Job Purpose

The Controller is the senior accounting leader at Book Depot, accountable for the integrity of financial reporting, the strength of the close and control environment, and the quality of insight delivered to the Vice President, Finance and business leaders. This is a hands-on leadership role: the Controller works directly in the numbers, sets the technical bar for the team, and provides day-to-day guidance and direction on complex accounting matters and process execution. Partnering closely with the VP Finance, the Controller leads the accounting close and consolidated financial reporting across all entities, supports budgeting and forecasting led by the VP Finance, and contributes to finance process and systems improvements (including ERP transition activities) as assigned. The role combines technical accounting depth with practical business partnership and people leadership.

Strategic:

• Support the VP Finance with financial analysis and business cases for strategic initiatives as requested.
• Support the annual budget and rolling forecast process by providing historical results, cost centre reporting, and variance analysis; escalate material issues to the VP Finance.
• Own and prepare monthly consolidated financial statements, including Balance Sheet, Income Statement, and Cash Flow, along with all supporting reconciliations.
• Perform and present variance analysis versus prior periods and budget/forecast, with clear and concise commentary for management review.
• Prepare and deliver monthly lender reporting packages, ensuring accuracy, completeness, and alignment with covenant requirements.
• Develop and maintain KPI dashboards (including Buffer) to support financial visibility, performance tracking, and decision-making.
• Prepare the monthly data book for review by the VP, Finance, ensuring consistency and accuracy of all reported information.
• Provide supporting schedules and analysis for board reporting materials prepared by the VP, Finance.
• Support in cross-functional finance and systems initiatives as the accounting subject-matter expert, focusing on accurate inventory, costing, AP, AR, and GL data flows and reconciliations led by VP Finance.
• Monitor and report key working capital drivers (e.g., AR aging, AP aging, inventory trends) and identify issues or anomalies for VP Finance review. Remove this section.
• Facilitate day-to-day banking operation, partner with the VP Finance on credit facilities, financial instruments, and covenant management.
• Utilize systems such as Sage 300, NetSuite, ADP, Power BI, and other emerging tools to support financial operations and reporting.
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of accounting processes, internal controls, and reporting practices, with a focus on reducing manual effort and enhancing data accuracy and quality.
• Support the ERP migration from Sage 300 to NetSuite as the accounting lead for close, controls, and reconciliations, under overall project leadership of the VP Finance.
• Support standard monthly reporting and improve recurring reports/dashboards in partnership with the VP Finance and business stakeholders.

Functional:

• Maintain a deep understanding of the financial reporting and general ledger structure across all entities, and ensure month-end and year-end close are timely, accurate, and compliant.
• Maintain the monthly close calendar to the following standards: final close by financial day 3 (all reconciliations, accruals, intercompany entries, and adjustments reviewed, approved, and posted); full financial review complete by financial day 5; management reporting and supporting schedules delivered to the VP Finance per the monthly reporting calendar.
• Operate as a hands-on Controller - working directly in the books where needed, reviewing entries, troubleshooting complex transactions, and providing real-time guidance and direction to the team to keep the close on schedule and on quality.
• Review GL postings, reconciliations, accruals, journal entries, and adjustments to ensure consistency with GAAP.
• Oversee intercompany transactions, eliminations, and FX translations for accurate consolidation across divisions and entities.
• Own the relationship with external auditors and tax advisors; consolidate year-end documentation including financial reports, capital asset and property tax records, HST remittances, bank statements, and lender/audit support packages.
• Review indirect tax compliance (HST/GST/PST, US Sales Tax via Avalara) and ensure timely filings.
• Oversee the payroll function in ADP, including payroll processing oversight, GL integration, reconciliations, statutory remittances (CPP, EI, EHT, WSIB), T4/year-end reporting, and compliance with government reporting requirements.
• Review treasury schedules including bank reconciliations, cash balances, debt schedules, and required lender reporting support.
• Maintain and strengthen the internal control environment; document, test, and continuously improve finance and accounting processes.
• Advise the team on non-routine transactions, technical accounting treatments, and emerging standards.
• Lead the implementation of new systems, processes, and controls that enhance accuracy, scalability, and workflow, in coordination with the VP Finance and operational stakeholders.
• Other related responsibilities as required.

People and Culture:

• Model Book Depot's values and enable the purpose-driven culture of Enchanting the Mind - values-aligned, family-friendly, high-performing, and innovative.
• Provide hands-on, day-to-day guidance and direction to the Accounting Supervisor and broader finance team - coaching through technical issues, prioritizing workload, and unblocking obstacles in real time.
• Lead, mentor, and develop the team to be agile, service-oriented, and analytically strong; build technical depth through direct involvement in the work.
• Recruit, hire, onboard, and develop a high-performing team; support engagement, productivity, and retention for the department, escalating resourcing needs to the VP Finance.
• Set aligned, measurable goals and provide regular feedback and coaching.
• Champion continuous improvement in accounting processes, controls, and tools (including the upcoming ERP transition) in alignment with finance leadership priorities.
• Encourage continuous learning, including active participation in Book Depot University (BDU) and exposure to new tools (Power BI, automation, analytics).

Qualifications:

Required

• CPA designation.
• 7+ years of progressive accounting experience, including 2+ years in a Controller, Assistant Controller, or Accounting Manager role (multi-entity environment preferred).
• Proven experience with consolidated reporting and multi-entity accounting, including FX and intercompany.
• Demonstrated experience owning a timely monthly close (target 5 business days or fewer) and producing management and board reporting.
• Working knowledge of budgeting/forecasting processes and ability to support FP&A with accurate actuals, variance analysis, and clean underlying data.
• Strong understanding of GAAP, internal controls, and audit readiness.
• Experience participating in an ERP implementation or major system upgrade (Sage 300 and/or NetSuite experience preferred).
• Strong Excel proficiency; Power BI experience is an asset.
• Demonstrated success improving accounting processes and reporting efficiency.
• Proven ability to lead and develop an accounting team while remaining hands-on and engaged in the work.
• Strong analytical, communication, and leadership skills, with the ability to explain financial results to non-finance stakeholders.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver timely, accurate results in a fast-paced environment.

Preferred

• Industry experience in inventory-heavy distribution, wholesale, or retail.
• Experience supporting banking and lender reporting requests.
• Functional experience with ADP payroll, including payroll oversight, GL integration, and Canadian payroll compliance.
• Experience supporting finance systems projects (e.g., ERP integrations) and inventory/costing data flows.

***DUE TO VOLUME, ONLY SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATES WILL BE CONTACTED. NO PHONE CALLS, PLEASE.