Director, Finance & Accounting

Calian GNSS is an Ottawa-based producer of products and components used for Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS).  

For more than 40 years, Calian has been solving the world’s most complex problems by pairing the brightest minds with powerful technology. Calian solutions impact the world; from the satellites in space that connect us to the farms that feed us, from the medical professionals who care for us to the governments, schools and companies that make the world better every day. 

Position Overview 

The Director, Finance & Accounting provides full financial leadership for Calian GNSS, a product manufacturing business unit within Calian Group Ltd. This role owns all finance and accounting functions for the entity, including financial reporting, controls and compliance, budgeting and forecasting, cost accounting, inventory and variance analysis, audit coordination, and strategic financial decision support. 

Acting as a trusted business partner to GNSS leadership, the Director drives financial performance through insight, rigorous analysis, and strong governance. This role plays a critical leadership position in ensuring operational discipline, financial risk management, and sustainable growth within a publicly traded parent company structure. 

Responsibilities 

Financial Reporting & Governance 

• Provide full leadership for financial reporting and compliance for Calian GNSS. 

• Prepare monthly internal management reporting. 

• Prepare monthly financial reporting to the public parent company, Calian Group Ltd. 

• Lead audit activities including coordination with external auditors and corporate finance teams. 

• Own and enhance internal control frameworks to ensure compliance with IFRS and corporate policies. 

• Ensure financial data accuracy, process integrity, and reporting timeliness. 

• Own financial risk management across the business unit, identifying and mitigating operational, regulatory, and financial risks. 

Operational Finance & Cost Management 

• Partner with manufacturing and operations leadership to understand production processes and develop accurate standard cost models including material, labour, and overhead allocation. 

• Analyze cost drivers and production efficiency to support capital planning and optimization. 

• Lead inventory valuation, cost variance analysis, and margin performance reviews. 

• Ensure financial systems are effective and properly controlled to support accurate operational reporting. 

• Provide oversight of treasury and banking operations and daily financial workflows. 

• Lead all accounting operations including accounts payable and receivable, payroll coordination, general ledger management, and month-end/quarter-end/year-end close processes. 

Strategic Finance & Planning 

• Own development of the annual budget, rolling forecasts, and long-term strategic financial plans for GNSS. 

• Lead performance analysis and provide insights on profitability, margin improvement opportunities, capital investment returns, and cost structure optimization. 

• Drive metric-based decision making and ensure leadership teams are equipped with actionable financial insights. 

• Support strategy development through scenario analysis, modelling, and risk assessment. 

Leadership & Team Development 

• Lead the GNSS finance organization, building a high-performing team focused on excellence, quality, and continuous improvement. 

• Develop team capability and leadership succession within finance. 

• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and operational rigor. 

• Provide mentorship and performance management for all direct reports. 

Qualifications 

• University Degree in Accounting, Commerce, or Finance. 

• CPA designation required (CA, CMA, or CGA). 

• 7–10+ years of progressive finance experience. 

• 5+ years in senior finance leadership roles with direct partnership to operational or executive leadership teams. 

• Strong working knowledge of financial reporting (IFRS, US GAAP, or other) 

• Strong experience in manufacturing or product cost accounting environments. 

• Experience with ERP systems; SAP preferred. 

• Demonstrated strengths in financial analysis, modelling, strategic partnering, team leadership, communication, change management, and process improvement.