Chief Financial Officer (CFO)

Our Client

Our client is an international manufacturer and distributor headquartered in Montreal, specializing in apparel and accessories for pets.

Position Summary

Reporting to the President, the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) ensures the financial health and management of the organization through planning and reviewing budget processes, controlling accounting systems, managing investments, and securing capital to support organizational growth. As a strategic advisor to the CEO, the CFO balances risks and opportunities while ensuring regulatory compliance and adherence to accounting standards. A top priority is also the development of the finance team’s talent and the implementation of robust financial controls to ensure the organization’s long-term stability and sustainable growth. The successful candidate must demonstrate strong digital skills, be aligned with innovation, and contribute to the company’s digital transformation initiatives.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

• Develop and implement the overall financial strategy of the company in collaboration with the CEO and Finance Controller, defining financial objectives and creating actionable plans to achieve them;
• Act as a strategic advisor to the CEO regarding the optimization of the organization’s financial management;
• Support executive decision-making with short-, mid-, and long-term financial projections based on rigorous analysis of trends, business scenarios, and strategic objectives;
• Lead and collaborate on the preparation of the annual budget, assess results against budget objectives, and recommend approaches to minimize variances in collaboration with the CEO and Finance Director;
• Formulate optimal financing strategies supported by in-depth financial analyses.

Financial Planning and Management

• Oversee the achievement of financial objectives while ensuring alignment with the organization’s overall vision and needs;
• Recommend a working capital plan to ensure that necessary resources are available to carry out daily operations and strategic growth;
• Evaluate and recommend the most promising projects and work closely with the sales team by analyzing profitability and alignment with strategic objectives;
• Identify and assess investment opportunities or strategic partnerships, in collaboration with the Finance Director;
• Define a responsible investment strategy in partnership with the CEO;
• Provide expertise in mergers, acquisitions, and partnerships;
• Contribute to the preparation of financial statements for the organization’s multiple entities, ensuring accuracy and compliance;
• Actively supervise cash flow and manage borrowings and financial instruments;
• Implement systems to ensure financial optimization throughout operations;
• Develop relationships with external auditors and financial partners, supporting the Finance Director;
• Regularly evaluate retail market trends, both nationally and internationally, and recommend innovative financial strategies to keep the organization ahead of the competition.

Risk Management and Compliance

• Design and implement financial hedging strategies to protect the organization against financial risks and market fluctuations;
• Lead regulatory compliance and uphold financial standards, ensuring all operations comply with legal, tax, and accounting requirements;
• Collaborate to maintain and monitor financial control mechanisms to detect and prevent fraud or irregularities.

Education and Experience Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting with CPA designation or in Finance;
• Master’s degree in Finance and CFA designation, considered an asset;
• Ten (10) years of demonstrated experience in a management role, with prior experience as a CFO, VP Finance, or Senior Director of Finance and Accounting reporting to a CEO.

Key Behavioral Competencies

• Sound judgment
• Energy
• Commitment
• Decision-making ability
• Client excellence
• Team player
• Collective intelligence
• Business acumen

Proposed Interview Process

1. First interview with Glasford International Canada’s recruitment firm;
2. Second interview with the CEO;
3. Third interview with the Controller and finance team members;
4. Following the third stage, the selected candidate will visit the headquarters and undergo a psychometric evaluation.