Our customer is an entrepreneurial, Founder-managed, preparing-to-grow, set of two operating businesses located in the City of Toronto proper. The current hybrid (Wednesday & Thursday onsite each week) Controller has been with the company for eleven years and they and their family are now residing far outside of the City. A position closer to their home has been secured by the current Controller and they have offered to provide advice, training and assistance to the incoming Controller to ensure a successful transition.

While maintaining the current efficiency of the seven-to ten-day close (improvements welcomed) using QuickBooks and Microsoft Excel for analysis and standardized KPI reporting, the Controller reports directly to one of the Founder. With the help of the Controller, the Founder is looking to expand both businesses by ensuring that the accounting and admin systems and EFT capabilities are in place, tested and ready for effective deployment. In particular, they are looking to add a hands-on CPA/CFA with monthly financial reporting experience. The Founder is also open to hiring a financial professional coming straight out of public accounting, as long as they have a want-to-do-what-is-needed attitude. A Controller who is willing and interested to administratively stay involved in operations to ensure that billing is always up-to-date and accurate while also watching out for red flags and/or budget variance issues that the Founder needs to know about is also required. Ideally, a Controller who will also be able to help successfully manage the integration of a to-be-selected, new, Project Management system and assist in its successful interface to the current QuickBooks system. It is important to have is a CPA/CFA Controller who is good at doing hands-on analysis using Microsoft Excel (PivotTables & VLOOKUPs) and thereby directly assisting the Founder with strategic decision making via objective analysis.

The salary range for this hybrid Controller position is $115,000 to $155,000 (depending on candidate experience) plus benefits (including hybrid & flex hours and CPA/CFA Membership fees reimbursement) and a performance-based bonus = profit sharing. The Controller will work directly with the Founder on profit sharing analysis and final decisions. 

If you are or know of a technically competent; achievement and career focused, self-motivated CPA or CFA who is detailed and likes being hands-on with accounting, financial reporting and analysis while leading and managing a competent direct report Accounting Coordinator, a CPA/CFA who will also embrace the challenges associated with ensuring that operations, product development and service staff do their client invoicing prep work so Accounting can create the formal invoices in an accurate and timely manner, please arrange for a resume to be sent to client0905@financialinterviewer.com e-mail subject line: Controller by Nov. 14, 2025.   

Please see position details below. No agencies please.

Summary of Position Goals:

Leading/managing one, experienced and valued, CPA-finalist Accounting Coordinator direct report, the Controller is responsible for managing the accounting processes, systems, records, financial reports and for the internal controls that are designed to mitigate risk and comply with GAAP/ASPE principles. Hands-on, the Controller provides accounting, financial reporting, analysis, planning, budgeting/forecasting and internal controls for the two operating entities. The Controller will also play a critical role in negotiating positive terms with the bank. 

Effective Cash Management is vital within entrepreneurial organizations and this is also so for this Controller position. 

Hire, train and maintain effective staff whenever needed. And, as de facto HR Administrator, learn, maintain and apply knowledge of the Ontario Heath and Safety Act, Human Rights Code, Employment Standards Act and other applicable legislative bodies. And, from an administrative perspective, assist in continuously improving the on boarding and off boarding processes.

Especially for the emerging business facilities rental company, work with the internal team on improving/updating financial reporting processes. And, maintain good standing with the external computer systems for processing of the business’s transactions. Eventually hire another direct report Accounting Coordinator once the business meeting room company takes off.

Utilizing the QuickBooks accounting system (potentially converting to an online version in approximately one year), the Controller will be responsible for positively performing the financial reporting, analyzing financial data in Excel and implementing best practices in Accounting. Utilizing the benefits of a to-be-selected and implemented Project Management ERP, work with system/IS suppliers and operations professionals to ensure an effective interface with the QuickBooks solution.

The Controller needs to positively contribute to the company’s continued growth by maintaining accurate financial records and providing insightful analysis that supports strategic decision making. Microsoft Excel (VLOOKUPs & PivotTables at a minimum) skills are required. All Excel files, including KPIs, are already in place. However, future further development and/or corrections will be where these required Excel skills are deployed.

The Controller shall also help the Founder(s) and various team leaders with compiling budget information and take on the important project of bringing forward additional, documented, internal controls – where and as appropriate for an entrepreneurial set of growing businesses.

Company Culture:

Entrepreneurial: The company is an entrepreneurial set of two operating businesses managed by the Founder. A dynamic, very flexible, friendly and entrepreneurial environment – consistently respectful while maintaining the two way honesty sought out and maintained by the Founder. When and where things are going off plan, all team members, especially the Controller, are encouraged to speak up so actions can be taken to right the course.

Agility: Agility and dynamic innovation is baked right into the Founder and therefore into each of the two businesses. There is lots of room to share ideas and create the work the way you want it to be. Although accounting processes are well established, not having to follow the way it has always been done enables the Controller’s creativity to flow.

Action, Accountability & Empathy: The business goals are not just talked about. Management actively works with the staff to consistently achieve them. The businesses are not run by a cold-hearted capitalist. Much time, effort and funding gets returned to those in the community who are in need of meaningful assistance. In fact, they are a “B Corp. Certified” by BLab, business group.

Work Hard to Ensure that Clients and Colleagues are supported, Celebrate Wins & Achieve Goals while maintaining a positive Work/Life Balance: The entire team is committed to perseverance and hard work. Consistently putting effort into the role is an expectation of the team as much as it is that of the Founder. In this business culture, celebrating achievements and friendliness are just as important as accomplishments and having a regular opportunity to have down time.

Position Behaviours:

• Always be trustworthy with all financial and payroll (40 people) information under the Controller role and forthcoming & honest with the Founder.
• Uphold all company policies and procedures.
• Motivate and inspire the team towards service and quality excellence while guiding the team to focus on meeting deadlines.
• Understand the skill set and competencies required to meet the current and future needs of the businesses – hiring, promoting and developing those that will contribute to the success of the businesses.
• Establish and foster an environment of best practises through effective team mentorship, coaching and leadership.
• Help cultivate an environment of being positive, results oriented and client focused by openly and respectfully communicating with employees and addressing staff & colleague issues in a fair and consistent manner.
• Set clear team expectations that are aligned with each business’s mission, vision and strategic goals – and hold others accountable to meet and/or exceed the expectations.
• Help create an employment experience that is aligned with the missions and visions by recruiting high performing team members, while providing professional development opportunities that will capitalize on the team’s fullest potential.
• Support employee programs that are vital to each businesses mission, vision and strategic goals. 
• Act as a role model to help drive employee engagement.
• Oversee the day-to-day accounting function within the businesses by ensuring that the team is following all applicable policies and procedures and addressing appropriately when the need arises.
• Help the team successfully transition toward more of a product focus while also maintaining excellent customer and supplier relationships on the service aspects of businesses.
• Utilizing effective and objective analysis and reporting skills, confidently share opinions without becoming strident = harsh and/or loud.
• Help the various teams to more accurately forecast where the companies are going.
• Be and remain curious and want to learn outside of the Controller job function.
• Remain flexible with the way the work is achieved, ethical, fair with all people and be open to feedback – even from subordinates.
• Deliver work performance criticism which is constructive – never used to punish subordinates. 
• Be approachable and easy to talk to so subordinates don’t fear the Controller’s reactions.
• Help colleagues in a friendly way – thereby ensuring that they will reciprocate in kind.
• Help the direct report Accounting Coordinator to complete their CPA training and achieve their designation. 
• Help create and/or maintain a culture of continuous improvement.
• Set clear objectives, monitor progress, take corrective action and help control performance levels.
• Focus and drive to help achieve targets, budgets and results.
• Continually seek out opportunity, practising and encouraging a culture of strategic excellence.
• Enjoy the challenge of problem solving and coming up with well thought through, practical, solutions.
• Apply a systemic and logical approach in order to get things right.
• Work as part of a team and exercise tolerance and consistency when dealing with others.
• Provide a high level of internal and/or external customer satisfaction within the specific area of expertise.
• Adopt a serious and questioning manner in order to assess situations and come to conclusions, therefore basing the process on facts and information collected from others.
• An assertive, forceful but not aggressive, results-oriented Controller having the ability to work in a steady, thorough, well organized, logical and systematic manner. 
• The job content is likely to include work which is challenging and requires investigation and research in order to resolve technical or specialist problems. 
• The Controller should have the persistence to see each job through to conclusion and work within clearly defined parameters. 
• The Controller should be inquisitive, methodical, deliberate and precise in their approach. 
• The ability to question, concentrate and work within set precedents are also important aspects of this Controller role. 
• Reacting quickly to change is a positive attribute for the person occupying this Controller position within this dynamic and entrepreneurial work environment.

Position Responsibilities:

In cooperation with the direct report Accounting Coordinator, utilizing ASPE, be responsible for the timely and accurate preparation and analysis of financial statements, ensuring accuracy and compliance, reporting results to the bank and dynamically including variances to budget. 

Manage the general ledger, ensuring timely and accurate postings and reconciliations 

Take ownership of the month-end and year-end closing processes, including journal entries, accruals, and financial reporting. Improving the processes wherever possible.

Develop, implement, communicate, and maintain documented internal controls to safeguard company assets and ensure compliance with financial policies.

Assist with budgeting, forecasting, and variance analysis to provide financial insights to leadership.

Maintain the cash flow model on a weekly basis and highlight and communicate any issues to the Founder.

Support tax compliance efforts, including preparing documentation for corporate tax filings and liaising with external tax advisors and compliance reporting suppliers.

Collaborate with cross-functional teams to further streamline financial processes and enhance operational efficiencies. 

Reconcile monthly bank statements for all entities.

Review monthly credit card reconciliations for all entities.

Review G&A accounts for accuracy for all entities. 

Facilitate payment of outstanding client invoices. 

Process renewal of insurance policies based on renewal dates.

Enter mortgage payments into the holding company’s financials and set up and deliver property tax payments.

Send out credit applications to new clients when necessary.

Complete credit applications when received from new vendors.

Process and remit monthly and/or quarterly HST.

Remit EFTs for staff expenses and monthly host remittances.

Facilitate payments to international Workspace Meeting Rooms via the Airwallex system.

When needed, working with outside experts, support and administer the SR&ED process and grants.

Prepare and analyze revenue forecasting.

Facilitate weekly cash flow meetings with the Founder.

Conduct monthly forecast meetings and update revenue forecast regularly with the leadership team.

Monitor the budget and discuss with the Founder and/or leadership team when necessary.

Produce and analyze financial reports as required (Microsoft Excel).

Prepare all supporting information for each companies annual Notice to Reader with the approved external auditor and authorized regulatory and government bodies (e.g. CRA)

Maintain the financial accounting systems for cash management, disbursements, receipts, A/P, A/R, credit control and petty cash.

Document and maintain a complete and accurate set of supporting information for all financial transactions.

Develop and maintain timely and accurate financial statements and reports that are audience appropriate and maintained according to GAAP/ASPE and internal policies.

Prepare for and participate in the month and year-end procedures in partnership with the external accounting firm. (Jan. 31 year-end for the Marketing & New Product Development Lab business and Sept. 30th for the Work Space Rental business).

Liaise with the outside accounting firm for notice-to-reader and tax purposes.

Work closely with the bank manager on any banking needs, GICs, savings, overdraft, etc. and loan rate negotiations. 

Work with the workspace meeting rooms in-house team to process refunds and prepare the monthly host reports. 

Maintain good standing with the two payment processing systems for the workspace meeting room rentals business.

Under the supervision of the Founder, process semi-monthly payroll, ensuring salaries are accurate and appropriate amounts of deductions are processed.

Submit monthly RRSP remittances and payments to AGF.

As needed, help conduct background and credit checks for potential new hires.

Administer, monitor and update health/dental benefits which includes negotiating renewals, onboarding and offboarding administration tasks for employees, updating salary information, etc.

Recommend, implement and maintain internal controls to ensure compliance with internal financial and accounting policies and procedures to safeguard assets and maintain security of the accounting information.

Focus on monthly cost controlling and reduction initiatives to ensure unfavourable variances to budget are addressed in a timely manner, such as income vs. expenses, cost of goods, etc. 

Generate and analyze certain reports from the project management system and communicate/share with the Founder and/or leadership team.

Maintain and uphold in trust all confidential company information and only use when required to fulfill employment obligations.

Manage the information in the Bamboo HR platform and thereby effectively perform the payroll, benefits plan and HR administration aspects of the Controller role.

Assist the Founder to focus the vision through more effective planning and forecasting and therefore help the meeting room rental business, in particular, reach its potential and take full market advantage of the new product capabilities being brought forward.

Other ad hoc requests and requirements asked for by the Founder/leadership team of an energetic Controller who is actively seeking to add value and grow their career within a growing, dynamic, private, set of two operating businesses.