POSITION OVERVIEWAt BDC, the only bank dedicated exclusively to Canadian entrepreneurs, your work contributes directly to the success and growth of small and medium-sized businesses across Canada. As a Senior Business Advisor, you lead and deliver high-value advisory engagements that help entrepreneurs strengthen financial performance, improve decision-making, and build enterprise value.
This role combines a primary focus on Financial Management (approximately 70%) with a complementary focus on Business Transition and Strategy (approximately 30%). You provide practical, actionable advice that supports growth, ownership transitions, integration initiatives, and strategic change within SME environments.
CHALLENGES TO BE METFinancial management (primary focus | approximately 70%)- Deliver financial management advisory engagements for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
- Assess financial performance, management practices, and financial processes to identify improvement opportunities.
- Develop and implement:
- Financial plans
- Financial forecasts
- Cash flow models
- Scenario analyses
- Key performance indicators (KPIs)
- Dashboards
- Costing models and analyses
- Management reporting tools
- Improve client capabilities in:
- Budgeting
- Forecasting
- Working capital management
- Profitability analysis
- Cost management
- Financial controls
- Financial decision-making
- Translate financial analysis into operational and strategic recommendations for business owners and leadership teams.
- Advise clients on:
- Business performance
- Investment decisions
- Financing requirements
- Financial and business risks
- Value creation opportunities
- Contribute to the development and continuous improvement of financial management methodologies, advisory tools, and service offerings.
- Apply digital tools and artificial intelligence solutions to support analysis, modelling, forecasting, and decision-making.
Business transition & strategy (complementary focus | approximately 30%)- Advise entrepreneurs on business transition initiatives, including:
- Ownership transfers
- Succession planning
- Sale preparation
- Mergers and acquisitions (M&A)
- Post-transaction integration
- Assess:
- Financial readiness
- Enterprise value drivers
- Strategic and financial risks
- Develop transition and succession roadmaps to support continuity, value preservation, and stakeholder alignment.
- Support strategic planning engagements through:
- Strategic analysis
- Evaluation of strategic options
- Development of implementation plans
- Design and implement strategy execution frameworks incorporating:
- Objectives
- Performance indicators
- Governance mechanisms
- Accountability structures
- Follow-up processes
- Use digital and AI-enabled tools to support scenario planning, business analysis, and operational effectiveness.
Engagement delivery, collaboration & business development- Manage advisory engagements including scope, budget, timelines, risks, client expectations, and deliverable quality.
- Oversee and review work completed by external delivery partners when required.
- Conduct client diagnostics and contribute to the development of customized advisory proposals.
- Support business development activities and the sale of advisory mandates.
- Collaborate with Client Partners and Business Advisors to deliver integrated solutions and share technical expertise.
- Develop and present thought leadership content, knowledge-sharing materials, and practice-related insights.
- Participate in special projects that support the growth and evolution of BDC Advisory Services.
WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FORLanguage- Perfect bilingualism in French and English, due to the responsibilities of the position
Education- Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field.
Professional experience- Approximately 10 years of progressive experience in one or more of the following areas:
- Financial leadership
- Financial management
- Financial advisory services
- Experience advising business owners, entrepreneurs, executive leaders, or management teams on:
- Financial planning
- Financial modelling
- Financial performance management
- Cost management Process improvement
- Experience developing and implementing:
- Financial forecasts
- Cash flow models
- Budgets
- Management reporting tools
- Performance measurement frameworks
- Experience managing client-facing advisory or consulting engagements.
- Practical experience supporting one or more of the following:
- Business transition
- Succession planning
- Mergers and acquisitions (M&A)
- Post-merger integration
- Strategic planning
- Strategy execution
Technical and business skills- Financial analysis
- Financial planning and analysis (FP&A)
- Financial modelling
- Cash flow management
- Budgeting and forecasting
- Working capital management
- Cost accounting
- Profitability analysis
- Key performance indicators (KPIs)
- Dashboard and management reporting design
- Process improvement
- Business performance management
- Strategic analysis
- Enterprise value assessment
- Project management within a client-service environment
- Use of digital tools and artificial intelligence for analysis and decision support.
Core competencies- Client-focused advisory approach.
- Analytical problem-solving and sound business judgment.
- Ability to translate complex financial and strategic concepts into practical recommendations.
- Executive-level written, verbal, facilitation, coaching, and presentation skills.
- Relationship-building and stakeholder management skills.
- Collaboration, adaptability, and business development orientation.
Preferred qualificationsEducation & credentials- Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) designation.
- Master of Business Administration (MBA).
- Other relevant professional designations related to finance, strategy, consulting, or business transition.
Professional experience- Experience in management consulting, business consulting, professional services, or advisory services.
- Experience delivering both standardized and customized consulting mandates for SMEs.
