Financial Controller

Tailor Your Resume for this Job

Controller – Manufacturing

Company: Progressive Industrial Fluids Ltd.

Location: London, Ontario (On-site)

Employment Type: Full-Time, Permanent

Reports To: Part-Time CFO

Compensation & Benefits

Salary: $85,000–$110,000 annually (based on experience)

Vacation: 2 weeks

Health benefits: eligible after 3 months

RRSP program: eligible after 6 months

About Progressive Industrial Fluids

Progressive Industrial Fluids is a locally owned, family-operated Canadian manufacturing company based in Southwestern Ontario. We design, manufacture, and distribute industrial fluids and specialty chemical products that support critical industries across Canada.

Built from the ground up, Progressive has grown through a strong focus on process, quality, and doing things the right way. We take pride in producing true Canadian-made products, supporting local jobs, and maintaining hands-on ownership involvement in the business.

Over the past several years, we’ve intentionally invested in building a process-driven organization. From documented procedures and quality controls to ERP integration through Odoo, our systems are designed to support scale, consistency, and continuous improvement. These foundations give us significant room to grow — and we are now poised for the next phase of expansion.

We believe great companies are built by great people. As we grow, we are focused on surrounding ourselves with high-calibre team members who care about their work, take ownership, and want to help build something lasting. We value accountability, consistency, and continuous improvement, and we believe strong systems and leadership allow people to do their best work.

Joining Progressive Industrial Fluids means becoming part of a team that is building for the long term — where contributions matter, improvements are encouraged, and success is shared.

The Role

This is a hands-on Controller role for someone who wants to build, improve, and own the financial function of a growing manufacturing business. You will take full ownership of accounting, financial data integrity, costing, and reporting — ensuring the numbers are not only accurate, but useful for decision-making.

The Controller will act as the central point of accountability for all financial data, ensuring accuracy, structure, and reliability across the organization. This includes not only maintaining day-to-day accounting operations, but actively improving systems, costing, and reporting so they function effectively within our ERP (Odoo) and support decision-making at the leadership level.

The Controller works closely with a part-time CFO who joins the team weekly to review financials and present results to the CEO and leadership team. This role is responsible for preparing clean, accurate, and well-structured financial information that enables those discussions.

We are looking for someone who is detail-oriented, organized, and accountable — while also being proactive in identifying opportunities to improve processes, reporting, and financial performance. This role requires someone who can operate independently, take ownership of outcomes, and follow through consistently.

This is not a purely desk-based accounting role. Collaboration with operations, production, and leadership is essential. Understanding how work is performed on the floor is critical to improving costing, pricing, and overall financial visibility.

The Controller will also be responsible for managing a small accounting team (1 AR/Accounting Clerk) and ensuring processes are clear, efficient, and consistently followed.

Key Responsibilities

Financial Operations & Reporting

Own the full accounting cycle, including monthly, quarterly, and year-end close

Prepare accurate financial statements, including P&L, balance sheet, and cash flow

Maintain the general ledger, reconciliations, and supporting schedules

Ensure financial data is clean, organized, and audit-ready

Support the CFO with reporting packages and financial analysis for leadership

ERP (Odoo) & Data Integrity

Own financial data structure and workflows within Odoo

Improve system setup to ensure accurate KPI tracking and reporting

Identify and implement process improvements within the ERP

Work cross-functionally to ensure accurate data flow between departments

Cost Accounting, Pricing & Margins

Develop and refine costing models across products and processes

Ensure accurate tracking of material, labour, and overhead costs

Support pricing decisions with clear margin analysis

Continuously improve costing accuracy and reporting visibility

Budgeting, Forecasting & KPIs

Lead the annual budgeting process and maintain rolling forecasts

Track performance against budget and provide variance analysis

Develop and maintain key performance indicators, including margin, efficiency, and inventory performance

Ensure leadership has clear, actionable financial insights

Cash Flow & Working Capital

Monitor and manage cash flow, including forecasting

Oversee accounts receivable and support collections as needed

Optimize working capital, including inventory and payables

Assets, Compliance & Controls

Maintain fixed asset records and depreciation schedules

Ensure compliance with tax filings (HST/GST, payroll, etc.)

Coordinate with external accountants for year-end and tax requirements

Strengthen internal controls and financial processes

Team Leadership

Manage and support the AR/Accounting Clerk

Establish clear processes, expectations, and accountability

Ensure consistency, accuracy, and efficiency in day-to-day accounting tasks

Operational & Continuous Improvement

Collaborate with team members on cost-saving initiatives

Provide financial insight to support operational decisions

Identify opportunities to improve efficiency, systems, and profitability

Who You Are

You are someone who:

Takes ownership of outcomes and follows through consistently

Is highly organized and detail-oriented

Is comfortable working independently while collaborating with leadership

Enjoys improving systems and building structures

Understands how financial data connects to real operations

Communicates clearly and provides actionable insights

Qualifications & Experience

5+ years of accounting experience, ideally in manufacturing or a product-based business

CPA designation (or in progress) preferred

Strong understanding of cost accounting and inventory management

Experience working with ERP systems (Odoo experience is a strong asset)

Strong analytical, organizational, and communication skills

Core Skills & Competencies

Accountability

Attention to Detail

Analytical Thinking

Financial Reporting

Cost Accounting

Process Improvement

ERP Systems (Odoo)

Communication

Problem-Solving

Time Management

Team Leadership

Decision-Making

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Pay: $85,000.00-$110,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Casual dress
• Company events
• Company pension
• Dental care
• On-site parking
• Paid time off
• RRSP match
• Vision care

Work Location: In person