Vice President of Finance and Digital Transformation

Company Overview

Auto Electric Service (AES) is a locally owned wholesale distribution company serving the automotive aftermarket, agricultural, and industrial sectors across Southern Saskatchewan.

Founded in 1943, AES has built a trusted reputation through strong customer relationships, an unmatched product assortment, and reliable service.

The company is entering a transformative growth phase, with a strategy to scale its operations to support 2.5 times its current revenue. This role will be critical to building the operational infrastructure to support that growth.

Position Overview

The Vice President, Corporate Services, is responsible for leading and integrating the Finance, HR/Talent, and IT functions at AES. This role will modernize core systems and processes, implement high-frequency, data-driven reporting, and build a high-performing team to support scalable, profitable growth.

This is a senior leadership role reporting directly to the President and collaborating closely with the Executive Team.

Key Responsibilities

1. Systems & Platform Modernization

• Lead implementation and stabilization of Vision ERP and Indago WMS across all sites.
• Ensure achievement of operational KPIs, including:
  • ≥97% Order Accuracy
  • ≤1.0% Failed Picks
  • ≥98% Inventory Record Accuracy
  • +15% Lines Picked per Hour
• Standardize SOPs and develop branch playbooks.
• Strengthen integrations across order-to-cash, procure-to-pay, and pricing.

2. Data & Reporting

• Establish a single source of truth BI platform within 9 months.
• Deliver dashboards and self-serve reports for branch/customer P&Ls, GMROI, margin waterfalls, and more.
• Reduce the monthly financial close cycle to ≤5 business days.
• Achieve forecast accuracy of ±5% revenue / ±10% EBITDA.

3. Financial Performance

• Improve cash conversion cycle by ≥10 days.
• Reduce variable cost per order by 4% through cost controls, vendor terms, and rebate optimization.
• Support execution of the company's Shareholder Value Architect program.

4. Talent & Organizational Development

• Hire A-player HR and IT leads within 6 months.
• Achieve ≥70% A-player density in Corporate Services by Month 18.
• Reduce time-to-hire to ≤45 days for priority roles.
• Maintain ≥85% 6-month new hire success rate.
• Establish weekly, monthly, and quarterly operating rhythms.

5. IT Infrastructure & Cybersecurity

• Achieve ≥99.9% uptime on core applications (Vision, WMS, Compass).
• Deploy MFA, endpoint protection, backup/restore protocols, and an incident response plan within 6 months.
• Complete external cyber assessment and resolve critical issues by Month 15.
• Ensure branch infrastructure (Wi-Fi, servers) supports modern operations and hybrid work.

Candidate Profile

Required Experience:

• 10+ years of progressive leadership experience in Corporate Services, Finance, Operations, or IT.
• 5+ years in a senior leadership or executive role.
• Proven success in ERP and/or WMS implementation (Vision, Indago, or similar platforms).
• Experience in wholesale distribution, logistics, industrial, or related sectors.
• Demonstrated success in leading cross-functional teams and managing business transformations.

Skills & Attributes:

• Strong financial and operational acumen (ROIC, GMROI, CCC, EBITDA), including deep accounting and financial reporting knowledge. A professional accounting designation is an asset.
• Change management and stakeholder communication skills.
• Talent-focused leadership with experience hiring and developing A-players.
• Ability to establish and drive performance management processes.
• Owner mindset, high accountability, and execution orientation.

Core Values

Candidates must demonstrate alignment with AES's core values:

• Solution Focus - Approach every challenge with a problem- solving mindset.
• Humbly Confident - Lead with humility staying open to learning and focused on serving others.
• Customer Experience Obsessed - Care about making sure internal and external customers feel valued and supported.
• Foot on the Accelerator - Move with urgency and passion.

Why Join Auto Electric Service?

• Key leadership role in a high-growth transformation.
• Opportunity to design and implement systems from the ground up.
• Direct impact on business performance, scalability, and shareholder value.
• Stable, values-driven company with long-standing community roots.
• Competitive Health, Dental and Life Insurance benefits.