Regional Controller

**Approved Job Title: Regional Group Controller** **Division/Area: Up Auto Hanover/Walkerton** **Reports To: CFO** **Posts Supervised: Assigned Dealerships Accounting and Administrative Employees** **Company**: Welcome You made it to the job description page At Up Auto, we are an Automotive Dealership Business that focuses on acquiring and operating great automotive manufacturer brand dealerships. Our cultural ethos is "The Relentless Pursuit of Excellence". This approach is injected into EVERYTHING we do - from the way we view and treat our relationships with our team, customers, suppliers, and manufacturer partners - to how we expect the lot to look on a rainy, sunny, or snowy day All the while focused on achieving excellence, we expect to have fun while everyone learns and grows in their roles and responsibilities. Operational Excellence is the expectation. Having fun doing it - is our way **Job Purpose**: The Regional Controller will oversee 3 regions - Hanover, Walkerton, and Collingwood - and will be responsible for the management of the accounting department by establishing a framework for resource planning and allocation. Working in our largest dealership (Hanover Honda), the Regional Controller will have experience in a Dealership environment, solid understanding of DMS (Quorum, Serti, or CDK,) and advanced Excel skills. **Primary Responsibilities**: - Supervise, lead, and direct all aspect of the Accounting Department - Implement systems, scheduling, and procedures in the Accounting Department - Control and manage Dealership financial activities, such as the cash flow, preparation of the budget, auditing of the books of accounts, purchases, fixed assets, and insurance - Supervise all accounting functions and staff - Monitor the supervision of accounts receivable and sales/purchases of vehicle documentation - Cooperate with Management in the long-term planning, cash flow management and the allocation of funds - Monitor monthly and year-to-date operating statements - Supervise the preparation of write-off depreciation and prepaid expenses - Analyze and review wholesale liability - Conduct an analytical review of monthly financial statements highlighting; deviations from budget, unusual increases/decreases in revenue and expenses, providing explanations for each - Design accounting policies and procedures for all departments - Ensure that all financial activities of the Dealership are accurately carried out, documented, and recorded - Support the General Manager in managing cash flows and follow-up on ongoing contracts and accounts receivables - Work with the General Manager in preparing the financial forecasts and budgets for each department - Represent the dealer both within the Dealership and with respect to external activities - Prepare the detailed monthly financial statements, in keeping with the dealer’s instructions and the manufacturer’s time frame and format; ensure that all manufacturer accounts are up-to-date and accurate - specifically those concerning warranty claims, discounts, interest rate protection and industry advertising - Regularly analyze financial reports and the daily control of operations, and notify the General Manager of developing trends - Approve credit before customer accounts are opened - Establish an account collection policy and supervise the follow-up of accounts receivable - Issue detailed financial statements and management reports for the department managers - Maintain an efficient cash flow management system, to provide for cash needs, and make recommendations for the profitable use of surplus cash - Manage the evaluation of the amortization rates applicable to the fixed assets - Analyze the ledger and the accounts recorded - Review the reconciliation of the accounts in the general ledger with external resources, to ensure that bank reconciliation, reserve accounts, accounts payable to the manufacturer and inventory financing are accurate - Keep up to date on amendments to the Income Tax Act and notify the General Manager of any operational adjustments required - Ensure compliance with all government financial regulations - Establish reserves for losses to cover contingent liabilities - Ensure that all office employees use appropriate accounting methods and maintain accurate records - Participate in management meetings providing the documents required for such meetings to proceed - Meet with department managers to examine the financial statements, and stress the situation in need of improvement, if applicable - Approve adjustments to the inventory accounts - Recruit, interview, hire, train and dismiss accounting employees - Ensure that all employee records are current and complete - Supervise the administration of Group Health Plan and other benefits/programs - Perform other tasks, based on management requirements and instructions **Qualifications**: - University degree or equivalent in the field of Chartered Accounting and/or: - Comparable de