Controller

Location: Niagara Falls, Ontario
Company: Privately Owned, Multi-Divisional Company
Reports To: Owner and Fractional CFO
Direct Reports: Approximately 4

Position Overview

We are seeking a hands-on Controller to oversee the day-to-day accounting and financial control functions of a privately owned, multi-divisional company headquartered in Niagara Falls, Ontario.

The company has diverse operating and investment activities, including a successful chain of restaurants and a significant real estate portfolio with multiple assets held for current future development.

This is a practical, operational accounting role requiring someone who is comfortable being close to the numbers and ensuring that the company’s financial information, banking, accounts payable, reconciliations and internal controls are accurate, timely and well managed.

The Controller will supervise a head-office accounting team of approximately four people and will work directly with the company’s fractional CFO and owner.

The successful candidate will combine robust accounting fundamentals with good judgment, attention to detail and the ability to establish appropriate financial discipline in an entrepreneurial, owner-operated organization.

Key ResponsibilitiesFinancial Reporting & Accounting

· Oversee the preparation of accurate and timely monthly financial statements for the company’s various operating entities, divisions and investments.

· Manage the month-end and year-end closing processes.

· Review balance sheet reconciliations, supporting schedules and general ledger accounts to ensure completeness and accuracy.

· Ensure transactions are recorded consistently and in accordance with appropriate accounting policies.

· Review intercompany transactions and balances across multiple corporate entities.

· Maintain appropriate accounting records and supporting documentation.

· Identify unusual transactions, variances or accounting issues and ensure they are investigated and resolved.

Banking & Cash Management

The Controller will have primary responsibility for the company’s daily banking and cash-management activities, including:

· Monitoring daily bank balances and cash requirements across multiple entities.

· Managing cash transfers between operating and investment entities as authorized.

· Ensuring sufficient liquidity is maintained for payroll, accounts payable, debt service and other obligations.

· Reviewing and approving bank reconciliations.





· Monitoring significant receipts and disbursements.

· Maintaining appropriate controls over electronic banking and payment processes.

Accounts Payable & Disbursement Controls

· Supervise the accounts payable function and associated staff.

· Ensure invoices are properly approved, coded and supported before payment.

· Maintain effective controls over vendor creation and changes to vendor banking information.

· Review payment runs and significant disbursements.

· Ensure payments are made accurately and in accordance with company authorization procedures.

Internal Controls

A key mandate of this position will be to continually improve the company’s financial controls and accounting processes.

Responsibilities will include:

· Assessing existing accounting and financial-control procedures.

· Developing practical controls appropriate for a privately owned, entrepreneurial organization.

· Improving segregation of duties within a relatively small accounting department.

· Ensuring bank, credit card, accounts payable and other balance sheet accounts are regularly reconciled.

· Improving documentation and audit trails.

· Ensuring that established procedures are consistently followed.

The objective is not to create unnecessary bureaucracy, but to establish simple, effective and reliable financial controls appropriate for the size and complexity of the organization.

Team Leadership

· Directly supervise approximately 3-4 head-office accounting employees.

· Establish clear responsibilities, deadlines and expectations for the accounting team.

· Review work completed by accounting staff and ensure appropriate supervisory controls are maintained.

· Train and develop accounting personnel.

· Improve workflow and accountability within the department.

· Ensure critical accounting functions have appropriate backup and documentation.

· Foster a culture of accuracy, responsiveness and ownership.

External Reporting & Advisors





· Coordinate information required by external accountants for annual financial statement preparation and tax filings.

· Assist with audits, reviews or other external accounting engagements where applicable.

· Work with external tax, legal and other professional advisors as required.

· Ensure government filings, sales tax remittances and other financial compliance requirements are completed accurately and on time.

Qualifications

The company is flexible regarding the precise background of the successful candidate and will place greater emphasis on capability, judgment and relevant experience than on a rigid set of credentials.

Ideal qualifications include:

· Significant progressive accounting experience, preferably including experience as a Controller, Assistant Controller, Accounting Manager or similar senior accounting position.

· Strong understanding of general ledger accounting, financial statements, reconciliations and month-end closing.

· Experience supervising an accounting or finance team.

· Experience overseeing accounts payable and payment controls.

· Experience working with multiple corporations, divisions or business units.

· Solid Excel and accounting-system skills.

· Real estate, property development or construction accounting experience is an asset.

· CPA designation is preferred but not necessarily required for an exceptional candidate with substantial relevant experience.

Candidate Profile

This position will be particularly well suited to someone who:

· Is highly organized and detail-oriented.

· Takes ownership of the accuracy of the company’s financial records.

· Is naturally skeptical when numbers do not reconcile and follows issues through until they are resolved.

· Understands that good financial controls should be practical and proportionate rather than unnecessarily bureaucratic.

· Can operate effectively in an environment where priorities occasionally change quickly.

· Is willing to be hands-on rather than simply delegating accounting work.

· Is comfortable managing both operating-company accounting and the accounting associated with significant long-term real estate holdings.

This is an opportunity for an experienced accounting professional to take ownership of the financial-control environment of a substantial privately owned organization while working directly with its owner and senior financial leadership.

Pay: $80,000.00-$90,000.00 per year

Benefits:

- On-site parking

Work Location: In person

📌 Controller (Canada)
🏢 Copacabana Restaurants
📍 Canada