Controller

Sterling Rivers is looking for a passionate and driven Controller to lead its finance function with both hands on operational and analytical oversight, ensuring the accuracy, integrity, and timeliness of all financial activities. Reporting to the CEO, the Controller is responsible for managing financial reporting, budgeting, forecasting, compliance, payroll, and risk with the ability to roll up the sleeves and get the work done.
This role also provides guidance and review over the work of the finance team, with a strong focus on costing, gross margin analysis, revenues, and import operations. The Controller will maintain robust accounting practices and systems, support ERP implementation, and serve as a key financial liaison to internal and external stakeholders.
**Here’s what you need to know about this opportunity**:

- Full-time, salaried position
- Standard business hours
- Comprehensive benefits package
- 3-weeks of paid vacation days per year
- 4 paid personal days per year
- On-Site/Hybrid role
- Location: 1245 Caledonia Road #200, North York

**And here’s what we need from the person who fills this role**:Leadership & Management**:

- Directly manage the Financial Reporting Specialist, Financial Operations Specialist, and two part-time contractors (AR and payroll support); report to the CEO.
- Conduct performance reviews, set team goals, and manage training and development.

**Financial Reporting & Compliance**:

- Oversee the month-end close process led by the Financial Reporting Specialist by reviewing key journal entries, reconciliations, and reports to ensure accuracy, completeness, timeliness, and ASPE compliance.
- Prepare monthly, quarterly, and annual financial and business reports, KPIs, dashboards, and executive summaries for leadership and investors. Explain variances to budget, forecast, and prior periods, identify business drivers, and recommend actions to the CEO.
- Oversee all government and CRA filings and remittances, including corporate taxes, sales taxes, payroll related remittances, annual filings.
- Lead the external review engagement process and collaborate with the internal auditor.
- Maintain internal financial policies, processes, and control frameworks to safeguard assets and ensure transparency.
- Precisely and concisely document processes and procedures (SOPs).
- Ensure segregation of duties (SOD) and adherence to the Delegation of Authority (DOA) matrix.

**Treasury & Cash Flow Management**:

- Lead communications with corporate banks regarding operational banking matters.
- Collaborate with the CEO on capital planning and optimizing the use of lines of credit.
- Oversee weekly rolling cash flow process prepared by the Financial Reporting Specialist, ensuring cash flows are understood, comply with credit facilities and sufficient cash flow in projections for business needs.
- Review and approve weekly payment proposals to ensure alignment with available funds and business priorities.
- Document weekly payment meetings, as a control to ensure there is a record and alignment.
- Ensure invoice approvals adhere to the corporate Delegation of Authority.
- Prepare liquidity and treasury KPIs to support business continuity and financial agility.
- Responsible for the monthly margining and other reports required by financial institutions.

**Budgeting, Forecasting & Financial Planning**:

- Lead the annual budgeting process and quarterly forecasting processes in collaboration with the CEO and functional teams.
- Set timelines and collect inputs from across the organization.
- Prepare and update financial forecasts, deliver variance analysis, KPIs and dashboards and executive summaries to explain results and inform leadership decisions.
- Partner cross-functionally to support cost management and improve margin performance.

**Cost Accounting & Inventory Control**:

- Lead cost accounting processes, including inventory valuation, landed cost analysis, adjustments and alignment in the financial reporting system of inventory by locations to external WH and internal inventory reports.
- Analyze and report on gross margins, SKU-level profitability, and operational cost drivers.
- Ensure accuracy of freight, duty, and brokerage charges and accruals required.
- Support operations and procurement with financial insights related to sourcing, pricing, and inventory decisions.
- Prepare inventory KPIs to understand aging, provisions and valuation adheres to ASPE.

**Payroll & Employee Cost Oversight**:

- Manages the Payroll Coordinator to ensure payroll accuracy and compliance with CRA remittance requirements.
- Maintain payroll controls, support vacation and bonus accruals, and oversee reconciliation processes.
- Ensure proper reconciliation of the WSIB account and compliance with all filing requirements.

**Financial Systems, ERP & Operational Finance**:

- Maintain the integrity and controls of QuickBooks Enterprise (QBE) and associated reporting tools.
- Support the finance-side implem