Controller

Accounting Leadership Role. Managing, mentoring, coaching, and inspiring a team of Accountants and Senior Accountants. Well-established and reputable Vancouver-based company with impressive leadership and sales operations across the country. Fast-paced, high change, and entrepreneurial work environment, with a friendly and down-to-earth corporate culture. Hybrid work schedule of 3 days / week working from the office. Downtown Vancouver.

Who- the Company :

Our client is a successful and reputable mid-size privately-held Canadian organization in the financial services sector that was founded over 20 years ago. They have been recognized in the past for being a top employer. In addition to their business achievements, the organization is very values-based and promotes a culture of collaboration. Employees are encouraged to contribute positively to the communities they live and work in through volunteering and philanthropy. This organization is also fast-paced, constantly evolving, and complex.

What- the Role :

Swim Recruiting is seeking a new Controller for this great organization.  The new Controller will lead a team of 4 designated accountants and will report directly to the top finance leader. Working on a broader accounting & finance team of ~18 people, including folks in corporate accounting, FP&A, treasury, AP, AR, etc.

The Controller will take on a variety of tasks, and no day will be the same. There is opportunity for career development over the years and the leadership team is looking for a Controller who can steadily grow with the organization. The areas of responsibility are diverse, and include overseeing financial reporting, journal entries, balance sheets, variance analysis, bank reconciliations, tax remittances, etc. Using Excel and a sophisticated ERP.  Potentially leading a conversion to IFRS in future.

This is a “working manager” role where the technical full-cycle corporate accounting & working capital management skills are crucial but just as important are the soft skills and leadership abilities.

The Controller will manage, mentor, motivate ~4 direct reports within accounting and will contribute positively to a healthy, engaged, and solutions-oriented corporate culture.

Who- the Candidate :

Qualified candidates will be self-motivated and driven, with the ability to learn quickly and the willingness to seek out process improvements. The Controller will be preparing memos, reports, and documents for the Director of Finance & Accounting, the CFO, and other finance and non-finance leaders, so the ability to clearly convey accounting and financial information is important.

We are seeking a CPA-designated accountant with at least 8 years of progressive and relevant accounting work experience. Qualified candidates will be analytical and detail-oriented, as well as business savvy and able to see the big picture. Experience with a growing and complex mid-size multi-entity private organization based in Canada is required. Understanding of various revenue streams and complex revenue recognition is important.   ASPE and IFRS financial reporting skills are required. Hands-on experience using an ERP and high level of proficiency in Excel is required.

We are ideally seeking candidates who trained in public practice and who now have several years of experience in industry … however, excellent candidates who only have one or the other (all public practice or all industry) may also be considered. Experience in financial services sector is preferred, but not required.

This is a great role for folks who thrive in a fast-paced, high-change, and entrepreneurial work environment! We are looking for people who are friendly, humble yet confident, adaptable, resilient, and who can have fun with their team while working hard.

Where :

Downtown Vancouver. Hybrid work schedule . More presence required in the HQ in the first months while establishing relationships and getting to know the company. Longer term, the Controller can choose to work from home 2 days a week. There are frequent on-site team collaboration days and social events at the office.

How Much :

Generous base salary commensurate with experience, education, and technical accounting skills, likely in the range of $120,000 to around $150,000. The total compensation includes an RRSP contribution, a performance-based bonus, paid health & wellness days, CPA PD support, health & dental benefits, and some great industry-based perks.

When & How to Apply :

This search is moving quickly and SWIM is presenting the profiles of short-listed candidates directly to the hiring team for review. If you already have a Recruiter at SWIM, please reach out very soon. If you do not yet have a contact at Swim Recruiting, please hit 'APPLY’ to send us your resume ( preferably in MS Word format as it works best with our internal systems). Thank you!