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West Coast Seeds Ltd. (WCS) and its related companies Renee’s Garden Ltd. and Pinebush Home and Garden Ltd. are owned by Diamond Investment Group (DIG), a family-owned company in Vancouver BC. The group offers a wide range of organic and non-GMO seeds used to grow vegetables, herbs and flowers, bird feeders, bee-keeping supplies live plants and other garden-related products through wholesale, retail and online sales channels in both Canada and the USA. Headquartered in Delta, BC, the group is on a growth-based trajectory and collaborates on common high-level strategic goals while maintaining unique brand identities.

The group is looking for an experienced and passionate Director of Finance to join their senior management team and assume responsibility for all aspects of accounting and finance, including the development of KPI’S and enhanced financial and operating reporting for the group.

The Role – Director of Finance

The Director of Finance will report to the President of the group of operating companies and be responsible for leading and directing the accounting function, the preparation and analysis of financial and management reports, identifying trends and opportunities to improve efficiency and profitability, budgeting and forecasting, tax compliance, internal controls, lias with external financial statement auditors, lead inventory counts, present financial statements to internal board members and maintaining accounting records in accordance with best practices. They will also provide financial guidance regarding crucial business decisions, including mergers and acquisitions and other strategic initiatives.

Leading an accounting team of up to five staff, the Director of Finance will be a strong coach and mentor and have proven success in developing a cohesive team, a positive culture and achieving a standard of excellence. They will excel at identifying areas for improvement in operations and finance, possess strong change management skills, and have a successful track record of improving systems and processes to support a growing company.

Key Responsibilities

• Work closely with the President and senior management team in developing a financial plan and related operational plans and budgets that will contribute to the group’s growth and profitability.

• Support the management team in sound decision-making by providing general business advice and counsel, financial and operational analyses and interpretation of financial results, costs, and profits.

• Provide leadership, coaching, and mentoring of all accounting staff and ensure appropriate training and development to elevate the team's skills and knowledge.

• Assume overall responsibility for understanding and accurate and timely reporting of the company's financial results, tax compliance and other regulatory requirements, preparation of ad-hoc reports, and monthly financial analysis and reporting, including the development and tracking of weekly dashboards/KPIs, revenue projections and cash flows. Knowledge of both Canadian and US accounting practises and taxation requirements to ensure proper compliance and liaise with professionals.

• Develop, implement, and maintain accounting policies and internal controls to ensure all financial information integrity and minimize conflict of interest.

• Preparation of the annual budget and providing financial and cash flow analysis and management, including cash management, monthly variance analysis to prior year results, budgets, and forecasts.

• Oversee monthly and annual closing cycles. Provide operations and accounting staff with closing schedule and responsibility listing to effect complete and accurate period reporting.

• Work closely with operations to enhance the financial literacy of department heads and optimize the link between operations and finance.

• Provide strong inventory management, including adequate controls for purchasing, importing, costing, production, and turnover. This includes collaborating with purchasing and warehouse departments to set budgets, pricing, and purchasing formulas, review slow-moving stock, and monitor margins.

• Oversee IT activities and planning to ensure systems and controls are in place to support all departments' information needs. Act as the lead in selecting, designing, and implementing financial systems.

• Identify ways to control costs and improve efficiency and productivity in all areas of the operations, and ensure all systems are properly integrated.

• Manage capital spending and capital asset management.

• Supporting Accounts Receivable manager on wholesale account credit limits; policies and collections.

• Conduct due diligence and provide financial and tax planning analysis and support on acquisitions and new business initiatives, including the development of business cases, and review of legal and tax issues and solutions.

• Manage the year-end process with external auditors, prepare year-end working papers and liaise with auditors to ensure year-end financial statements are accurate and complete.

• Maintain strong working relationships with lenders and negotiate with the bank and other financial institutions, as required.

• Analyze risk and ensure adequate insurance coverage is in place to protect against property losses and potential liabilities.

• Manage corporate legal filings and other matters.

• Other duties as may be assigned.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree from a recognized post-secondary institution

• CPA Designation

• Minimum 7 years of related experience in senior accounting roles, ideally in a sales and distribution environment, with good exposure working closely with operations.

Skills and Experience

• Strong business acumen

• Proven leadership and team-building skills and setting standards of excellence.

• Strategic thinker with experience developing business cases and financial models.

• Effective problem solver of both financial and operational issues.

• Strong change management skills.

• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills.

• Fosters a positive work environment

• Can convey complex financial information in lay terms to non-accounting staff

West Coast Seeds

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Director of Finance