The Opportunity
We are looking for a Controller to provide financial leadership and stewardship for one of Canada's leading fire and life safety organizations. Reporting to the Director of Finance, the Controller is responsible for leading the accounting and payroll functions, ensuring the integrity of financial reporting, supporting strategic decision-making, and helping drive operational and financial performance across a growing, multi-location organization.
This is more than a traditional accounting role. The successful candidate will serve as a trusted business partner to operational and corporate leaders, providing the financial insight, discipline, and leadership required to support sustainable growth while maintaining the highest standards of quality, accountability, and service.
What You'll Do
Lead Financial Reporting, Governance and Stewardship
- Oversee the preparation of timely and accurate monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements in accordance with ASPE.
- Analyze monthly financial results and investigate and explain material variances against budget, forecast, and prior year.
- Ensure the integrity of accounting records, financial reporting processes, and internal controls.
- Lead month-end and year-end close activities and coordinate review engagements with external accounting firms.
- Maintain compliance with applicable accounting standards, regulatory requirements, and taxation obligations.
- Provide leadership with meaningful financial reporting and analysis to support informed decision-making.
- Foster a culture of accountability, accuracy, transparency, and sound financial stewardship.
Drive Business Performance and Strategic Decision-Making
- Lead annual budgeting, forecasting, and financial planning processes.
- Monitor organizational performance, identify trends, and communicate financial risks and opportunities.
- Support operational and executive leaders with reporting, analysis, and recommendations that enable sound business decisions.
- Develop financial models, scenarios, and performance metrics to support organizational planning and growth initiatives.
- Partner with leaders across the organization to improve financial understanding, operational effectiveness, and business performance.
- Help ensure resources are aligned with strategic priorities and long-term objectives.
Champion Quality and Continuous Improvement
- Promote high standards of quality, consistency, and accuracy across all financial processes and reporting activities.
- Evaluate existing systems, controls, and workflows and identify opportunities for improvement.
- Lead initiatives that improve efficiency, reporting capabilities, automation, and data integrity.
- Support the development of scalable financial practices that align with organizational growth.
- Encourage innovation and continuous improvement within the finance function while maintaining strong internal controls.
Support a Customer-Centric Organization
- Provide financial leadership that supports exceptional service to both internal and external customers.
- Collaborate with operational teams to balance financial discipline with customer needs and business commitments.
- Deliver financial insights that help leaders make decisions that strengthen client relationships and support long-term success.
- Maintain a solutions-focused approach when addressing business challenges and opportunities.
Lead and Develop a High-Performing Team
- Provide leadership, coaching, and direction to accounting and payroll team members.
- Create a respectful, collaborative, and inclusive work environment where employees are supported in achieving their full potential.
- Establish clear expectations, accountability, and performance standards.
- Support professional development, succession planning, and continuous learning opportunities.
- Promote teamwork across locations and departments through strong communication, trust, and collaboration.
- Lead by example, demonstrating professionalism, integrity, and respect in all interactions.
What You Bring
Required
- CPA designation in good standing.
- Progressive experience in accounting and financial leadership roles.
- Strong knowledge of ASPE, financial reporting, internal controls, and financial management practices.
- Experience leading budgeting, forecasting, and financial planning processes.
- Demonstrated success leading and developing accounting and payroll teams.
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
- Exceptional attention to detail and commitment to accuracy and quality.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities while consistently meeting deadlines.
- Strong communication skills with the ability to translate complex financial information into practical business insights.
- Demonstrated ability to build productive relationships and collaborate effectively across all levels of an organization.
Preferred
- Experience in a multi-location, service-based, project-driven, or field-service organization.
- Experience supporting rapid growth, acquisitions, or organizational transformation.
- Corporate tax knowledge.
- Experience implementing business process improvements, automation initiatives, or financial system enhancements.
- Bilingualism in English and French is considered an asset.
- Experience within fire protection, life safety, construction, industrial services, engineering, or other technical service environments is considered an asset.
Equivalent combinations of education, training, and relevant experience will be considered.
Some Benefits of Working at Everguard
- Competitive Compensation: Salary commensurate with experience, qualifications, and demonstrated capabilities.
- Comprehensive Benefits: Health, dental, vision, life, accident, and disability coverage.
- Retirement and Financial Planning Support: Employer-supported retirement savings program and access to financial planning resources.
- Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP): Confidential support and wellness resources.
- Paid Time Off: Vacation, flex time, birthday, and observed holidays.
- Flexible Work Arrangements: We recognize the importance of work-life balance and offer flexibility in scheduling where operationally appropriate, while supporting a collaborative in-office workplace.
- Training and Development: Paid learning and professional development opportunities.
- Inclusive Workplace: A respectful, collaborative, and safety-focused environment where different perspectives and experiences are valued.
At Everguard, we believe strong financial leadership is essential to delivering exceptional service, supporting our employees, and enabling sustainable growth. As Controller, you will have the opportunity to influence organizational success while working alongside a team committed to Respect, Safety, Customer Centricity, and Quality.
You will join a company where your expertise is valued, your ideas matter, and your contributions directly support the safety of people, businesses, and communities across Canada.
