Controller, Finance & Banking, Financial Manager

About the Company

Our client is a producer and distributor of wines and sprits. They are looking for a Controller to join their team!

• Work in a growing and exciting business
• Right hand to the CFO who will be an excellent boss and mentor
• Good work life balance
• Strong compensation package
• Great benefits

• External Financial Reporting & Compliance
  • Lead the preparation of quarterly and annual financial statements, MD&A, and securities filings in compliance with IFRS and TSX-V requirements.
  • Oversee annual audits, interim reviews, and all external financial reporting deadlines.
  • Manage lender reporting packages, including borrowing base reports, covenant compliance, and other submissions.
  • Coordinate corporate and indirect tax filings (excise, HST, income tax), working with external advisors as needed.
  • Act as the key contact for auditors, regulators, and external stakeholders.
• Liquor Industry Compliance & Reporting
  • Maintain and manage all liquor licenses, ensuring compliance with AGCO, LCBO, and provincial regulations.
  • Oversee excise tax filings and ensure accuracy and timeliness of payments.
  • Prepare and submit J-10 filings to the LCBO, ensuring compliance with all consignment and reporting requirements.
  • Administer applications and claims for government and industry rebate programs (e.g., VQA support program, GMDF A&P, wine subsidy programs).
  • Monitor changes in industry regulations and ensure the Company remains compliant with all provincial and federal requirements.
• Internal Controls & Governance
  • Design, implement, and maintain strong internal controls across financial and regulatory processes.
  • Ensure all liquor-related compliance filings are supported by proper documentation and reconciliations.
  • Establish, monitor, and enforce accounting policies and internal control procedures.
  • Drive continuous improvement in ERP (Sage 300) and financial systems to strengthen accuracy, compliance, and efficiency.
• Accounting Operations
  • Oversee daily accounting operations, including accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll, treasury, and general ledger management.
  • Lead the month-end, quarter-end, and year-end close processes.
  • Manage reconciliations of key balance sheet accounts, including excise tax liabilities and consignment inventory.
  • Monitor cash flow, AR collections, and working capital metrics.
• Costing, Inventory & Deferred Cost Accounting
  • Oversee the Company’s inventory and production costing, including the capitalization and deferral of winemaking and production-related costs across bulk wine, work-in-process, and finished goods.
  • Maintain and enhance cost allocation methodologies to support accurate product costing, margin analysis, and vintage-level profitability.
  • Perform ongoing inventory valuation, count and aging reviews, working with Operations and Winemaking to ensure costs remain accurate and recoverable.
• Leadership & Team Development
  • Manage and mentor accounting team members, fostering a culture of accuracy, accountability, and compliance.
  • Provide coaching and training on both technical accounting and liquor industry regulatory requirements.
  • Ensure the team is audit-ready and aligned with corporate governance best practices.

• CPA designation (CA, CMA, or CGA) required.
• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field; MBA considered an asset.
• 7–10+ years of progressive finance and accounting experience, with at least 3 years in a senior controllership or reporting role.
• In-depth knowledge of IFRS and external financial reporting.
• Experience managing liquor licenses, excise tax filings, LCBO/AGCO compliance, and industry rebate programs strongly preferred.
• Proven track record of strengthening internal controls and leading audits.
• ERP systems expertise (Sage 300 or similar) and strong Excel/reporting skills.
• Expertise in financial reporting, regulatory compliance, and internal controls.
• Deep understanding of beverage-alcohol industry requirements (excise tax, LCBO filings, liquor licensing, rebates).
• Leadership and team-building capabilities.
• Strong communication skills with auditors, regulators, and senior executives.
• High attention to detail, integrity, and accountability.
• Ability to work primarily onsite at our Niagara Region office with some flexibility to work from home.

$120,000 - $130,000 / year

Click the “Apply Now” button and follow the instructions to submit your resume. Please know that we only accept documents in MS Word or Rich Text formats. When referencing this job, quote #469994.

This position for employment is for a current vacancy with Vaco/Highspring’s client. You must currently reside within the Greater Toronto Area and be permitted to work in Canada to be considered for this opportunity. A recruiter will be in touch with you if your profile meets our client’s requirements for this role.