Fractional CFO

This is a new fractional CFO role at a Niagara-based holding company whose portfolio spans industrial manufacturing, machinery, marine, and food and beverage production. Each of the 7 to 9 operating businesses runs with its own general manager and plant accounting team, supported by a small head office finance group. The engagement is structured as a 2-year contract, initially at 3 days per week, transitioning to 2 days per week over time.

The core mandate is to close the reporting gap, bringing month-end close from roughly 25 days down to approximately 10, and to lift the quality of management reporting from numbers to narrative. Reporting directly to the CEO and Group President, the fractional CFO will also manage banking and insurance relationships, support M&A and divestiture activity, and advise on ERP and finance system initiatives as the group evaluates its legacy platform and upcoming migrations.

• Deliver monthly consolidated financial reporting with clear variance analysis, commentary, and recommended actions
• Drive month-end close improvement across the group, targeting a reduction from approximately 25 days to around 10
• Review and approve financial inputs for board materials across four board cycles per year per entity
• Coach and mentor plant controllers and accounting teams to improve standardisation, timeliness, and reporting quality
• Manage existing borrowing relationships and plan for future financing needs, including reviewing insurance submissions for group-wide adequacy
• Support the CEO with financial modelling, acquisition due diligence, and potential divestitures, and advise on ERP initiatives from a finance perspective

• CFO or senior finance leadership experience in manufacturing, with multi-entity financial oversight
• Demonstrated track record of shortening month-end close cycles and improving management reporting narrative
• Experience managing banking relationships, debt facilities, and financing discussions
• ERP implementation experience or strong familiarity with finance requirements for ERP projects
• Strong coaching and change management skills, with a collaborative, diplomatic style suited to working with autonomous general managers and plant teams
• Comfort advising at a strategic level on M&A, due diligence, and group growth strategy

Clarity Recruitment is a Canadian executive search and recruitment firm specialising in Finance and Accounting talent, from accountants through to CFOs. The firm also partners with organisations on HR, Operations, and IT hiring. Clarity operates dedicated practices across Executive Search, Full-Time Search, and Project and Interim Consulting.