VP Finance

We are seeking an experienced Vice President, Finance to provide strategic financial leadership, strengthen organizational performance, and support long-term growth initiatives across the organization in Waterloo, Ontario. This role is ideally suited to an accomplished finance executive who can balance high-level strategic planning with strong financial stewardship, operational excellence, and team leadership. The successful candidate will play a critical role in shaping financial strategy, enhancing reporting and governance practices, building organizational capacity, and developing a high-performing finance function that can scale with the organization's evolving needs.

Responsibilities:

• Provide strategic leadership for all finance and accounting functions, including financial reporting, budgeting, forecasting, cash flow management, payroll oversight, treasury, and financial planning and analysis.

• Serve as a trusted advisor to the executive leadership team, providing financial insights, business analysis, and recommendations to support organizational strategy and key decision-making.

• Lead, mentor, and grow the finance team, establishing appropriate structure, capabilities, and succession planning to support the organization's continued growth and evolving operational requirements.

• Oversee the organization's funding programs, ensuring compliance with federal, provincial, and other stakeholder requirements while maintaining accurate reporting, monitoring, and accountability frameworks.

• Strengthen financial governance by developing and enhancing internal controls, policies, systems, and reporting processes that improve transparency, compliance, and organizational effectiveness.

• Provide executive oversight of financial operations across the parent organization and its wholly owned for-profit subsidiary, ensuring consolidated visibility, effective risk management, and alignment with organizational objectives.

• Act as the senior finance lead for external audit relationships, regulatory reporting requirements, and Board-level financial reporting, ensuring timely communication and resolution of financial matters.

• Lead the development of long-range financial plans, scenario modeling, and performance measurement frameworks to support sustainable growth and resource allocation decisions.

• Drive continuous improvement initiatives across finance and administrative functions, including system enhancements, process optimization, and special projects requiring advanced financial and business expertise.

• Partner closely with leaders across the organization to evaluate strategic opportunities, support business cases, assess financial risks, and ensure the organization has the financial infrastructure and talent required to achieve its objectives.

• 10+ years of progressive experience in accounting, finance, or controllership roles, including 5+ years in a senior leadership capacity overseeing teams, financial operations, and organizational performance.

• Demonstrated leadership experience building, mentoring, and expanding finance teams, with a track record of developing talent and establishing scalable processes to support organizational growth.

• Strong expertise in financial reporting, budgeting, forecasting, cash flow management, treasury, and strategic financial planning within complex, multi-entity environments.

• Deep knowledge of Accounting Standards for Not-for-Profit Organizations (ASNPO), charitable organization reporting requirements, and financial governance practices within the not-for-profit sector.

• Proven experience managing grants, contribution agreements, donor-restricted funding, and other regulated funding programs, ensuring compliance with detailed reporting, accountability, and stewardship requirements.

• Extensive experience overseeing audits, strengthening internal controls, and managing risk, compliance, and regulatory reporting obligations.

• Experience preparing and presenting financial information to executive leadership teams, Boards of Directors, auditors, funders, and other key stakeholders.

• Advanced proficiency with financial systems, reporting tools, and data analysis, with the ability to translate financial information into actionable business insights and strategic recommendations.

• Familiarity with payroll, benefits, and related financial administration, ensuring effective oversight and integration with broader finance operations.

• CPA designation required, with demonstrated success providing strategic financial leadership in a not-for-profit, charitable, public sector, or similarly regulated environment considered a strong asset.

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