13 Jul Financial Controller – Transformation & Projects / Drummondville, QC

Our client is a well-established Quebec-based manufacturing company that designs and manufactures custom technical equipment for commercial, institutional, and industrial markets.

With more than 25 years in business, the company is experiencing sustained growth and operates across North America. It currently employs several hundred people and generates annual revenues exceeding $100 million.

The organization stands out for its strong engineering culture, capacity for innovation, and entrepreneurial spirit. It is currently undergoing a significant phase of expansion and organizational development, supported by major investments in its facilities and strong market demand that offers considerable growth potential for the years ahead.

In this context, the finance function plays a central role. The company is looking to strengthen the reliability of its financial information, modernize its processes, and build a structure capable of supporting its growth with greater rigor, visibility, and agility.

The Role

As part of its continued growth and the development of its finance function, our client is creating a new position for a Financial Controller – Transformation & Projects.

Reporting directly to the Vice President of Finance / CFO, the successful candidate will act as a true right-hand partner and play a key role in the evolution of the finance function.

The mandate goes well beyond the production of financial statements. The Financial Controller will have the opportunity to structure and improve processes, contribute to the modernization of financial tools, strengthen the quality of management information, and build stronger connections between finance and operations.

This role is ideal for someone who enjoys both the rigor of financial accounting and the challenge of building, improving, and transforming.

Why Choose This Role?

• Join a solid Quebec-based manufacturing company experiencing strong growth and significant development potential;
• Step into a newly created position with a genuine opportunity to influence the evolution of the finance function;
• Work closely with an experienced CFO whose collaborative and transparent management style values autonomy and complementary expertise;
• Play an active role in modernizing financial processes, tools, and governance;
• Thrive in an entrepreneurial culture where there is still plenty to build and improve;
• Contribute to strategic initiatives involving ERP systems, automation, performance indicators, and process improvement;
• Work in a modern, clean manufacturing environment focused on continuous improvement;
• Benefit from genuine autonomy in a role where decisions carry real weight;
• Join an organization that offers a real opportunity to progress into a Corporate Controller position.

Key Responsibilities

Financial Accounting and Management Information

• Oversee the monthly closing process and ensure the production of reliable financial information within established timelines;
• Actively contribute to reducing and optimizing month-end closing timelines;
• Ensure the integrity and reliability of financial data;
• Participate in the preparation of financial statements and management analyses;
• Conduct profitability analyses to support decision-making;
• Analyze variances, trends, and key financial performance indicators;
• Ensure compliance with Accounting Standards for Private Enterprises (ASPE).

Financial Transformation and Process Improvement

• Identify opportunities to improve and automate financial processes;
• Structure and document financial policies, procedures, and controls;
• Actively participate in transformation and digitalization initiatives within the finance function;
• Contribute to the evolution and optimization of the ERP system;
• Improve the governance, quality, and accessibility of financial information;
• Develop relevant key performance indicators and promote their adoption across the appropriate teams;
• Support teams through change management initiatives.

Partnership with Operations

• Build strong relationships between finance and operational teams;
• Translate financial data into clear, relevant insights to support business decisions;
• Understand operational realities and contribute to improved business performance;
• Participate in profitability, cost, and return analyses across various projects and business activities;
• Act as a financial business partner to managers.

Team Leadership and Development

• Directly supervise an accounting team responsible for accounts payable, accounts receivable, and general accounting;
• Coach, engage, and develop team members;
• Clarify roles, responsibilities, and expectations;
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement;
• Support the team through changes in processes, tools, and ways of working;
• The role may eventually evolve to include oversight of additional finance functions, including payroll.

Key Challenges During the First Year

The successful candidate’s mandate will include:

• Engaging the team around change and the evolution of the finance function;
• Reducing monthly closing timelines and ensuring consistency in meeting deadlines;
• Developing and conducting relevant profitability analyses for senior management;
• Structuring and documenting financial policies and procedures within a fast-growing organization where formalization is still evolving;
• Strengthening collaboration between finance and operations;
• Ensuring the reliability of management information in a context of rapid growth and ongoing ERP evolution;
• Developing relevant KPIs and encouraging their adoption across the organization;
• Contributing to the development of a more structured, modern, and high-performing finance function.

Candidate Profile

Requirements

• CPA designation required;
• Minimum of 7 years of experience in financial accounting;
• Relevant experience in a growing manufacturing or operational environment;
• Experience within a medium-sized or large private company;
• Strong knowledge of Accounting Standards for Private Enterprises (ASPE);
• Hands-on experience with financial transformation or process improvement projects;
• Demonstrated ability to conduct profitability analyses and turn financial data into meaningful information that supports decision-making;
• Fluency in French;
• Functional English skills sufficient to understand financial documentation and communicate occasionally in a professional context.

Assets

• Experience in cost accounting and management accounting;
• Experience implementing or optimizing an ERP system;
• Team management experience;
• Knowledge of Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central;
• Knowledge of TaxPrep.

The Profile That Will Succeed in This Role

We are looking for someone who embraces change and enjoys building, structuring, and improving.

An entrepreneurial, dynamic, and pragmatic professional who is comfortable working in an environment where everything is not yet fully formalized and where their expertise will have a tangible influence on how things are done.

More specifically, the ideal candidate will stand out for:

• Strong rigor and the ability to structure processes;
• Attention to detail while maintaining a broad, strategic perspective;
• Autonomy and proactivity;
• The ability to take initiative without waiting for constant direction;
• The ability to guide and support a team through change;
• Strong communication skills and the ability to work effectively with both finance and operational teams;
• A continuous improvement and efficiency mindset;
• A strong sense of accountability and exceptional reliability.

Team Structure

The Financial Controller will report directly to the Vice President of Finance / CFO and supervise an accounting team that includes:

• An Accounts Payable professional;
• An Accounts Receivable professional;
• An Accounting Specialist / Assistant Controller.

The finance team is expected to continue growing over the coming years, with the potential addition of resources in financial analysis, FP&A, profitability, variance analysis, and cost accounting.

Career Growth

This position offers genuine growth potential. As the company continues to expand and the finance function matures, the successful candidate will have the opportunity to progressively broaden their scope of responsibilities.

A potential progression into a Corporate Controller role is envisioned, along with the possibility of eventually overseeing additional finance functions.

The first few years will involve several strategic and transformative projects, giving the successful candidate an opportunity to leave a tangible mark on the organization.

Compensation and Benefits

• Competitive base salary, based on experience;
• Annual salary review;
• Four weeks of vacation;
• Group insurance coverage from day one, with costs shared equally between the employer and employee;
• Retirement plan with a 2% employer contribution;
• Flexible schedule: employees generally arrive between 7:30 a.m. and 8:30 a.m.;
• A culture that values work-life balance, with limited overtime;
• Employer-paid cell phone;
• Large on-site cafeteria;
• Employee Assistance Program;
• Social club;
• Employee referral bonus;
• Modern, clean, and stimulating work environment.

Workplace

The position is based in the Drummondville area and is primarily on-site. Some flexibility for remote work may be available in specific circumstances.