Director, Financial Reporting (and Controllership)

The Opportunity

We are looking for an experienced and hands-on Director, Financial Reporting (and Controllership) to lead the company's financial reporting, accounting operations, internal controls, and financial compliance activities.

Reporting to the VP, Finance, this role will be responsible for ensuring the integrity, accuracy, and timeliness of the company's financial information while building scalable processes and controls to support the company through its next stage of growth. You will lead two direct reports, the Senior Financial Analyst and the AP AR Specialist.

This is a key leadership role within Finance, combining strong technical accounting expertise with operational leadership. The Director will oversee the day-to-day controllership function, including the monthly close, financial reporting, accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll accounting, general ledger integrity, tax compliance support, internal controls, and external review/audit processes. The successful candidate will be comfortable operating at both a strategic and detailed level-able to identify opportunities to improve the finance function while also ensuring that the fundamentals of accounting, controls, and reporting are executed with a high degree of accuracy and discipline

Key Responsibilities

Financial Reporting & Accounting

• Lead the monthly, quarterly, and annual financial close processes, ensuring financial information is accurate, complete, and delivered according to established timelines
• Prepare and review monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements in accordance with Accounting Standards for Private Enterprises (ASPE).
• Own the integrity of the general ledger and other records within our ERP (Netsuite) including account reconciliations, journal entries, accruals, provisions, intercompany transactions, and other accounting activities.
• Prepare and review supporting schedules, reconciliations, and financial analysis to ensure the accuracy and completeness of reported results.
• Review and approve manual journal entries. Prepare complex journal entries such as payroll, reclasses, transfer pricing, and intercompany transactions and allocation
• Partner with FP&A and business leaders to investigate significant variances, unusual transactions, and accounting matters
• Develop and maintain accounting policies and ensure consistent application across the organization.
• Research and provide recommendations on technical accounting matters and new or complex transactions
• Collaborate with the VP, Finance in the preparation and timely delivery of financial and management reporting to the Executive Team and other stakeholders
• Own the successful completion of the year-end review and other assurance engagements, as required. Serve as the primary operational contact for external accountants and auditors. Support the VP, Finance on significant accounting judgments and matters requiring discussion with external advisors.
• Collaborate with the VP, Finance and COO on efforts for any future financing events, strategic transactions, or audit requirements.

Accounting Operations

• Provide leadership and oversight of the company's day-to-day accounting operations, including accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll accounting, cash accounting, and general ledger activities.
• Establish clear processes, responsibilities, service levels, and controls across accounting operations. Ensure processes are appropriately documented and are not dependant on knowledge held by a single individual
• Ensure vendor payments, customer receipts, payroll transactions, expense reimbursements, credit notes, and other financial transactions are appropriately authorized, recorded, and reconciled.
• Monitor accounts receivable and accounts payable aging and partner with relevant teams to address material outstanding balances.

Tax & Regulatory Compliance

• Coordinate the preparation and timely filing of corporate tax, sales tax, and other required financial filings across applicable jurisdictions.
• Oversee the company's tax compliance and manage the day-to-day relationship and information requirements of external tax advisors.Collaborate with the VP, Finance and external advisors with corporate tax planning, transfer pricing, cross border transactions, duties and other tax matters
• Monitor tax and regulatory requirements relevant to JENNY BIRD and escalate potential impacts and changes needed to the VP, Finance
• Support tax registrations and financial compliance requirements associated with expansion into new markets or jurisdictions.

Treasury & Cash Controls

• Oversee daily accounting and controls related to cash and banking activities such as bank account access, payment authorization, banking changes, and cash movements.
• Ensure bank accounts are reconciled accurately and on a timely basis and ensure accurate accounts receivable, accounts payable, inventory and other working-capital information to support cash management decisions
• Collaborate with the VP, Finance with cash flow forecasting
• Support banking covenant calculations and reporting requirements.
• Assist with documentation and reporting associated with credit facilities and other financing arrangements. Systems, Processes & Scalability
• Continuously improve the efficiency, accuracy, and scalability of the company's financial reporting and accounting processes.
• Identify opportunities to automate manual processes, strengthen controls, and improve the quality and accessibility of financial information.
• Optimize the use of the company's ERP, accounting, expense management, payroll, reporting, and other Finance-related systems.
• Partner with IT and other stakeholders on Finance system implementations, integrations, upgrades, and process changes.
• Develop and maintain clear process documentation and standard operating procedures across the Finance function.
• Build processes and infrastructure that can scale with increased transaction volume, organizational complexity, and geographic expansion.

Team Leadership & Development

• Reports to the VP, Finance
• Oversees the Financial Reporting Team, including management of the existing team in addition to all future hires:
• • Senior Financial Analyst
  • AP/AR Specialist
• Partners with the VP, Finance to lead team role design, career development, coaching, and recruitment efforts, ensuring the wholesale team's growth aligns with company objectives and individual development goals.
• Collaborate with our operations team to stay informed on inventory availability and upcoming product launches

Qualifications

• CPA designation with strong technical accounting and controllership experience.
• Approximately 8-12+ years of progressive accounting and finance experience, including experience leading a controllership or financial reporting function.
• Strong knowledge of ASPE and experience preparing or reviewing financial statements.
• Experience leading month-end and year-end close processes in a complex, multi-entity environment
• Strong understanding of accounting operations, including accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll accounting, general ledger, and cash.
• Demonstrated experience developing and operating effective internal controls and financial policies.
• Experience managing external financial statement reviews or audits and working with external accounting and tax advisors.
• Working knowledge of Canadian corporate and indirect taxation, including GST/HST; exposure to U.S. sales tax and cross-border tax matters is strongly preferred
• Strong systems orientation with experience improving ERP, accounting, reporting, and Finance processes
• Advanced Excel skills and strong analytical capabilities.
• Demonstrated ability to identify issues, determine root causes, and implement practical solutions.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to explain accounting and financial matters to non-finance stakeholders.
• High level of judgment, integrity, attention to detail, and ownership.
• Comfortable operating in a growing, entrepreneurial environment where both strategic thinking and hands-on execution are required.

This list is not inclusive of the total scope of job functions to be performed. Duties and responsibilities may be added, deleted, or modified at any time. Note that as this is a newly created role, the above responsibilities may be adjusted based on the employee's experience and areas of strength, in addition to the strategic direction of the company. Any such amendments to the above will be decided upon in collaboration with the employee.

Leadership Expectations

At JENNY BIRD, we seek managers who have effective communication skills and are conscious and kind leaders. It is important that our leaders naturally embody our brand mission of empowering and uplifting others. We are looking for a compassionate and reliable individual who will lead with empathy, inspire their teammates and peers with a strong work ethic, all whilst supporting the growth of their team members through establishing a relationship built on trust and respect.

As a brand, we have seen incredible growth and success through our team's proactiveness, curiosity and desire to learn while building. We look for managers who embody these traits and have the confidence and comfortability to not only manage and collaborate laterally, but to also work directly with our founder to communicate ideas and support the company's goals and manage up when required.

Role Details

• Location: We have flexible working arrangements for the team. This role requires you to be in the office (East Room located at 507 King East, Toronto, Ontario) 3 days a week, Monday, Tuesday, and Thursdays.
• Salary: The anticipated base salary range for this position is $175-185K. Exact salary depends on several factors such as experience, skills, education, and budget. Salary range may vary based on geographic location.

Perks at JENNY BIRD

• 3 weeks vacation + 3 floating days + Summer Fridays (office closes early at 1 pm)
• Your birthday off!
• A comprehensive benefits program + flexible health care spending account
• Parental leave top-up
• Employee discount to use towards JENNY BIRD pieces!
• Access to Group RRSP Plan
• Membership to the East Room at 507 King East, Toronto, Ontario

-