Financial Controller

New Dawn Enterprises; Sydney; On-site; CAD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

The Financial Controller at New Dawn Enterprises is responsible for safeguarding the accuracy, timeliness, and reliability of financial information across the organization's multi‑entity portfolio. You will lead day‑to‑day accounting, ensure proper controls, reporting, and compliance to support sound decision‑making.

Reporting to the CFO, you’ll oversee accounting operations, budgeting, audits, and cash administration, providing leadership to the finance team and delivering management reports to

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, business administration, or a related field.
• CPA designation is preferred.
• Minimum five years of progressive accounting/financial management experience including budgeting, audit, and internal controls.

Responsibilities

• Directly manage the accounting and Finance department team across multiple entities and oversee day-to-day accounting functions.
• Oversee bookkeeping, AP/AR, payroll, reconciliations, intercompany transactions, and general ledger maintenance.
• Establish work plans, close schedules, review processes, and service standards to ensure timely and accurate financial work.
• Review journal entries and analyses; ensure issues are resolved promptly and records are reliable.

Skills

Leadership

Budgeting

Financial reporting

Internal controls

Cash management

Team management

Education

Bachelor's degree in accounting/finance

CPA preferred

Tools

ERP systems

MS Excel

Intercompany accounting

Job description

Job Purpose

The Financial Controller is responsible for protecting the accuracy, completeness, reliability, and timeliness of financial information across New Dawn’s diverse portfolio of operations. The Controller leads the day-to-day accounting function and ensures that financial records, reporting, controls, policies, and compliance practices support responsible stewardship and sound decision-making.

Working within New Dawn’s multi-entity environment, the Controller oversees accounting operations, financial reporting, budgeting, internal controls, compliance, audits, and cash administration. The role ensures financial processes are effective, reporting requirements are met, risks are managed, and decision‑makers have access to reliable financial information.

Primary Area of Responsibility

Accounting Operations & Team Leadership; Budget Coordination & Variance Reporting; Financial Policies, Procedures & Internal Controls; Compliance & Audit; Financing Documentation & Cash Administration; Financial Reporting & Key Deliverables

Duties and Responsibilities

Accounting Operations & Team Leadership

• Directly manage the accounting and Finance department team and oversee the day-to-day accounting function across New Dawn’s entities, divisions, programs, properties, and business units


• Oversee bookkeeping, accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll accounting, bank and balance‑sheet reconciliations, intercompany transactions, and general ledger maintenance


• Establish clear work plans, close schedules, review processes, and service standards that ensure financial work is accurate, complete, and delivered on time


• Review journal entries, reconciliations, account analyses, supporting records, and adjustments, and ensure errors and outstanding items are resolved promptly


• Ensure accounting practices are applied consistently and that financial records provide a reliable foundation for organizational reporting and decision‑making


• Set clear expectations for accuracy, timeliness, accountability, confidentiality, and reliable follow‑through within the Finance department


• Provide ongoing supervision, coaching, feedback, and professional development to Finance staff, and address capacity or performance concerns as required


• Build team resilience through cross‑training, documented procedures, appropriate segregation of duties, and the development of financial expertise

Budget Coordination & Variance Reporting

• Coordinate the annual budget process, including timelines, templates, agreed assumptions, departmental submissions, review, consolidation, and preparation of the organization‑wide budget


• Monitor actual financial results against budget and provide regular, clear budget‑to‑actual and variance reports


• Investigate significant variances, explain their underlying causes, and work with managers to correct coding, address pressures, and improve financial performance


• Prepare cash‑flow forecasts and financial projections using agreed assumptions and provide reliable financial data and analysis to support operational decisions

Financial Policies, Procedures, Systems & Internal Controls

• Develop, document, administer, and regularly update detailed financial policies, accounting procedures, approval processes, close schedules, and documentation requirements


• Design, implement, and monitor internal controls that safeguard assets and reduce accounting, reporting, fraud, and compliance risks


• Ensure appropriate authorization, segregation of duties, supporting documentation, record retention, and review controls are consistently followed


• Oversee the effective use of accounting, payroll, and financial reporting systems and ensure system access, configurations, and workflows support accurate and efficient processing


• Develop tools, templates, and guidance that help managers understand budgets, expenses, coding, documentation standards, approvals, and financial procedures

Compliance & Audit

• Oversee tax filings, government remittances, regulatory reporting, accounting‑standard requirements, and compliance with legal, contractual, funder, and organizational obligations


• Manage audit schedules, working papers, supporting documentation, confirmations, and day‑to‑day communication with external auditors and reviewers


• Coordinate annual audit and external review preparation, respond promptly to information requests, track outstanding items, and support timely completion


• Monitor compliance requirements and control effectiveness, identify deficiencies or emerging risks, and implement corrective action

Financing Documentation & Cash Administration

• Monitor bank balances, cash requirements, payments, receipts, short‑term cash flow to support operations


• Prepare and supply accurate financial information, schedules, confirmations, covenant reporting, and other documentation required by lenders, funders, banks, and government partners


• Track capital‑project budgets, expenditures, commitments, funding claims, and required financial reporting


• Oversee banking administration, cash transfers, receivables, payables, and intercompany balances, and ensure transactions are appropriately authorized and recorded

Financial Reporting & Key Deliverables

• Produce accurate monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements for all divisions, business units, entities, and New Dawn Enterprises Consolidated


• Deliver complete period‑end reconciliations, variance reports, audit schedules, compliance filings, financial procedures, and other recurring reporting requirements on schedule


• Prepare management reports and dashboards and explain financial results, accounting details, and variances clearly to the CEO, Vice Presidents, managers, and Board of Directors when requested by the CEO


• Maintain organized, review‑ready working papers and provide accurate financial information for funding applications, audits, government filings, lenders, and other external stakeholders

Other Duties & Responsibilities

• Participate in team meetings and organizational activities as required


• Identify opportunities for continuous improvement and contribute to the development and implementation of effective solutions


• Maintain high standards of quality, safety, and confidentiality in all interactions involving employees, clients, volunteers, and organizational information


• Demonstrate professionalism, tact, diplomacy, and sensitivity in all interactions, representing New Dawn in a manner consistent with its mission, vision, and values


• Maintain and enhance professional knowledge and skills through ongoing learning, professional development, networking, and participation in relevant professional associations


• Foster positive workplace relationships through effective communication, mutual respect, collaboration, and reliable follow‑through


• Champion and promote New Dawn’s mission, vision, and values both internally and externally

Core Competencies

• Servant leadership


• Ethics and integrity


• Client and community-focused


• Initiative and problem‑solving


• Accountability and dependability


• Strong oral and written communication


• Teamwork and collaboration


• Detail orientation


• Adaptability


• Leadership

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, business administration, commerce, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience


• Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) designation is preferred


• Minimum five (5) years of progressive accounting and financial management experience, including responsibility for financial reporting, budgeting, audit, internal controls, and accounting operations


• Demonstrated experience leading/supervising finance staff and improving accounting systems and processes


• Strong knowledge of accounting principles, financial statement preparation, reconciliations, consolidations, budgeting, forecasting, and cash‑flow management


• Demonstrated expertise in audit preparation, regulatory and tax compliance, internal controls, and financial policies and procedures


• Strong analytical and communication skills, with the ability to explain financial information clearly to people with varying levels of financial knowledge


• Experience with non‑profit, charitable, social enterprise, real estate, or multi‑entity structures is a strong asset


• Demonstrated compassion, empathy, diplomacy, and sound problem‑solving skills


• Experience working with and advocating for individuals and communities facing vulnerability and systemic barriers


• Ability to work independently, collaboratively as part of a team, and under direction when required


• Strong attention to detail, with exceptional verbal and written communication skills


• Proven ability to build positive relationships and work effectively with others toward shared goals


• Highly organized, with the ability to manage competing priorities and perform effectively in a fast‑paced environment


• Demonstrated integrity, professionalism, accountability, and commitment to confidentiality


• Understanding of and working with diverse communities and a commitment to equity, inclusion, and community‑centered practice


• Alignment with New Dawn’s mission, values, and servant leadership philosophy

Work Conditions

• Regular interaction with employees, volunteers, management, participants, children, families, and public


• Travel between worksites and within the community may berequired


• Occasional overtime and evening or weekend work may berequiredto meet operational needs


• Work is performed in an office and community setting and may be busy or noisy at times


• Prolonged periods of sitting and working at a desktop computer, including the use of standard office equipment and peripherals