Mississauga, ON (Hybrid) | Reports to the President | Full-Time, Permanent
Arctic Kingdom Polar Expeditions is looking for a Finance Director who wants more than a seat at the table - who wants to help set it. This is a rare opportunity to lead the finance function of a growing, entrepreneurial company operating in one of the most extraordinary environments on Earth, with direct access to the President and real influence over how the business is run. If you're a CPA who thrives on ownership, enjoys solving problems hands-on, and wants your work to matter well beyond the ledger, we'd like to talk.
About Arctic Kingdom
For over 25 years, Arctic Kingdom has been a global leader in Arctic travel, custom expeditions, and polar logistics, offering guests unparalleled access to the Canadian North, from polar bear and narwhal safaris to floe-edge journeys and Northern Lights adventures. Built on deep-rooted relationships with local Inuit communities and decades of field expertise, Arctic Kingdom delivers experiences few companies in the world can match. The company's operations include Blachford Lake Lodge in the Northwest Territories and Torngat Mountains Base Camp in Labrador, alongside its core expedition business, a portfolio that blends tourism, hospitality, and remote logistics in a way that makes no two days in this role the same.
Learn more about our expeditions and operations at Arctic Kingdom Website
The Opportunity
As Finance Director, you will lead financial operations for a company built on doing extraordinary things in extraordinary places. You'll bring structure, discipline, and clarity to a growing organization, building the financial reporting, controls, and processes that let leadership make confident decisions, while staying close enough to the details to know the numbers are right. This is a hands-on leadership role: you will do the work, not just direct it, and you'll build the systems and the team around you as you go.
What Makes This Different
Direct line to the President, your recommendations reach a decision-maker, not another layer of management. A true build mandate, you'll shape financial processes, controls, and reporting structures largely from scratch, with the autonomy to design what works. Real people leadership, you'll coach and develop a Finance Manager, building a stronger team, not just holding a title. Exposure to a business most finance professionals never encounter, including remote logistics, aviation-adjacent operations, seasonality, and guest-facing tourism in the Canadian Arctic and Subarctic. The chance to leave a lasting mark, the controls and processes you put in place will shape how this company runs for years to come.
What You'll Be Doing
- Accounting and Financial Reporting:
- Own full-cycle accounting operations, including the month-end and year-end close process.
- Prepare the books for audit and coordinate annual audits, acting as the primary contact for external auditors.
- Generate monthly financial statements and management reporting, with variance analysis and commentary on risks and opportunities.
- Report financial results directly to the President, with clear, decision-ready insight.
- Manage cash flow, budgeting, and forecasting across the business.
Internal Controls, Risk and Governance:
- Design and implement internal controls, financial policies, delegation of authority, and approval processes to safeguard company assets.
- Build financial processes and reporting structures that scale with the business as it grows.
- Monitor and manage financial risk related to cash flow, seasonality, and remote and northern operations.
- Oversee insurance programs and coordinate policy renewals, claims, and risk assessments with brokers and insurers.
- Ensure compliance with applicable financial, tax, and regulatory requirements across all operating jurisdictions.
- Support crisis management, contingency planning, and operational continuity procedures alongside operational leadership.
Leadership and Team Development:
- Directly supervise, coach, and develop the Finance Manager, building their capability to take on greater ownership over time.
- Set clear expectations, workflows, and accountability for the finance team.
- Collaborate cross-functionally with operations, HR, sales, and logistics teams.
- Foster a culture of accuracy, professionalism, and continuous improvement across the finance function.
Business Partnership and Strategic Support:
- Support the President with financial input on strategic planning, operational decisions, and special projects.
- Participate in senior leadership meetings and contribute to organizational decision-making. Negotiate and manage relationships with banks, insurers, vendors, and external service providers. Support contract review and financial evaluation of major supplier, partner, and customer agreements.
- Assist with grant applications, government reporting, and funding compliance where applicable to northern operations.
- Oversee corporate filings, licensing requirements, and annual compliance obligations.
- Collaborate with HR on compensation planning, workforce budgeting, and payroll governance.
- Lead continuous improvement initiatives focused on efficiency and scalability across finance operations.
What You Bring
- CPA designation. Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
- 7+ years of progressive finance and accounting experience, including full-cycle accounting and audit management.
- A track record of building or strengthening financial processes and internal controls.
- Strong proficiency with accounting software (QuickBooks or equivalent) and advanced Excel skills. Excellent communication and leadership skills, with a genuine interest in coaching and developing others.
- Experience in tourism, hospitality, aviation, logistics, remote operations, or seasonal businesses is a strong asset.
- High level of integrity, professionalism, and discretion.
Who Thrives Here
You're energized by ownership and building, not just maintaining. You like being close to leadership and trusted with the whole picture. You bring rigour and structure without losing sight of the bigger mission, and you're drawn to organizations doing something a little unusual, in a part of the world most people only dream about.
The Practical Details
Location: Mississauga, ON (hybrid)
Compensation: up to $120,000 CAD, commensurate with experience.
Reporting: directly to the President, with a Finance Manager reporting to you.
Ready to help lead the finance function of a company doing the extraordinary? We'd love to hear from you.
Arctic Kingdom Polar Expeditions is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds, identities, and life experiences, and we are committed to building a workplace where everyone is treated with fairness and respect. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, Indigenous identity, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, religion, or any other characteristic protected by law. If you require accommodation at any stage of the recruitment process, please let us know.
