Controller

About the Company
Our client provides mechanical contractor offering services to residential and commercial clients. They are looking for a Controller who will be responsible for the full cycle accounting including the month-end close, preparation of external and internal financial reporting, job costing and project reporting, forecast model builds, statutory and tax compliance, and the operational accounting processes that support segmented P&Ls and project accounting across HVAC, plumbing, electrical, and refrigeration. The Controller leads the day-to-day finance team and is the principal point of accountability for accurate, timely, audit-ready financial records.
Why Work Here

• Opportunity to gain valuable experience in an industry leading Private Equity firm.
• Work closely with PE owners to help scale a business through M&A and integrations
• Build a world class finance team/function
• Excellent total compensation package

About the Opportunity
Accounting Operations & Month-End Close

• Own the full month-end close process end-to-end, delivering accurate, on-time results to the CFO
• Manage all general ledger activity, journal entries, accruals, reconciliations, and intercompany entries
• Produce the internal and external monthly reporting package including budget versus actual variance results analysis and supporting schedules alongside the CFO.
• Maintain a clean, well-documented chart of accounts aligned with segmented P&L and job costing requirements

Controls, Compliance & Audit

• Design, implement, and maintain internal controls over financial reporting, in line with the control framework established with the CFO.
• Own compliance with Canadian indirect tax obligations (GST/PST/HST), payroll remittances, and corporate tax filings in coordination with external advisors
• Assist in bank covenant compliance reporting alongside the CFO.
• Lead year-end audit engagement, including preparation of working papers and direct liaison with external accountants
• Ensure compliance with applicable accounting standards (ASPE).

Project Accounting & Job Costing

• Track actual project costs against initial quotes; build processes to flag variances early and escalate as required
• Maintain accurate WIP, revenue recognition, and project margin reporting, in conjunction with the operations team
• Own inventory accounting from raw materials through WIP to finished goods consumed on jobs, including counts

AR, AP, Payroll & Cash

• Oversee accounts receivable, accounts payable, and payroll functions; ensure timely, accurate processing and strong supporting controls.
• Manage collections discipline and AR aging in coordination with operations
• Support weekly cash management and provide reliable inputs into the cash flow forecast owned by the CFO

Financial Planning and Analysis

• Support the annual budgeting process, including the model build-out
• Support the weekly 13W rolling cash forecasting cycle, including updating weekly actuals, and build out of forecast assumptions
• Assist in providing detailed analysis on budget versus actual financial variances at the Project, Department and Consolidated financial statement levels.

Acquisition Integration

• Assist with the integration of acquired companies, including implementation of the companys processes and systems within the acquired entity or integrating the existing personnel, processes and systems into their financial reporting environment.

Team Leadership

• Lead, develop, and hold accountable the day-to-day finance team (AR, AP, payroll, staff accounting)
• Set clear expectations, review work, and build a culture of accuracy, ownership, and continuous improvement
• Act as the operational deputy to the CFO on the finance function

Systems & Process Improvement

• Drive process improvement and automation across the ERP, billing, payroll, project management stack, and finance controls and processes overall
• Support integration of finance processes and reporting standards following any future acquisitions
• Partner with operations to ensure transactional data captured in the field flows cleanly into the financial records

About You

• 8+ years of progressive accounting experience, including 2+ years in a Controller or Assistant Controller role
• CPA designation required
• Public accounting background (Big 4 or national firm) preferred
• Experience in trades, construction, field services, or other project-based businesses strongly preferred
• Demonstrated ownership of a full month-end close and external audit process
• Hands-on experience with job costing, WIP accounting, and inventory in a multi-segment operating business
• Background in private-equity-backed or multi-entity environments an asset

Salary Range
$130,000 - $150,000/year
How to Apply
Click the Apply Now button and follow the instructions to submit your resume. Please know that we only accept documents in MS Word or Rich Text formats.
When referencing this job, quote #479003

This position for employment is for a current vacancy with Vaco/Highsprings client. You must currently reside within the Greater Toronto Area and be permitted to work in Canada to be considered for this opportunity. A recruiter will be in touch with you if your profile meets our clients requirements for this role.