Chief Financial Officer

Director, Executive Search at GlassRatner | Placing the Next Generation of Leaders into Exceptional Career Opportunities

Are you ready to lead the finance function for a fast-growing company? Can you build trust at the top by delivering accurate, insightful reporting and robust controls? Do you have the vision and expertise to optimize systems, leverage an ERP for real-time insights, and drive profitability through disciplined processes? Do you thrive on turning financial data and information into the “so what”? If these questions excite you, this could be the opportunity you’ve been waiting for.

Our client is a Montreal based manufacturer with ambitious plans to continue to scale the business, which has seen good growth over the past few years. The company operates primarily in Canada with selective international exposure and is in the midst of an ERP transition. This is a hands‑on, strategic role for a finance leader who thrives in entrepreneurial environments and enjoys building for scale.

Reporting to and working hand‑in‑hand with ownership, the Head of Finance will play a critical role in shaping financial strategy, strengthening controls, improving budgeting, forecasting and planning, and unlocking margin opportunities. This isn’t a traditional finance role—it’s a strategic opportunity for a leader with operational instincts, commercial acumen, and a take‑ownership mindset. The successful candidate will lead all core financial functions including accounting, reporting, FP&A, and compliance, while driving ERP implementation, cash flow discipline, and process improvement across a multi‑site operation.

Key Responsibilities

• Stakeholder Partnership – Collaborate closely with the owner and leadership team to shape and execute the company’s growth roadmap, ensuring alignment between financial strategy and business objectives.
• Cash Management – Take ownership of cash flow forecasting, working capital optimization, and funding readiness, providing stability and foresight.
• ERP Transformation – Lead the successful transition to a new ERP, driving system modernization, robust controls, and real‑time reporting capabilities that enable data‑driven decisions.
• Profitability Focus – Leverage standard costing and margin analysis to identify opportunities, improve profitability, and support competitive pricing strategies.
• Financial Stewardship – Oversee accounting, budgeting, forecasting, and reporting with precision and transparency, ensuring timely and accurate insights for leadership.
• Risk Identification – Proactively identify potential risks related to FX exposure, pricing strategies, and trade impacts, providing early insights and recommendations to safeguard the business against volatility and external pressures.
• Team Development – Lead, coach, build and mentor a strong finance team, fostering collaboration and alignment with operations, procurement, and sales for seamless execution.
• Multi‑Site Oversight – Ensure consistency and accuracy in financial operations across multiple locations, maintaining strong controls and standardized processes.

Qualifications

• Proven Leadership Experience – Demonstrated success as a CFO/VP Finance or senior finance leader within manufacturing and distribution environments, with a track record of driving growth and operational excellence.
• Costing Expertise – Hands‑on experience implementing standard costing methodologies to improve profitability and decision‑making.
• ERP Proficiency – Deep knowledge of ERP systems.
• Cash Flow & Risk Insight – Practical experience managing cash flow and identifying FX exposure risks, ensuring financial stability and proactive planning in dynamic market conditions.
• Professional Credentials – CPA designation strongly preferred for technical rigor; bilingual proficiency in English and French is considered crucial for stakeholder engagement.
• On‑Site Commitment – Ability to work full‑time, five days per week, on‑site in the Greater Montreal Area to foster collaboration and maintain close alignment with operations.
• Strategic & Hands‑On Leadership – A leader who combines strategic vision with the willingness to roll up their sleeves, driving transformation while mentoring and empowering high‑performing teams.

Why you should apply

• Impactful Leadership – Play a pivotal role in shaping financial strategy and driving transformation for a high‑growth manufacturer.
• Strategic Growth – Influence decisions that will scale the business, while modernizing systems and processes for long‑term success.
• Collaborative Culture – Join a supportive, team‑oriented environment that values transparency, accountability, and strong relationships across all functions.
• Innovation & Challenge – Lead critical initiatives such as margin improvement and cash flow optimization in a dynamic, entrepreneurial environment.

Seniority level

• Executive

Employment type

• Full-time

Job function

• Finance, Strategy/Planning, and Accounting/Auditing

Industries

• Manufacturing

Ready to make an impact and shape the future? Don't wait and apply in confidence.