Chief Financial Officer
South Shore, NS
Reference # HL-JL-9306 The Wilson Group is a fourth-generation, family-owned business with over 100 years of earning the trust of communities across southwest Nova Scotia. What started as a general store has evolved into a dynamic, multi-location retail group operating under national banners including Home Hardware Building Centre, The Brick, and Bell, with a diversified portfolio spanning home improvement, building materials, furniture, appliances, electronics, floral, and property management.
Over the last five years, The Wilson Group has entered a significant new chapter of growth. To support this momentum, we are seeking a hands-on
Chief Financial Officer to serve as a strategic partner to the CEO and play a defining role in shaping what comes next. This is a pivotal hire for the organization. The right person will bring structure, clarity, and financial leadership to a business that has earned its reputation through its people and serving the communities they do business in.
What you’ll do: - Act as a trusted advisor to the CEO, providing sound financial judgment, insight, and guidance to support decision-making and strategic focus
- Quickly dive into the business, assess the current financial landscape, and bring structure, discipline, and clarity to financial operations
- Lead and evolve the finance function, including AP, AR, and accounting, with a focus on migrating toward a shared services model across multiple locations
- Translate complex financial information into language that resonates across the entire organization
- Partner closely with operational leaders, ensuring financial insights are grounded in the day-to-day realities of the business
- Identify and clearly communicate growth opportunities, risks, and trade-offs, helping ownership understand where to invest time, capital, and attention
- Build, mentor, and develop a high-performing finance team grounded in accountability and collaboration
- Maintain strong financial controls, reporting, forecasting, and performance management processes
- Be a steadying presence for the leadership team, helping keep everyone focused, aligned, and anchored to the company's core values and vision
The ideal candidate will possess: - A CPA is required for this senior, highly visible role
- Entrepreneurial, with a strong desire to build and scale rather than maintain the status quo
- A low-ego, high-impact leader who values being close to the business, spending time in stores, and understanding customers firsthand
- Equally comfortable thinking at 30,000 feet and getting into the details, because you understand that both matter
- A strong communicator who translates complex financial information into clear, actionable insights for stakeholders at all levels of the organization
- Someone who genuinely enjoys being close to the business, spending time in stores, understanding the customer, and knowing the team
- Experienced in building finance functions, implementing shared services, and supporting growth across multiple locations or operating divisions
This role requires a “CEO mindset”—someone who can operate at a strategic level while also diving into the details, understanding what’s happening on the ground, and helping leadership see opportunities clearly. If you are someone who does not shy away from rolling up your sleeves and being a key player on the team, this could be a fantastic, career defining opportunity. Let’s connect for a confidential conversation.
