Financial Controller - Woodstock, Ontario

On behalf of our client, a dynamic world-class manufacturer here in Oxford County, Scout HR + Talent is seeking a strategic, hands-on Controller to lead all finance and accounting activities on a direct hire basis. This is a highly visible leadership role partnering directly with ...

Job description

On behalf of our client, a dynamic world-class manufacturer here in Oxford County, Scout HR + Talent is seeking a strategic, hands-on Controller to lead all finance and accounting activities on a direct hire basis. This is a highly visible leadership role partnering directly with the Director of Operations and plant leadership team to drive financial performance, operational efficiency, and strong internal controls. The ideal candidate brings deep manufacturing finance expertise, thrives in a fast-paced setting, and has a proven track record of owning month-end close, standard costing, forecasting, and plant-level performance improvement.

The Controller leads all plant finance and accounting activities, ensuring accurate financial reporting, strong internal controls, and timely decision support to Operations. This role owns the month-end close and forecasting process, drives cost/working-capital performance, and partners with plant leadership to improve profitability, operational efficiency, and compliance with corporate policies and accounting standards.

Accountabilities:

Plant Finance Leadership & Business Partnering

·       Serve as the primary finance partner to the Director of Operations and plant leadership team; translate operational performance into financial results and actions

·       Prepare daily/weekly metrics, month-end close, forecast updates, and annual plan

·       Provide clear analysis of key drivers (labor, scrap, efficiency, overtime, materials, freight, overhead absorption) and recommend corrective actions

·       Drive a culture of accountability with standard reporting, KPIs, and disciplined follow-up

Financial Reporting, Close, and Controls

·       Own month-end and year-end close processes, including journal entries, reconciliations, accruals, inventory valuation, and reporting packages

·       Ensure compliance with IFRS and corporate accounting policies; maintain strong documentation and audit readiness

·       Establish, document and strengthen internal controls across all key processes and financial areas

·       Coordinate internal/external audit requests and ensure timely remediation of findings

Costing, Inventory, and Operational Finance

·       Own standard costing governance: BOM/routing integrity, labor and overhead rates, periodic cost rolls, and part profitability models

·       Lead variance analysis (PPV, usage, labor efficiency, overhead, scrap) and partner with Operations/Materials/Engineering to address root causes

·       Improve working capital performance through stronger processes for inventory, receivables, payables, and claims/chargebacks

Budgeting, Forecasting, and Long-Range Planning

·       Lead annual business plan, quarterly and monthly forecasts, and longer-range planning (e.g., 3–5 year outlook) aligned with plant strategy

·       Build and maintain models for volume/mix sensitivity, margin bridge analysis, and productivity initiatives

·       Track performance to plan and communicate risks/opportunities with recommended actions

Treasury, Cash, and Capital

·       Manage plant-level cash planning and working capital

·       Partner on capital planning: business cases, payback/ROI analysis, approval packages, and post-audit reviews

·       Ensure fixed asset accounting accuracy (additions, disposals, depreciation, CIP) and adherence to capitalization policies

People Leadership

·       Lead, coach, and develop the plant finance team; set clear expectations, prioritize workload, and build capability in cost/controls/analysis

·       Drive performance management, training plans, and succession planning; support hiring decisions as needed.

Compliance & Other Responsibilities

·       Support plant compliance requirements relevant to the role (IATF 16949, ISO 14001, and plant EHS standards)

·       Perform other duties as assigned

Skills and Qualifications:

·       Bachelor's degree in accounting or finance

·       CPA (or equivalent) strongly preferred

· years finance/ accounting experience within manufacturing; automotive preferred

·       Ownership of close, costing, and plant performance reporting experience 

·       Strong understanding of standard costing, inventory accounting, variance analysis, and internal controls

·       Advanced Excel (PowerQuery/Power Pivot a plus) skills, and ERP/MRP experience required (AS400/CMS400 or similar)

·       Solid leadership capabilities, able to influence cross-functional leaders, and drive process improvement 

This is an exceptional direct hire opportunity for a finance leader who wants to make a measurable impact at the plant level while developing high-performing teams and strengthening financial discipline. A competitive total compensation package is offered, including a base salary of $130,000+ (to commensurate with experience), comprehensive health benefits, performance-based bonus, RRSP program, and more. This role requires an on-site presence during the initial training and integration period, with the opportunity to transition to a hybrid model once fully established. If you are a CPA (or equivalent) with progressive manufacturing experience and a passion for driving results through data-driven insight, accountability, and cross-functional partnership, we encourage you to apply and join a company committed to operational excellence and continuous improvement.