Controller & Director of Finance – Path to VP Finance
Progressive Industrial Fluids Ltd.

London, Ontario | On-Site | Full time, Permanent
Compensation:
$130,000–$140,000+ base, depending on experience, plus performance-based incentive

Lead Finance Today. Grow Into VP Finance.
Progressive Industrial Fluids is looking for an exceptional Controller & Director of Finance to take immediate leadership of our accounting and finance department and help build the financial infrastructure required for our next stage of growth.

This is more than a traditional Controller role.

We need someone who can lead the department today: strengthen accounting processes and controls, improve reporting, develop the team and provide leadership with reliable financial information for better decision-making.

For the right person, this role also offers a clear opportunity to progress into VP Finance.

A candidate who demonstrates strong leadership, delivers meaningful improvements, aligns with our organization and proves capable of operating at an executive level will have the chance to advance into the VP Finance role and earn a seat on our Executive Leadership Team.

About Progressive Industrial Fluids
Progressive Industrial Fluids is a Canadian-owned manufacturer of specialty lubricants, metalworking fluids, stamping compounds and industrial chemical solutions. For nearly two decades, we have helped manufacturers improve processes, lower total operating costs and solve challenging production problems.

We have invested significantly in the foundation for our next stage of growth, including:

Modern ERP infrastructure through Odoo

Expanded manufacturing capabilities

In-house laboratory and technical services

Improved processes, workflows, costing and operational data

An established industrial customer base

A strategy to expand our Canadian business and enter key U.S. manufacturing markets

We now need a finance leader who can strengthen the department we have today while helping design the financial organization we will need tomorrow.

Your Initial Mandate
You will become the senior internal leader of our accounting and finance function and work directly with ownership and senior leadership.

Your immediate priorities will include:

Leading and developing the accounting and finance team

Strengthening month-end and year-end processes

Improving financial reporting and management visibility

Establishing stronger controls and accountability

Improving budgeting, forecasting and cash-flow managementStrengthening product costing, inventory and margin analysis

Improving ERP data integrity and financial processes

Clarifying roles and responsibilities within the department

Identifying financial risks, weaknesses and opportunities

Creating a practical roadmap for the finance function

We want someone who can quickly understand where we are, determine what needs improvement and turn that assessment into action.

Path to VP Finance
We are deliberately creating this role with room to grow.

You do not need to already hold a VP title. You may currently be a:

Director of Finance

Senior or Corporate Controller

Plant Controller

Divisional Finance Leader

Experienced Finance Manager ready for a larger mandate





Your current title matters less than what you have accomplished and what you are capable of building.

To progress toward VP Finance, you will need to demonstrate the ability to:

Lead the finance department effectively

Build trust with ownership and senior leadership

Develop people and create accountability

Identify risks before they become problems

Turn financial information into business decisions

Improve systems without creating unnecessary bureaucracy

Understand both the financial and operational sides of the business

Help prepare Progressive financially for significant growth

Financial & Operational Leadership
As the role develops, your responsibility will extend well beyond accounting.

You will help us answer questions such as:

How much capital will our growth require?

How should we finance inventory and working capital as we scale?

Which customers, products and markets generate the strongest returns?

Where are we deploying capital effectively?

What systems and controls will we need at twice our current size?

How do we pursue aggressive growth without losing financial discipline?

Key areas of responsibility will include:

Cash-flow forecasting and working-capital management

Inventory investment and cash-conversion analysis

Accounts receivable and accounts payable strategy

Banking, lender reporting and financing requirements

Capital expenditure analysis

Budgeting, rolling forecasts and financial modelling

Raw-material, labour and manufacturing overhead analysis

Product costing and gross-margin performance

Customer and product-line profitability

KPI development and management reporting

Growth scenarios and capital planning

Our finance leader must be willing to understand how the business actually operates. You should be comfortable moving between the financial statements and the plant floor.

ERP, Systems & Data
Our ERP platform is Odoo. Specific Odoo experience is an asset but is not required. What matters is your ability to understand ERP systems, improve data integrity, develop meaningful reporting and ensure technology gives management better information while reducing unnecessary administrative work.

Build the Finance Team
We are not looking for someone who simply performs the work themselves. You will be expected to lead and mentor accounting and finance employees, establish clear expectations, improve accountability, identify skill or resource gaps and build a finance organization capable of supporting growth.

Who We're Looking For
You should bring:

Progressive accounting and financial leadership experience

Strong manufacturing finance experience

Strong knowledge of financial statements and accounting controls

Experience leading month-end and year-end processes

Strong understanding of working capital, inventory and cash flow

Cost-accounting and margin-analysis capabilities

Experience with budgeting,



forecasting and financial modelling

Experience with banks, lenders and external financial partners

Strong ERP and data-analysis capabilities

Experience improving financial systems and controls

The ability to communicate financial information to non-financial leaders

Demonstrated leadership of accounting or finance professionals

A CPA designation is strongly preferred, but accomplishments, leadership ability and manufacturing experience will carry significant weight.

The Person We're Looking For
You are not looking for a comfortable accounting job. You want to build something.

You ask why, challenge assumptions constructively and recognize problems before they become crises. You can move between a detailed costing issue and a long-term strategic discussion.

You are comfortable respectfully challenging leadership when the numbers support your position, and you believe financial discipline should enable growth rather than prevent it.

Most importantly, you want your work to have a visible impact on the company you help build.

What Success Looks Like
During your first 12–18 months, we expect measurable progress in:

Monthly and year-end financial reporting

Forecasting and cash management

Financial controls and accountability

Product and customer profitability analysis

Working-capital and inventory management

Banking and lender reporting

ERP utilization and financial data integrity

Finance team development and role clarity

Financial modelling for Canadian and U.S. expansion

Building the financial infrastructure required for a substantially larger company

Our Interview Process
We are interested in more than your résumé and previous job titles.

Candidates who advance through our process should be prepared to discuss how they would approach their first several months at Progressive Industrial Fluids.

Finalist candidates should expect a discussion around the type of 30-, 60-, 90- and 180-day plan they would use to assess the department, establish priorities and begin strengthening the finance function.

We are not expecting you to know every answer before joining us. We want to understand how you think, how you establish priorities and how you turn an assessment into a plan.

Why Join Progressive Industrial Fluids?
This is an opportunity to join an established Canadian manufacturer at an important point in its development.

The foundation has been built. The market opportunity exists. The growth strategy is taking shape.

For the right person, this role provides the opportunity to lead our finance function now, prove yourself as a senior financial leader and potentially advance into VP Finance with a seat on our Executive Leadership Team.

We aren't looking for someone who wants to inherit a finished finance department.

We're looking for someone who wants to build one.

Compensation & Benefits

$130,000–$140,000+ base salary, depending on experience

Performance-based incentive opportunity

RRSP matching program

Comprehensive health, dental and vision benefits

Paid vacation

Company events

On-site parking

Location: London, Ontario

Work Environment: 100% on-site

Employment: Full-time, permanent

Work Location: In person

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📌 Director of Finance & Controller (Ontario)
🏢 Progressive Industrial Fluids
📍 Ontario