Controller

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Canada’s Ocean Supercluster  - Controller, full-time permanent

www.oceansupercluster.ca

Canada’s Ocean Supercluster is an innovative, industry-led national ocean cluster that is ensuring we as Canadians, achieve sustainable economic growth in our ocean-based industries while also contributing to the health of our planet.  The OSC’s mandate is to collaborate with investors and partners from across ocean industries to develop and commercialize innovative solutions to shared ocean challenges that are globally-relevant and include key investment areas such as ocean energy, sustainable seafood, the future of marine transport and climate solutions, and focus on growing more Canadian ocean companies and building the ecosystem to deliver on this potential. The OSC guides ideas from the conceptual to the actual; partnering with industries who have big goals and innovative concepts. Actualizing these ideas is our passion and the process is our mission. Our organizational values include creativity, inclusion, collaboration, and ambition. 

The OSC has a team of over 30 employees across seven provinces. We are looking for an innovative thinker to drive our workforce agenda and contribute to the growth, retention and development of the ocean economy and the health of the planet.

About the Role:

Reporting to the Chief Financial Officer, the Corporate Controller is accountable for full cycle accounting, statutory and funder reporting, project disbursements, payroll and benefits administration, internal controls, audit readiness, budgeting, cash management, and systems enablement. The role also oversees and develops a small finance team and partners closely with program/project finance to ensure compliance with ISED and OSC guidelines. Compensation $80,000-$100,000 per year plus enhanced benefits package.

Key Responsibilities

Core Accounting, Reporting & Analysis

• Manage and oversee day to day accounting operations, including receivables, payables, payroll, banking, and G/L maintenance (full cycle).
• Ensure accounts payable and employee expense practices comply with OSC procurement and expense policies and that controls around procurement operate effectively.
• Prepare accurate and timely monthly, quarterly, and year-end financial statements with variance analysis against budget.
• Lead the annual external audit; coordinate information requests, support audit planning, and ensure readiness of audit files and schedules.

Program Disbursements & Claims

• Oversee the project funding disbursement process; approve project claims, manage claims processing, and prepare disbursement reporting.
• Develop deep fluency in OSC eligible cost and ISED funding guidelines; provide clarification and interpretation to claim reviewers as needed.
• Continuously improve the claims review process, procedures, templates, and claimant experience.
• Support the financial due diligence process as required.

Funder Reporting

• Ensure required funder reporting is completed accurately and on time, including leading ISED reconciliations, advance requests, financial parts of annual plan and corporate plan and supporting quarterly forecasts, reprofiling requests, and industry match reporting,
• Support the CFO, as required, as a key OSC financial contact with ISED

Planning, Budgeting & Cash Management

• Own the corporate budgeting process, including variance analysis to actuals $.
• Manage short term cashflow needs, including payment approvals, membership billing approvals, and monitoring receivable collections.

Payroll & Benefits

• Ensure accurate payroll processing and related compliance.
• Administer OSC employee benefits (onboarding/enrolment, third party management, ongoing submissions/payments).

Systems, Data & Controls

• Ensure finance requirements are enabled and met through OSC’s IT applications (e.g., Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, Salesforce, Monday.com); partner with IT and business owners to optimize configuration, controls, and reporting.

Leadership & Collaboration

• Oversee and develop finance staff; establish clear processes, quality standards, and service levels.
• Provide responsive, value-added adhoc analysis and reporting to OSC leadership and staff.
• Support the CFO with adhoc finance projects and policy development; participate in the Finance & Audit Committee as required.

Qualifications

Must have

• Professional accounting designation (CPA) and a bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or equivalent.
• Progressive experience in controllership/financial leadership covering full cycle accounting, reporting, audits, budgeting, and cash management.
• Demonstrated experience with funded programs and claims environments (public sector, crown, not for profit, or complex grant funding), including interpreting eligible cost guidelines and preparing funder reporting (e.g., ISED reconciliations).
• Solid financial systems experience; strong Excel and financial modelling skills; familiarity with Business Central , Salesforce and Monday.com is an asset.

Nice to have

• Experience leading external audits and supporting project audits.
• Experience improving finance processes, templates, and service experience for internal/external stakeholders.
• Team leadership in a lean, high-growth, innovation driven environment.

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Pay: $80,000.00-$100,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Dental care
• Employee assistance program
• Extended health care
• Life insurance
• RRSP match
• Work from home

Work Location: Remote