Financial Controller

TITLE: Financial Controller / Head of Finance

LOCATION: Mississauga, Ontario (West GTA)

WORK MODEL: Onsite during initial operational onboarding & team integration; transitioning to a purposeful hybrid model

COMPENSATION: Target ~$150,000 CAD Base Salary + Comprehensive Benefits

REPORTING TO: Chief Executive Officer & Fractional CFO

ABOUT OUR CLIENT

We have been retained by an established, high-growth creative communications and brand experience agency headquartered in Mississauga. Delivering premier corporate conferences, immersive brand environments, and broadcast productions for tier-one Canadian enterprises, our client has scaled from 30 to over 50 professionals.

The organization combines creative excellence with the agility of an owner-led, mid-sized business. Their operating culture is built on calm problem-solving, transparency, curiosity, empathy, and mutual trust.

THE OPPORTUNITY & ROLE FOCUS

Our client is seeking an experienced, hands-on Financial Controller / Head of Finance to take full operational ownership of the accounting function and elevate financial processes across the business.

Reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer and working closely with an external Fractional CFO, this position serves as the operational leader for the day-to-day finance department. While the core priority is establishing rock-solid controllership and hands-on team leadership, the role will naturally take on greater FP&A and commercial analysis responsibilities as workflows are documented and streamlined.

Controllership & Operational Foundation (Core Priority):

Step in to lead and mentor an established in-house accounting team of 2–3 (accounting clerks, AP/AR coordinators). You will stabilize core financial operations, document undocumented processes, lead full-cycle close and reporting, eliminate single-person dependencies, and establish scalable controls and software integrations.

Commercial FP&A Evolution:

As day-to-day controllership processes become automated and steady, you will partner more deeply with executive leadership on forward-looking financial planning - including cash flow forecasting, job/event profitability analysis, annual budgeting, and project margin visibility.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Accounting Operations & Financial Controllership: Direct all day-to-day accounting functions, ensuring timely and accurate month-end/year-end close, general ledger integrity, accounts payable/receivable, payroll oversight, and balance sheet reconciliations.

• Team Leadership & Mentorship: Supervise, coach, and develop a dedicated accounting team of 2–3 staff, fostering accountability, continuous process improvement, and operational continuity.

• Process Optimization & Workflow Documentation: Audit existing accounting workflows, eliminate single-person dependencies, and formalize standard operating procedures (SOPs). Transition manual spreadsheets into automated tools (including evaluating expense reporting and workflow automation platforms).

• Cash Management & Commercial FP&A: Maintain rolling 13-week cash flow forecasts, liquidity projections, and variance analysis. Partner with production leads to track project-level job costing, labour utilization, and margin contribution across client accounts.

• Executive Reporting & Advisory Collaboration: Partner closely with the Fractional CFO and present monthly management reporting packages to the CEO, providing actionable commentary on operational performance and working capital.

• Compliance & External Coordination: Manage government remittances (HST), coordinate with external CPA firms for year-end corporate tax compliance, and oversee US tax considerations where relevant.

QUALIFICATIONS & PROFILE

• Professional Designation: Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) in good standing paired with a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or Commerce.

• Relevant Experience: 7–10+ years of progressive accounting and financial management experience, including 3+ years in a Controller, Head of Finance, or Senior Accounting Manager capacity.

• Proven People Leadership: Demonstrated success managing, coaching, and developing small accounting teams (2–4 staff members) in a collaborative, supportive manner.

• Systems & Software Fluency: Hands-on mastery of QuickBooks (Desktop or Online) and advanced Microsoft Excel skills (dynamic financial modelling, advanced logic, pivot tables).

• SME / Agency Agility: Prior experience within project-based, owner-managed, agency, marketing/events, or high-growth professional services environments. Comfortable navigating incomplete documentation and driving structured order in an entrepreneurial setting.

• Hands-On Mindset: A balanced leader who is just as comfortable rolling up their sleeves to resolve operational reconciliations as they are discussing high-level cash trends with the CEO and Fractional CFO.

• Asset: Exposure to cross-border / US tax filings and multi-currency transactions is a strong plus.

WHY CONSIDER THIS ROLE?

• High-visibility, hands-on leadership seat with direct access and partnership alongside the President & CEO and an experienced Fractional CFO.

• The autonomy to rebuild, modernize, and document the financial infrastructure of a growing mid-sized agency.

• Stable, profitable 30-year agency brand experiencing sustained commercial expansion.

Candidates must be eligible to work in Canada

I would like to thank all the candidates in advance. Please do stay connected on LinkedIn for future opportunities. Shortlisted candidates will be contacted .

This position reflects a current vacancy with one of our clients. Our Recruiters combine their expertise and AI-enabled technology in the recruitment process.