controls, and automate routine processes.
• Prepare and maintain accurate financial statements, including income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow reporting.
• Lead the annual budgeting process and maintain rolling cash flow forecasts.
• Support pricing, costing, and margin analysis across products and sales channels.
• Evaluate capital investments and other business opportunities through financial analysis.
• Work closely with management to provide practical financial insights that support business decisions.

Job description

Burdock is looking for a hands-on Controller to lead the accounting and financial operations of our growing brewery and hospitality business.

This is a broad, high-impact role for someone who enjoys working across all aspects of a small business—from managing day-to-day accounting and payroll to improving financial processes, supporting business decisions, and helping build systems that scale.

The ideal candidate is an independent problem solver, a collaborative team player, and someone who combines strong financial discipline with a practical, entrepreneurial mindset. An interest in beer, food, and hospitality is a definite plus.

Key Responsibilities

Accounting & Financial Operations

• Own the full accounting cycle, including general ledger, accounts payable, accounts receivable, and cash management.
• Complete weekly bank and credit card reconciliations.
• Lead the monthly close process, ensuring accurate and timely financial reporting.
• Maintain accurate inventory and cost accounting across brewery production and hospitality operations.
• Identify opportunities to streamline workflows, improve controls, and automate routine processes.
• Prepare and maintain accurate financial statements, including income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow reporting.
• Lead the annual budgeting process and maintain rolling cash flow forecasts.
• Support pricing, costing, and margin analysis across products and sales channels.
• Evaluate capital investments and other business opportunities through financial analysis.
• Work closely with management to provide practical financial insights that support business decisions.

Tax & Regulatory Compliance

• Prepare and file HST returns.
• Reconcile and remit applicable Ontario beer taxes through the LCBO and Ministry of Finance.
• Reconcile and remit federal excise duties to the CRA.
• Coordinate year-end financial statements and tax filings with our external accounting firm.
• Maintain accurate records and ensure compliance with relevant financial and tax requirements.

Payroll & HR Administration

• Manage biweekly payroll for brewery and restaurant employees, including hourly and salaried staff.
• Coordinate payroll remittances, T4s, Records of Employment, and other statutory reporting with payroll partners.
• Serve as the primary administrative contact for employee benefits, onboarding, offboarding, and general HR matters.
• Maintain organized and accurate employee and payroll records.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of progressive accounting experience, including independently managing full-cycle accounting and month-end close.
• Experience with inventory accounting and costing, ideally in manufacturing, food and beverage, or hospitality.
• Hands-on experience with Canadian payroll and a working knowledge of Ontario employment standards.
• Advanced Excel skills and experience with cloud-based accounting or ERP systems.
• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to manage competing priorities independently.
• A practical, solutions-oriented approach, with an interest in improving processes and systems.
• Experience in a brewery, winery, distillery, or similar production environment is an asset.

Why Burdock?

Burdock is an independent Toronto brewery with a growing portfolio of beers and hospitality operations. We’re a small, collaborative team that values initiative, thoughtful problem-solving, and people who take ownership of their work.

This is an opportunity to have a meaningful impact on the business, work directly with leadership, and help shape how our financial operations evolve as we grow.