Fractional CFO

Employment Type: Contract (2 years, fractional: 3 days/week, moving to 2 days/week over time)

Location: Beamsville, ON (On-Site)

Rate: 125-150/hr

Industry: Manufacturing

Position Type: New Role

Our client is a Niagara-based holding company with a diversified group of 7 to 9 operating businesses and several subsidiaries. The portfolio spans industrial manufacturing, machinery, marine and food and beverage production. Each business runs autonomously, with its own GM and plant accounting team, supported by a small head office finance group.

This is a new Fractional CFO role, created to strengthen financial reporting, controls and finance capability across the group. Month-end close currently runs about 25 days, and the goal is to bring it to about 10. Reporting to the CEO/Group President, you’ll own consolidated management reporting, banking relationships, board-level financial review and strategic finance support on acquisitions, divestitures and system initiatives.

The role suits a seasoned CFO who leads through influence rather than mandate. You’ll spend early weeks visiting plants and building relationships, then work mainly from head office. You’ll stay available to coach plant teams on site. It’s a 2-year engagement with real scope: close the reporting gap, build plant-level finance autonomy and shape the group’s next phase of ERP and growth strategy.

• Deliver a monthly consolidated financial metrics report with clear commentary, variance analysis and recommended actions
• Drive month-end close improvement across the group, from about 25 days to a target of about 10
• Raise the quality of management reporting, moving it from numbers to narrative with a clear “so what / now what”
• Review and approve financial inputs for board materials across four board cycles per year per entity
• Review audited financial statements and disclosures before board approval, confirming they reflect the business accurately

• Coach and mentor plant controllers and accounting teams to improve standardization, timeliness and reporting quality
• Build finance autonomy at the plant level, including banking and financing relationship skills
• Partner with the head office finance team, which continues to own consolidation and reporting model uploads

• Manage and grow existing borrowing relationships and plan for future financing needs
• Review insurance submissions and values from the operating businesses for adequacy under a group-wide insurance program
• Review reporting for tax accuracy and identify SR&ED credits and grant opportunities, coordinating with external tax advisors

• Support the CEO with financial models, acquisition due diligence and potential divestitures
• Advise on ERP and finance system initiatives from a finance perspective, including testing and validation, as the group evaluates its legacy platform and upcoming migrations

• CFO or senior finance leadership experience in manufacturing, with multi-entity financial oversight
• Proven track record shortening month-end close, standardizing reporting and improving management reporting narrative
• Experience managing banking relationships, debt facilities and financing discussions
• ERP implementation experience, or a strong grasp of finance requirements for ERP projects
• Strong coaching and change management skills, with a diplomatic, collaborative style that earns credibility with autonomous GMs and plant teams
• Commercial, practical mindset; you lead with curiosity rather than an audit lens
• Comfortable advising at a strategic level and supporting M&A and due diligence work

• CPA designation (or equivalent)
• Prior fractional or interim CFO experience
• Familiarity with Microsoft Dynamics NAV (Navision) or Odoo
• Exposure to SR&ED claims and government grant programs

We do appreciate all interest; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

Clarity Recruitment is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering an inclusive and accessible recruitment process and workplace. If you require accommodation, please let us know in advance and we will work with you to meet your needs.

Please note:

We use AI-assisted tools for note taking during the screening process.