Financial Controller for Family Run Food Manufacturing Business

Controller – Help Scale a Thriving Family Dairy Business

THIS POSITION IS IN OFFICE. THIS IS NOT A REMOTE POSITION

Location:Alliston, Ontario

Reports to:General Manager

Type:Full-time, Permanent

The Opportunity

You'll join a family-owned dairy group at a pivotal moment: we're professionalizing and scaling, and we need a hands‑on financial leader who gets it.

We operate three entities: Sheldon Creek Dairy (Canada's first A2 protein non‑homogenized milk producer), Alliston Creamery (our recently acquired butter production facility), and Haanview Farms, and we're growing fast. Right now, our accounting systems, internal controls and financial reporting are built for a smaller operation. Your job is to build the financial infrastructure we'll need to scale, while keeping your hands on the work that matters most.

This isn't a corporate controller role managing through layers. You'll own the monthly close, cost accounting, cash flow management, and profitability analysis—and you'll do it all with a small financial team. You'll be in the room when decisions get made, presenting the financial clarity that shapes strategy. You'll see your work directly impact how we grow.

If you thrive on:building systems from scratch, wearing multiple hats, seeing the business behind the numbers, and having real autonomy, this is the role for you.

What You'll Own

• Drive the full accounting cycle across three entities: general ledger, AR/AP, payroll, intercompany transactions, and all government remittances (HST, payroll source deductions, WSIB)
• Own the monthly, quarterly, and annual close; produce timely, accurate financial statements for each entity and consolidated
• Build and maintain the financial dashboards that feed management decisions
• Present variance analysis and financial insights to the General Manager and Board

Treasury, Profitability & Strategy

• Manage cash flow, credit lines, and banking relationships; optimize working capital across the group
• Develop cost accounting and margin analysis by product, plant, and sales channel—including co-packing job costing and yield analysis
• Build budgets, forecasts, and ROI analyses for capital projects that support growth
• Identify and administer agri-food grants, funding programs, and tax credits (Ontario and federal)

Building the Right Systems

• Establish internal controls (purchasing, authorization, segregation of duties, payment controls) that prevent errors without creating bureaucracy
• Select and implement accounting/ERP systems that support multi-entity reporting and future scaling
• Develop policies and procedures that bring clarity and consistency as you grow
• Oversee the relationships with external IT, legal, and HR & health and safety providers

People & Culture

• Lead a small team: an Accounting & Payroll Technician, two Accounting Clerks, and a part‑time seasonal clerk
• Hire, develop, and coach your team; define roles and performance expectations
• Build cross‑training and documentation to eliminate single points of failure
• Foster a culture of accuracy, timeliness, and continuous improvement

HR & Health & Safety Oversight

• Partner with an external HR & health and safety firm to drive recruitment, onboarding, benefits, and compliance across all three businesses
• Ensure compliance with Ontario employment and workplace-safety legislation (ESA, OHSA, WSIB)
• Help develop HR policies and role documentation that reflect our growth and values

What We're Looking For

Experience

• 5 to 8 years in accounting or finance, including a senior or controller-level role—ideally in an SME, manufacturing, or agri-food
• Hands‑on experience with multi‑entity accounting, consolidation, and cost accounting
• Strong grasp of Canadian accounting and taxation (HST, payroll, WSIB, corporate tax)
• Proven track record in budgeting, cash‑flow management, profitability analysis, and internal controls
• Experience building financial systems in a resource‑constrained, early‑stage environment—you're an SME builder, not just a large‑org maintainer
• Familiarity with agri‑food grants and funding programs is a plus

Skills & Tools

• University degree in accounting, finance, or business administration (CPA designation is an asset or in progress)
• Command of accounting/ERP systems and advanced Excel / Microsoft 365
• Working knowledge of HR administration and Ontario employment law
• Ability to translate financial complexity for non‑financial stakeholders

The Right Mindset

• Entrepreneurial:You see the business opportunity, not just the accounting task. You're motivated by building and scaling.
• Hands‑on:You're comfortable getting into the details—and you expect to. You don't wait for someone else to do it.
• Analytical & organized:You're rigorous and detail‑oriented, but you can also see the bigger picture and communicate it clearly.
• Collaborative:You work well cross-functionally with operations, farm management, sales, and leadership. You're discreet and trustworthy with sensitive information.
• Adaptable:You're comfortable with competing priorities in a seasonal business and can shift gears when needed.

Why This Matters

You'll build the financial systems that enable a family business to scale sustainably. You'll have direct impact on strategy, not just reporting. You'll work with a team that cares about the business and each other. And you'll do it in an industry that’s making a real difference: dairy farming, food production, and family agriculture in Ontario.

This role offers autonomy, growth, and the satisfaction of building something real.

What Success Looks Like

• Monthly financials delivered within 10 business days of close
• Multi‑entity reporting and dashboards delivered monthly
• All tax and statutory deadlines met, no penalties
• Clean external audit with no major findings
• Internal controls documented and reviewed annually
• Cost accounting and margin analysis by product, plant, and channel
• Payroll processed accurately and on time across all three entities
• HR and H&S compliance maintained across the farm, both plants, and retail
• HR policies documented, communicated, and applied consistently

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