Statutory Financial Controller / Finance Manager
London, ON | Godspeed Group
Position Summary
Our confidential client, a global food manufacturing organization, is seeking an experienced Statutory Financial Controller to join its finance team. This is a hands-on leadership role requiring deep technical accounting expertise, strong audit experience, and the ability to partner closely with plant operations and corporate finance.
The successful candidate will take ownership of the month-end, quarter-end, and year-end close processes while ensuring compliance with local statutory requirements, internal controls, and group accounting policies. This individual will serve as the primary contact for auditors, tax advisors, and finance stakeholders, while remaining actively involved in day-to-day accounting activities.
This position is ideal for a finance professional who enjoys both leading and executing and who can clearly explain financial results and operational impacts.
Location: Onsite
Industry: Food Manufacturing
Compensation: $120,000 + Bonus + comprehensive benefits and extended health/dental/vision care + company pension + EAP + life insurance + RRSP match + paid time off & more!
Reports To: Corporate Finance Leadership
Direct Reports: 1 Accountant
Key Responsibilities
Financial Close and Accounting
- Lead and actively participate in monthly, quarterly, and annual financial close activities.
- Prepare and review journal entries, accruals, reclassifications, provisions, and manual adjustments.
- Ensure accurate period-end cut-off procedures for sales, purchases, inventory, expenses, and accruals.
- Support key closing activities directly when required.
Balance Sheet Ownership
- Own and validate balance sheet reconciliations for key accounts including:
- Cash and bank accounts
- Accounts receivable and accounts payable
- Inventory
- Payroll and tax accounts
- Intercompany balances
- Suspense and clearing accounts
- Investigate and explain variances and reconciliation issues.
Audit and Compliance
- Act as the primary contact for external auditors, internal audit teams, tax advisors, and regulatory authorities.
- Coordinate audit requests and provide supporting documentation.
- Ensure compliance with accounting standards, statutory requirements, tax regulations, and internal control policies.
- Support preparation of statutory financial statements and tax filings.
Financial Analysis and Business Support
- Analyze profit and loss statements and balance sheet fluctuations.
- Provide clear explanations of results versus budget, forecast, and prior periods.
- Partner with operations, purchasing, logistics, and plant leadership to ensure accurate transaction recording.
- Translate financial information into actionable business insights.
Team Leadership
- Provide guidance and support to the accounting team.
- Review deliverables and assign priorities while remaining actively involved in accounting execution.
- Foster a culture of accountability, accuracy, and continuous improvement.
Process Improvement
- Identify opportunities to improve accounting processes, controls, and reporting efficiency.
- Support ERP optimization and automation initiatives.
- Contribute to continuous improvement efforts across the finance function.
Qualifications
Education
- Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
- CPA, CA, CMA, or equivalent accounting designation preferred.
Experience
- Minimum 8 years of progressive accounting and/or audit experience.
- Combination of public accounting and industry experience strongly preferred.
- Experience in manufacturing, food production, or industrial environments is considered an asset.
- Proven ownership of month-end close processes and financial reporting.
- Experience leading external audits and working with tax advisors and regulatory bodies.
Technical Skills
- Strong understanding of accounting standards and financial controls.
- Experience with ERP systems; Microsoft Dynamics AX experience is an asset.
- Advanced Microsoft Excel skills.
- Experience with inventory accounting, accruals, reconciliations, and intercompany transactions.
Soft Skills
- Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Ability to explain financial results clearly to both finance and non-finance stakeholders.
- Self-driven, detail-oriented, and comfortable working in a deadline-driven environment.
- Collaborative mindset with the ability to work effectively in a multinational environment.
Preferred Background
The ideal candidate combines strong technical accounting expertise with a hands-on approach and has experience supporting audits, managing close activities, and partnering with operations in a manufacturing environment.
Note: Godspeed Group may use AI-powered tools to assist with certain aspects of the recruitment process, such as resume review and administrative support. However, all hiring decisions are made by our recruitment team and client stakeholders, and no employment decisions are made solely by automated systems.
Pay: $100,000.00-$120,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Dental care
- Employee assistance program
- Extended health care
- Flexible schedule
- On-site parking
- Paid time off
- Vision care
Application question(s):
- Do you hold a CPA, CA, CMA, or equivalent professional accounting designation?
Language:
Work Location: In person
