Financial Controller

Strong Start® is a Canadian charity changing children’s lives through literacy. For over 25 years, we’ve been helping young learners build the skills and confidence they need to become lifelong readers. Our programs are grounded in research, aligned with curricula, and delivered through powerful community partnerships with schools, educators, community hubs, families, and thousands of trained volunteers.

In the role of Financial Controller, you will be responsible for overseeing the organization’s financial management, accounting practices, and internal controls, ensuring the accuracy, integrity, and transparency of our financial operations. Working closely with the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operating Officer, and Board of Directors, you will provide financial leadership that supports informed decision‑making, organizational sustainability, and compliance with regulatory and funding requirements.

This role blends hands‑on bookkeeping and accounting with higher‑level financial analysis, planning, and reporting. You will manage day‑to‑day financial operations while also contributing to budgeting, forecasting, audit preparation, and continuous improvement of financial systems and processes. The Financial Controller plays a critical role in safeguarding the organization’s resources and enabling Strong Start to deliver on its mission with confidence and accountability.

Strong Start is committed to building capacity as the organization grows. Over time, and with demonstration of strong performance, this role has the opportunity to evolve through the addition of bookkeeping support, enabling the Financial Controller to shift focus toward higher level financial oversight, planning, and strategic support. This position is well suited to a candidate who is interested in growing alongside the organization and contributing to the development of strong, sustainable financial systems. This is a permanent, part-time, in-person role at our National Program Deployment Centre in Waterloo working approximately 25-30 hours per week. This posting is for an existing vacancy. The role is being filled due to a planned retirement, and the successful candidate will be supported by the outgoing incumbent during a transition period to ensure continuity and knowledge transfer.

Remuneration: $35 starting hourly wage plus payroll benefits, mileage as well as group insurance and retirement benefits.

Summary

The Financial Controller provides reliable financial information to guide decision-making and helps maintain the organization’s accountability and sustainability. The Financial Controller is responsible for the organization’s financial plans and policies, its accounting practices, the conduct of its relationships with lending institutions and the financial community, the maintenance of its fiscal records, and the preparation of financial reports including monthly bank reconciliations. This position involves supervision over general accounting, property accounting, internal auditing, cost accounting, and budgetary controls.

Finance & Accounting (60%)

Financial Leadership & Infrastructure

• Working closely with Executive Leadership, build, lead, and continuously improve the organization’s financial infrastructure, including internal controls, accounting policies, financial procedures, and supporting tools and technology to drive operational efficiency, transparency, and accountability.
• Develop, implement, and maintain best practices for risk management, compliance, and financial stewardship, ensuring alignment with applicable standards and regulatory requirements (e.g., GAAP and CRA requirements).
• Maintain policy and procedure documentation for complex financial and accounting issues, ensuring practices remain current and consistently applied.

Financial Reporting & Board/Stakeholder Support

• Ensure timely and accurate preparation of monthly and quarterly financial statements and management reports for the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operating Officer, and Board of Directors.
• Prepare special‑purpose financial statements and reports, as requested, to support program and development staff and other internal stakeholders.
• Using integrated report‑writing software and established reporting processes, create budgets, dashboards, and presentation‑ready financial materials for the Board of Directors and external stakeholders (e.g., grant makers).

Budgeting, Forecasting & Performance Management

• Lead the preparation of annual budgets, financial forecasts, and cash flow projections, collaborating with Executive Leadership and supporting departmental budgeting as required.
• Liaise with program and development staff to support monitoring and managing departmental budgets and financial responsibilities.
• Analyze financial performance, including variance analysis against budget, and provide actionable insights and recommendations to leadership to support decision‑making and organizational sustainability.
• Develop, analyze, and interpret statistical and accounting information to appraise operating results in terms of viability, operating effectiveness, and fiscal soundness.
• Identify inefficiencies and discrepancies and develop continuous improvement strategies to strengthen performance and financial outcomes.

Controls, Compliance, Tax & Regulatory Requirements

• Establish and maintain effective financial controls, including risk management practices, to protect organizational assets and ensure the integrity of financial information.
• Ensure timely and accurate preparation of all required filings and compliance activities (e.g., HST, T3010 where applicable, and other statutory reporting).
• Be responsible for tax planning and compliance with Federal, Provincial, and local corporate, payroll, and other applicable taxes, including HST and property taxes and allowable rebates.
• Maintain current knowledge of regulatory changes and assess their impact on the organization’s books of account, reporting obligations, and compliance approach.

Cash Management, Banking & Investments

• Maintain accounts and strong working relationships with banking partners and oversee communications related to banking needs and services.
• Conduct cash flow analysis and forecasting to ensure adequate liquidity and proactive financial planning.
• Working within the approved Investment Policy, maintain investment schedules, oversee cash flow requirements, and manage communications with bankers regarding investments.
• Establish major economic objectives and policies related to financial management and prepare reports outlining the organization’s financial position, including revenue/income, expenses, cash flow, and operating results based on past, present, and projected operations.

Payroll, Benefits & Remittances

• Oversee payroll and benefits administration processes, remittances, and year‑end filings, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and compliance with applicable legislation and requirements.

Record‑Keeping, Documentation & Financial Security

• Maintain an accurate and complete trail of supporting documentation for all financial and bookkeeping activities.
• Maintain and oversee an up‑to‑date, complete, and systematic filing system to support bookkeeping and financial records, including digital record‑keeping standards.
• Manage and maintain organizational record‑keeping and digital financial security; exert care and control over assets and records and establish safeguarding procedures, including security and digital and/or off site backups.

Audit

• Maintain year‑end working files and lead preparations for audits or independent reviews, with support from the Chief Executive Officer and Treasurer as required.
• Liaise with auditors, banking partners, and external advisors, ensuring timely completion of audits and other financial obligations and providing required information and documentation.

Contracts, Insurance & Financial Stewardship

• Ensure contracts, vendor agreements, and procurement activities are executed with fiscal responsibility and aligned with organizational goals; manage contractual obligations (including payments) for leases and loans.
• Manage organizational contractual obligations, including leases, loans, employment agreements, and insurance, ensuring appropriate documentation and compliance with terms.
• Oversee insurance renewals; evaluate, recommend, and monitor insurance coverage to protect against property losses and potential liabilities, managing costs and advising Executive Leadership accordingly.
• Apply depreciation to capitalized assets in accordance with established policies and rates and advise management on desirable operational adjustments.
• Investigate, research, and recommend relevant government grants and programs (e.g., wage subsidies) in support of organizational sustainability and opportunity development.
• Provide forensic bookkeeping services as necessary to support financial integrity and clarify discrepancies.

Collaboration & Organizational Support

• Collaborate with Fund Development to align financial processes with fundraising needs, donor stewardship, and reporting requirements.
• Provide responsive financial support and guidance to internal stakeholders to improve financial literacy, strengthen accountability, and enable effective decision‑making.

Bookkeeping & Accounting Support (25%)

• Maintain books of account, including coding revenue and expenses, managing purchase orders, posting invoices, preparing deposits, journal entries, and reconciliations.
• Oversee accounts payable and accounts receivable, including issuing payments by EFT and cheque.
• Complete monthly reconciliations for bank, credit card, and other assigned accounts.
• Liaise with program and development staff to support finance‑related inquiries within their areas of responsibility.
• Complete all payroll functions, including ADP bi‑weekly payroll and required annual government reporting.
• Maintain an accurate and complete trail of supporting documentation for all financial and bookkeeping activities.
• Provide support for year-end processes and audits.

HR Support (10%)

• Administer employee benefits programs, including enrollments, changes, terminations, and coordination with benefit providers, ensuring accuracy and compliance with plan requirements.
• Leverage ADP tools and functionality to support HR and payroll processes, including workflow automation, reporting, and employee self‑service features.
• Act as a first point of contact for routine employee inquiries related to payroll, benefits, and ADP self‑service, escalating complex or policy‑related issues as appropriate.
• Support recruitment, policy, learning, and performance management processes through ADP, including launching requisitions, issuing policies, activating performance review cycles, assigning learning, maintaining workflows, etc.
• Ensure accurate data, timely execution, and consistent use of HR systems aligned with approved policies and timelines (e.g. Document Cloud).
• Support HR administrative activities such as preparing job postings and offers of employment.

General (5%):

• Attend and actively participate in team meetings.
• Learn and adopt the EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System®) model.
• Complete ongoing training e.g., health & safety, cyber security.
• Complete and submit timesheets

Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications/Skills/Requirements:

• Minimum Bachelor's degree in business, finance, accounting, or related field required.
• CPA designation or minimum 10 years direct experience applying Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and best practices.
• Experience in non-profit accounting an asset.
• An understanding of and full commitment to confidentiality including demonstrated ability managing sensitive confidential information in all formats.
• Extensive understanding of Computerized Accounting systems and highly skilled with prominent (or mainstream) platforms such as QuickBooks, Dynamics, etc.
• Demonstrates proficient skills and experience with software applications including Office 365, specifically Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Teams and SharePoint. Comfortable in a Windows operating environment.
• High degree of accuracy and attention to detail.
• High level of critical and logical thinking, analysis, and/or reasoning to identify underlying principles, reasons, or facts.
• Flexibility and ability to effectively manage multiple tasks with solid planning skills and use of good judgment.
• Ability to prioritize time, work, and projects efficiently, working well under pressure and with minimal supervision.
• Ability to interpret and implement organization policies and procedures.
• Excellent communication skills both verbal and written.
• Able to build and maintain lasting relationships with departments and key organization partners.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including diplomacy, tact, and teamwork.
• Thrives in a fast-paced work environment, maintains a positive frame of mind, and sets an example of professionalism for other team members by living our Core Values:
  • develop and maintain authentic relationships rooted in trust, respect, and mutual benefit.
  • commitment to excellence is embodied in all facets of the organization and its programs.
  • operate with integrity and hold themselves accountable to work hard and deliver results.
  • dynamic, continuously evolving and building capacity in order to achieve greater impact.
• Available to work occasional evenings or weekends to meet workload demands or at special events and meetings.

Training and Orientation:

• Training and Orientation will be supported by the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operating Officer, current Financial Controller, and others as required.
• Training in all areas for which you are responsible, along with dedicated onboarding time to experience these responsibilities, will be provided.

Strong Start is committed to an inclusive selection process to attract candidates representing the diversity of the children and families we serve. Strong Start is an equal opportunity employer and accommodations are available during all phases of the recruitment process. We ask that any applicants requiring accommodations make their needs known in advance.

Strong Start is committed to protecting the privacy of the personal information of its employees, volunteers, members, children, parents/guardians, donors, partners and other stakeholders, by following responsible information handling practices in keeping with privacy laws. Please read our Privacy Notice here.

Strong Start uses AI‑enabled features within ADP Workforce Now to assist with initial résumé screening by comparing application information to job‑related criteria. Candidates may choose to opt out of this AI‑supported review. All applications are ultimately reviewed by Strong Start staff, and hiring decisions are made by people. While Strong Start uses Microsoft 365 AI tools, including Copilot, in our workplace, these tools are not used in recruitment decision‑making. Candidate screening, assessment, and selection are conducted by people.

Please click on the “Apply” button below to submit your application online including resume and cover letter. We thank you in advance for your interest. Only those invited for an interview will be contacted. To learn more about Strong Start, we invite you to visit our website.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: Friday, April 10, 2026 4:00p.m. EST or until a suitable candidate is found.