Position: Controller
Reports To: Chief Administrative Officer (CAO)
Qualifications: Significant experience direct-related to Finance/Accounting, including normally shown through 8+ years of cumulative experience, with 5+ Years in financial management or leadership role. Experience in not-for-profit organizations, post-secondary education, or student services is considered an asset.
Location: Based in Oakville, with travel required between Sheridan College campuses in Oakville, Mississauga, and Brampton.
Work Classification: Hybrid – Combination of remote and on-site work.
Target Hiring Salary: $90,000
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MISSION
Sheridan Student Union Inc. (SSU) represents all fee-paying students at Sheridan College. Our mission is to create an exceptional student experience through student-focused programs, services, and advocacy. Our vision is to empower our student community to succeed in a changing world. SSU exists to improve the quality of life of students at Sheridan College. Our mandate is to be a student-led community. This is achieved through participation as an active member of the Sheridan community, facilitating opportunities for student leadership, and the creation of strategic partnerships to improve the quality of life on campus. For more information, visit www.thessu.ca
OVERVIEW
The SSU represents all full-time and part-time fee-paying students at Sheridan College. The SSU is responsible for safeguarding and promoting the welfare and interest of the membership of the student body of Sheridan, whether academic, intellectual, cultural, social, athletic or otherwise. Operating as a not-for-profit separately incorporated corporation, SSU is a unique organization with a wide spectrum of activities.
POSITION SUMMARY
Reporting to the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), the Controller leads and oversees the organization’s financial management and day-to-day operations of the Finance department, including financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, reporting, accounting, payroll, audits, internal controls, and regulatory compliance. The Controller is accountable for the accuracy and integrity of financial information, effective financial controls, operational efficiency, and continuous improvement, while leading and developing the Finance Team.
As the CAO’s principal financial advisor, the Controller provides financial analysis, insights, and recommendations to support organizational planning and informed decision-making. The Controller collaborates with departmental management, contributes to financial risk management, procurement, and organizational initiatives, and ensures financial operations align with approved policies and priorities. The CAO retains executive oversight of financial strategy, long-term sustainability, and major organizational decisions in conjunction with other members of the C-Teams as relevant.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
FINANCIAL LEADERSHIP, ADVISORY & STRATEGY
- Lead the operational delivery of financial planning and stewardship, maintaining effective financial operations, sound resource management, and reliable decision-support information consistent with the CAO’s strategic direction.
- Provide financial analysis, advice, and recommendations to the CAO to support strategic planning, organizational sustainability, resource allocation, and informed decision-making.
- Support the CAO in preparing and coordinating financial reports, budgets, presentations, and supporting materials for management, committees, and the Board of Directors, as directed by the CAO. Attending meetings as required to present financial information, provide clarification, and respond to questions.
- Supporting the CAO when required in collaborating with departmental management, and other stakeholders on financial planning, funding arrangements or any other relevant initiatives including participation in relevant committees and working groups.
BUDGETS, FORECASTS & FINANCIAL REPORTING
- Lead the preparation and coordination of annual operating and capital budgets, multi-year financial projections, forecasts, and financial scenarios in consultation with departments; provide recommendations to the CAO for executive review and approval through established governance processes.
- Oversee accurate, complete, and timely monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements and management reporting, including clear financial analysis to support decision-making.
- Monitor financial performance, investigate significant budget variances, identify emerging risks and opportunities, implement routine corrective actions within delegated authority, and escalate material variances and proposed changes to the CAO.
- Provide financial analysis on student and ancillary fees, enrolment-related revenue, restricted funding, capital expenditure, new revenue opportunities, and proposed business initiatives and partnerships.
ACCOUNTING OPERATIONS, PAYROLL & FUNDS
- Oversee accounting operations, including accounts payable and receivable, reconciliations, transaction processing, month-end and year-end closing, and financial records management, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and compliance with established procedures.
- Review and authorize financial transactions prepared by the Finance Team, including payments, payroll and accounts payable batches, banking transactions, corporate card reconciliations, expense reimbursements, journal entries, and government remittances, where authorized, in accordance with approved signing limits, segregation of duties, and internal control requirements.
- Oversee and participate in payroll processing and pension administration for full-time and part-time employees, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and compliance with statutory deductions, tax slips, Records of Employment, reconciliations, and remittance requirements.
- Oversee cash flow management, banking, investments, reserves, restricted and trust funds, interfund transfers, and cost allocations in accordance with applicable agreements, policies, and delegated authority.
- Oversee the maintenance and updating of banking arrangements, authorized signing officer records, and related financial access permissions by the Finance Team, ensuring compliance with organizational policies and delegated authority.
Supporting the CAO in overseeing financial processes of the organization.
AUDIT, GOVERNANCE, COMPLIANCE & RISK
- Develop, implement, and maintain financial policies, procedures, internal controls, approval processes, documentation, and records retention practices in accordance with organizational policies and delegated authority.
- Ensure compliance with applicable accounting standards, legislation, regulatory and tax requirements, organizational policies, contractual obligations, and financial governance requirements.
- Support the CAO in Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) through relevant financial processes.
- Oversee regular reviews of financial controls, identify deficiencies, implement corrective measures, and maintain audit readiness.
- Lead the preparation and coordination of the annual external audit, serve as the primary liaison with external auditors, address audit findings, and report significant matters to the CAO.
- Oversee and coordinate statutory filings, remittances, and related organizational financial compliance reporting prepared by the Finance Team, other departments, or external service providers, including payroll and HST remittances, WSIB, Employer Health Tax, pension reporting, corporate filings (corporate tax, not-for-profit information returns, corporate information updates) and other applicable regulatory requirements, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and appropriate review.
- Promptly report significant financial, audit, compliance, fraud, internal control, and cash-flow concerns to the CAO. Ensure all approvals comply with organizational delegation-of-authority and signing policies.
PEOPLE, SYSTEMS, PROCUREMENT & PROJECTS
- Lead, manage, and develop the Finance Team, including setting priorities, delegating responsibilities, overseeing performance, ensuring appropriate segregation of duties and backup coverage, and supporting staff training and professional development.
- Lead finance-related projects and oversee financial, accounting, and payroll systems, ensuring data accuracy, security, operational efficiency, and continuous improvement in collaboration with relevant departments.
- Develop, maintain, and review the Finance Department’s business continuity plan, including staffing coverage, essential financial operations, data protection, and backup and recovery arrangements, in coordination with the CAO, IT, and relevant departments.
- Provide financial oversight, analysis, and recommendations to support departmental operations, including Facilities and Food Services, as well as operating and capital projects. This includes costing, feasibility assessments, budget monitoring, variance analysis, and financial advice on major investments and capital asset planning.
- Support the CAO in developing and maintaining asset management procedures, including asset tracking, financial controls, safeguarding of assets, and capital asset reporting to support effective asset management and capital planning.
- Support the CAO in developing, reviewing, and improving organization-wide procurement policies and procedures, including opportunities to centralize purchasing, standardizing requisition and approval processes, strengthen purchasing controls, and improve efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
- Provide financial advice, when required, supporting C-Team decision making regarding RFPs, vendor evaluations, contracts, and major purchases within delegated authority.
- Coordinate with the Finance Team to monitor contract status and renewal through the maintenance of accurate and organized contract records and documentation.
- Serve as the primary liaison with Sheridan College on operational finance matters, including coordinating fund transfer requests, GL reporting, audits, insurance-related financial matters, system access, reconciliations, financial process improvements, and other related financial matters.
- Manage relationships with finance-related external service providers, including auditors, banks, investment managers, insurers, and consultants.
- Coordinate insurance renewals, coverage reviews, claims-related financial information, and reporting with relevant departments, insurers, and the CAO.
- Oversee and coordinate financial training, workshops, and educational materials for management, committees, and the Board of Directors, as needed and in coordination with the CAO.
ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES
- Serve as backup to the CAO on designated financial matters in their absence, within delegated authority, and provide backup support to the Finance Team as needed to ensure operational continuity.
- Exercise sound judgment, ensure timely and accurate financial deliverables, and adapt to evolving organizational needs.
- Perform other related duties as assigned by the CAO.
The duties outlined in this job description represent the principal responsibilities of the position and are not intended to be exhaustive. Additional related duties may be assigned based on organizational needs, subject to approved policies, delegated authority, and applicable legislation.
QUALIFICATIONS
The successful candidate will have the appropriate post-secondary credentials and a proven record as a collaborative leader within an organization of relevant activity and scope. The ideal candidate will have a passion for working with students in a high-energy, dynamic environment. A strong financial background is also required. The following qualifications are minimum expectations for the successful candidate:
- Post-secondary degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field; CPA designation preferred.
- Minimum 8 years of progressively responsible accounting or finance experience, including at least 5 years in a financial management or leadership role.
- Experience in not-for-profit, post-secondary, student services, or student association environments considered an asset.
- Strong knowledge of financial reporting, budgeting, forecasting, internal controls, audits, taxation, payroll, pension administration, and regulatory compliance.
- Proficiency in accounting systems, Microsoft Office, and advanced Excel; experience with Ceridian Dayforce, Sage Intacct, Zoho Expense, or comparable systems considered an asset.
- Proven ability to lead, manage, and develop finance staff while ensuring accountability and operational effectiveness.
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, organizational, and decision-making skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities and deadlines.
- Excellent communication, interpersonal, and presentation skills, including the ability to explain financial information to non-financial audiences and collaborate with diverse stakeholders.
- Demonstrated professionalism, integrity, confidentiality, adaptability, independent judgment, and attention to detail.
OTHER REQUIREMENTS
- Must be legally entitled to work in Canada.
- Ability to travel between Sheridan College campuses as required.
- Flexibility to work outside regular business hours when operational needs require.
- Educational credential verification may be required as part of the recruitment process.
- Successful completion of employment-related background screening, including a criminal record check and credit review, where appropriate and permitted by applicable law, at SSU's expense.
WORKING WITH SHERIDAN STUDENT UNION
Working with Sheridan Student Union has its perks! When you join the team, you
will enjoy:
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- Employer-covered Health, Dental and Travel Coverage Benefits
- Paid vacation time, statutory holidays, holiday break
- 12 paid sick days
- Cell Phone Allowance
- Staff celebrations
- Professional development conferences, trade shows, online workshops, etc.
- Wellness Program
- CAAT Pension Plan (optional for contract employees)
We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only qualified candidates will be contacted for an interview.
We acknowledge that we live and work on the traditional territory of the Mississauga of the Credit First Nations, Anishinaabe Nation, Huron-Wendat and the Haudenosaunee Confederacy. Sheridan Student Union is situated on these lands, and it is our collective responsibility to honour and respect those who have gone before us, those who are here, and those who have yet to come. We are grateful for the opportunity to be working on this land.
The Sheridan Student Union welcomes diversity and inclusion in the workplace and encourages applications from all qualified individuals, including visible minorities, Indigenous People, and persons with disabilities.
To request accommodations you may require to participate in the recruitment process (including alternate formats of materials or accessible meeting rooms), contact sawssan.matar@sheridancollege.ca to discuss your needs. SSU will provide job applicants with accommodation in accordance with the Ontario Human Rights Code and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act.
