Controller (Stand-Alone)

Location: Niagara Region

Job Type: Full-time | On-site

Compensation: Competitive, aligned with standalone Controller responsibilities

Our client is a leader in industrial services with over three decades of expertise delivering structural steel fabrication, project installation, and operational support. They are known for precision, craftsmanship, and client-focused service. We are conducting a confidential search for a dedicated Controller to oversee operational and financial accounting in a standalone capacity.

The ideal candidate will bring strong bookkeeping capabilities, project accounting acumen, and negotiation experience—ensuring financial control and operational efficiency across the firm. A significant component of this role involves overseeing weekly payroll for approximately 100 employees, the majority of whom are unionized. This requires meticulous attention to detail, compliance with collective agreements, and ensuring timely and accurate processing each week.

• Manage full-cycle bookkeeping and reconcile accounts, project by project.
• Oversee project costing, pricing strategy, and supplier negotiations (purchase orders, material quotes, logistics costs).
• Develop and manage purchase orders, negotiate contracts with vendors to optimize cost and quality.
• Administer weekly payroll for approximately 100 employees, primarily unionized, ensuring accuracy, compliance with collective agreements, and timely remittances.
• Prepare financial reports, maintain integrity of project accounting, monitor budgets and WIP (Work-In-Progress).
• Maintain accounting operations using Sage software; enforce internal controls and support process improvements.
• Serve as accounting lead for internal departments, liaising with operations, procurement, and project teams.

• Solid experience in accounting, with exposure to industrial, manufacturing, or project-based environments.
• Strong knowledge of Sage (accounting system), project accounting, payroll, and purchase order management.
• Proven experience managing large-scale weekly payroll processes (100+ employees), preferably in a unionized environment.
• Experience with accounting automation tools or implementing automated workflows is considered an asset.
• Excellent negotiation abilities, detail-oriented mindset, analytical rigor, and strong organizational skills.
• Ability to operate independently—handling financial responsibilities, managing priorities, and delivering results with minimal supervision.
• Professional, dependable, and committed to operational and financial excellence in a hands-on environment.

• Be the sole accounting and operations finance lead in a well-established industrial firm.
• Directly contribute to cost control and project success across all operations.
• Join a company with a longstanding regional presence and a strong reputation for quality and integrity.

This is a confidential search conducted by a third-party recruitment partner. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. If you're an organized, independent accounting professional looking to make a real operational impact, we encourage you to apply.