Finance Associate

Signal 1; Toronto; Hybrid; CAD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health coverage

Four weeks paid vacation

Hybrid work model

Job summary

Signal 1 is seeking a hands-on finance professional to support day-to-day operations, reporting, audits, and tax preparation in a fast-paced startup environment. You will liaise with external auditors and tax advisors, maintain internal controls, and optimize accounting processes.

The role requires a Bachelor’s in Finance/Accounting and 3–4 years of progressive experience. Hybrid work with Toronto office arrangements is offered.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Auditing, Accounting or a relevant field.
• 3 to 4 years of progressive accounting/finance experience.
• Experience in a startup environment is an asset.

Responsibilities

• Assist day-to-day financial operations, including reporting, audits, and tax preparation.
• Coordinate with external auditors and tax advisors for year-end activities.
• Review internal controls and advise on accounting treatments and best practices.
• Improve accounting processes to strengthen controls and efficiency.
• Manage expense reviews, vendor invoices, and receivables processes.

Skills

Advanced Excel

Financial analysis

Attention to detail

Time management

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business/Finance/Accounting

Tools

QuickBooks

Xero

Power BI

Job description

Job Description:

In this role, you will work closely with the VP of Finance across a diverse range of finance functions including: assisting day-to-day financial operations, financial reporting, and preparing financial data for audits, reviews, and taxation and ad hoc projects.

Responsibilities:

Supporting our day-to-day financial operations, including but not limited to:

• Financial Analysis and Reporting: Conduct detailed financial analysis and reporting to support management decision-making; evaluate monthly results against budget/forecast, and prepare comprehensive schedules and reports required for external audit, review, and tax engagements.

• Audit & Tax Liaison: Act as the company's sole internal liaison responsible for managing all communications, inquiries, and documentation flow with external financial auditors and tax advisors throughout the year. This includes coordinating the year-end financial audit and preparing all required information for filing tax forms, ensuring that the company complies with the accounting and tax standards.

• Compliance and Advisory: Continuously review and assess internal financial controls and procedures to ensure strict adherence to regulatory compliance standards (e.g., CRA, local regulations). Provide expert advice and guidance to internal departments on proper accounting treatment and best fiscal practices.

• Process Improvement: Develop, document, and implement risk-based improvements to current accounting processes and systems. Focus on strengthening internal controls, streamlining month-end closing procedures, and increasing the overall efficiency and security of financial operations.

• Expense Management: Assisting in expense reviews to ensure adherence to the company’s expense policy, setting up and administering the company’s card system and monitoring card system account balances to ensure sufficient funding.

• Accounts Payable: Verifying invoices to ensure accurate documentation of vendor transactions, processing payments through wire transfers and EFT runs to ensure timely payments to our contractors and vendors, responding to inquiries from vendors and contractors promptly and professionally.

• Accounts Receivable: Issuing invoices to customers, communicating invoice details to customers and managing receivables collection and account records to make sure all the receivables are collected according to the payment terms.

• Any other ad-hoc tasks and projects as assigned.

Requirements:

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Auditing, Accounting or a relevant field.

Experience

• 3 to 4 years of progressive experience working in the accounting and finance function.
• Previous experience working at a large accounting professional services firm is highly preferred
• Experience in a startup environment is an asset.

Technical Skills

• Advanced Microsoft Excel Proficiency (including Pivot Tables, VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, and financial data modeling) is required.
• Expert-level understanding of accounting standards is essential.
• Experience with an accounting software (QuickBooks, Xero, or similar) is an asset.
• Familiarity with data analytics tools (Power BI or similar) is an asset.

Soft Skills

• Exceptional attention to detail, professional judgment, and critical thinking to evaluate complex financial data and ensure compliance.
• Superior communication, negotiation, and advisory skills to effectively liaise with external auditors, tax professionals, and internal department heads.
• Demonstrated initiative and ownership of responsibilities.
• Strong time management skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a small team.

Work Conditions and Benefits:

• Inclusive, collaborative, and entrepreneurial work environment
• Excellent health and extended health coverage
• Four weeks of paid vacation
• Hybrid work model: a combination of in-office and remote work.