Corporate Controller

The Organization

LGM is a national leader in providing warranty, finance and insurance services to the Canadian automotive industry. Since 1998, LGM has been successfully supplying quality products and leading training solutions to  Canadian automotive dealerships. Dealer partnerships are complimented with the strong backing and support of their automotive manufacturing brands, which include BMW/MINI, Kia, Mazda, Volvo, Jaguar, Land Rover/Range Rover and Mitsubishi Motors.  

The Job

The Corporate Controller is responsible for financial leadership and strategy along with overseeing the financial consolidation and audit. The Corporate Controller’s responsibilities also include managing audits, ensuring regulatory compliance, streamlining transactional processes/systems in accordance with company data governance requirements and coaching/mentoring the accounting team.   

Key Responsibilities

Financial Leadership & Strategy 

• Lead and foster a culture of teamwork, integrity, and curiosity throughout the team to deepen relationships across the organization and leverage systems, and knowledge 
• Develop and implement accounting policies, controls, and procedures to ensure effective and efficient processes. 
• Obtain a deep understanding of the end-to-end processes within the organization to be able to design and enhance financial processes and internal controls  
• Supervise and mentor a team of 6 accounting professionals 
• Oversight of the weekly/monthly reconciliation process of GL accounts 
• Prepare and submit sales tax filings in a timely manner 

Financial Consolidation & Audit 

• Oversee the preparation of annual consolidated financial statements (including entity level financial statements) and supporting working papers in accordance with IFRS. 
• Provides stewardship and oversight for monthly, quarterly and annual and legal entity reporting, including preparation of quarterly and annual reports, financial statements and related notes. 
• Conduct Monthly Balance Sheet reviews and conduct monthly trend analysis to identify significant changes. 
• Ensure compliance with SOX requirements by maintaining and enhancing internal controls over financial reporting, coordinating testing with auditors, and implementing remediation plans where needed.
• Partner with external auditors to support audits related to SOX and IFRS compliance.

Technical Accounting & Process Improvement 

• Provide technical accounting support  
• Overall responsibility for the design and operating effectiveness of appropriate of processes and internal controls for the department 
• Identify and implement process improvements, leveraging technology to optimize efficiency and accuracy 
• Collaborate with key stakeholders and team members across the business to identify opportunities for improvement and strengthen existing processes to drive efficiencies 
• Work with external tax accountants and auditors to ensure compliance with tax laws and audit preparedness 
• Build and maintain strong cross-functional relationships with other business stakeholders to drive alignment to organization priorities and strategy 
• Lead the development of tax strategies to optimize tax expense while ensuring compliance with all relevant tax legislation 
• Supports reporting and presentations to the Audit Committee and the Board 
• Lead special projects including the development of Restricted and Operating GLs: Create two distinct GL structures— restricted and operational—and clearly define the transactions between the two divisions to enhance financial clarity and accountability 

Leadership Competencies

• Self-Management - Leads with emotional control, agility and influence through expressing a wide spectrum of emotions to suit the environment they are within, in order to build commitment.
• Results Focused - Creates a high performance culture throughout the organization with imbedded urgency and accountability to achieve results while preserving core values and enthusiasm from the employees.
• Effective Communicator – Expressing and transmitting meaningful information with consistency and clarity, using active listening techniques in order to promote increased understanding.
• Empowers and Coaches Others – Applies standard coaching methodology that help individuals self-identify their opportunities for change, make decisions within their scope of authority, and pursue a plan of action to achieve business results.
• Collaboration and Influence - Fosters a high performing culture where leaders work well together toward a common vision, while positively and respectfully challenging each other to do their best work across the business building effective relationships both internally and externally.
• Builds Teams – Facilitates the right teams, with the right skills, and working cooperatively and effectively toward a common goal. 
• Innovation and Change Leadership - Commits to new approaches ahead of emerging opportunities and successfully removes obstacles to ensure the organization remains nimble and responsive to change.
• Strategic Orientation - Anticipates and plans for future events and opportunities including competitive realities to create clarity in direction for how our vision is to be achieved. 
• Resilience - Responds well to pressure and the demands of daily life.  Has flexibility durability, strength and speed of recovery.

Required Skills

• Proficient with MS Office product suite and excellent computer skills.
• Proven ability to support the team and help where/when needed - a hands-on approach.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Present and speak at departmental and management meetings.
• Highly collaborative and facilitative leadership style vs. hierarchy and controlling. 
• Treats confidentiality of information with the utmost of respect.
• Demonstrate ability to complete tasks under strict deadlines.  
• Ability to multi-task
• Ability to work well under pressure and in an environment of change.
• Well organized and able to maintain accurate and timely records.
• Experience in coaching and mentoring other staff members

Education

• Post-secondary degree in Accounting/Finance or related discipline
• CPA Designation

Experience

• Advanced accounting and software knowledge.
• 2-3 years audit experience
• 5+ years people management experience.
• 7+ years of tax related experience
• 7+ years relevant experience in a professional corporate work environment in finance/accounting
• 7+ years of insurance industry experience (asset)

What We Offer:

• The compensation range for this position is $130,000 - 145,000 + bonus.
• Hybrid work model, with 3 days a week required in-office.
• A competitive compensation package, including a comprehensive health benefits plan, Group RRSP, performance bonus, health and wellness benefits, and education sponsorship.
• Four paid days annually to "give back" to the community, along with your birthday off.
• A vehicle rebate program of up to $400 per month.