Financial Controller - Bilingual - Conversational French

We are seeking an experienced, hands-on Controller to stabilize and strengthen the finance function of a growing organization. This individual will provide immediate controllership leadership, improve the accuracy and reliability of financial reporting, and establish a sustainable internal control environment.

The successful candidate will take ownership of the month-end and year-end close processes, lead remediation of internal audit findings, strengthen segregation of duties, and implement disciplined accounting review and documentation practices.

This role is ideal for a seasoned finance professional with a strong controllership and Audit background who thrives in a hands-on environment, can quickly identify control weaknesses, and has a proven ability to bring structure, accountability, and consistency to finance operations.

Key Responsibilities

Financial Reporting & Close Management

• Lead the monthly, quarterly, and year-end financial close processes, establishing clear timelines, accountability, and escalation procedures.
• Review and, where necessary, prepare trial balances, journal entries, bank reconciliations, balance-sheet reconciliations, and supporting schedules.
• Investigate unusual balances, discrepancies, and unsupported transactions, ensuring issues are resolved promptly.
• Ensure financial statements and reporting packages are accurate, complete, and supported by reliable sub-ledger details and documented review evidence.
• Establish consistent accounting review procedures and improve the overall quality and timeliness of financial reporting including Inventory reporting.

Internal Controls & Audit Remediation

• Lead the finance remediation plan arising from Internal Audit findings, tracking corrective actions, responsible parties, supporting evidence, and completion dates.
• Identify control weaknesses and implement practical, sustainable improvements across finance and accounting operations.
• Strengthen segregation of duties, approval workflows, and system access controls covering cash receipts, banking, payments, payroll, accounts receivable, inventory, and journal entries.
• Establish standardized control procedures and ensure key reviews and approvals are properly documented.
• Coordinate responses, supporting documentation, and follow-up actions for Corporate Internal Audit and other internal or external reviewers.
• Monitor remediation progress and ensure identified control gaps are resolved effectively and on schedule.

Cash Management, Banking & Payment Controls

• Oversee cash and cheque handling procedures, deposit frequency, receipt logs, and reconciliation of collections to bank deposits and customer accounts.
• Review banking access rights, payment preparation and approval processes, vendor master controls, cheque custody, and positive-pay exceptions.
• Strengthen controls over payroll processing and employee banking changes through independent verification and approval procedures.
• Ensure post-payroll bank withdrawals reconcile to approved payroll records.
• Identify opportunities to reduce financial risk and improve oversight of cash management and disbursement activities.

Working Capital & Inventory Governance

• Strengthen credit approval procedures, credit-limit monitoring, collections escalation, and the analysis of allowances for doubtful accounts.
• Oversee quarterly inventory reconciliations, physical count documentation, variance investigations, and inventory trend analysis.
• Improve accountability for working capital management and ensure inventory and receivables balances are accurate, supported, and appropriately reviewed.
• Establish consistent reporting and escalation processes for material discrepancies and emerging financial risks.

Team Leadership & Finance Stabilization

• Provide hands-on leadership, coaching, and technical guidance to the finance and accounting team.
• Supervise and review the work of the Senior Accountant and other accounting personnel, ensuring accuracy, consistency, and adherence to established controls.
• Establish clear responsibilities, review standards, and accountability across the finance function.
• Partner with business leadership, Corporate Finance, and Internal Audit to address issues and improve financial processes.
• Maintain appropriate independence and exercise sound judgment, including escalating or stopping transactions when required controls are absent.
• Assess team capabilities, identify knowledge gaps, and improve cross-training and backup coverage.
• Contribute recommendations regarding the appropriate long-term finance organizational structure once the function is stabilized.

Qualifications & Experience

• CPA designation required.
• Significant experience in controllership, financial reporting, accounting operations, and internal controls.
• Demonstrated success stabilizing a finance function, remediating audit findings, strengthening internal controls, or working in a turnaround environment.
• Strong hands-on knowledge of month-end close, account reconciliations, journal entries, cash management, working capital, inventory accounting, and payment controls.
• Experience developing and implementing segregation-of-duties frameworks, approval processes, and documented control procedures.
• Proven ability to review financial information critically, challenge unsupported balances, investigate discrepancies, and drive issues through to resolution.
• Experience working with Internal Audit, Corporate Finance, and senior business stakeholders.
• Strong leadership and communication skills, with the ability to provide clear direction while remaining actively involved in day-to-day accounting activities.
• High integrity, sound professional judgment, and a strong commitment to financial accuracy, accountability, and risk management.
• Willingness to complete required background, reference, criminal, and credit checks.
• French and English proficiency is considered an asset. Conversational French, given the organization's Québec operating environment.

Key Success Measures

The successful Interim Controller will deliver measurable improvements in the stability, accuracy, and control of the finance function, including:

• A timely and disciplined financial close supported by complete reconciliations and documented review evidence.
• Resolution of high-risk control weaknesses through practical and sustainable remediation plans.
• Stronger controls over cash, banking, payments, payroll, and financial system access.
• Timely completion of audit remediation actions, with supporting evidence readily available.
• Improved inventory governance, working capital oversight, and financial accountability.
• Stronger technical direction, accountability, and backup coverage within the accounting team.
• A more stable finance function with clear processes, defined responsibilities, and a sustainable control environment.