The posting
Canlan Sports exists to create experiences where people find their people through the power of play, because we believe everyone deserves a team. As North America's largest private sector owner and operator of recreational sports complexes, Canlan Sports brings that belief to life across 15 multi-sport complexes and more than 70 playing surfaces spanning Canada and the United States. From ice and court to turf and digital, we offer a wide array of recreational sports experiences designed to build community, foster connection, and change lives for the better.
Canlan is currently looking for a Director of Finance to work for our Burnaby Central Office.
Salary Range: $140,000 - $150,000
Job Summary
Reporting to the CFO, the Director of Finance is a pivotal strategic leader responsible for steering the organization's financial planning, analysis, and decision-making processes. This role emphasizes analyzing key data and variances to uncover growth opportunities, enhance operational efficiencies, and address potential budget risks proactively.
In addition, the Director acts as a liaison with legal counsel and insurance providers, facilitating timely insurance policy renewals and implementing measures to mitigate financial and operational risks. Related to risk management, the Director also assists with review of commercial contracts with vendors, creditors, and/or space rental tenants to support assessment of financial and other downstream risks. This position provides senior leadership with actionable insights and supports the organization's growth and financial resilience.
What You'll Do
Financial Planning and Analysis
- Provide timely analysis of financials, forecasts and other performance indicators to enable operations teams to take corrective measures where appropriate.
- Mentor, develop, and supervise a Financial Analyst, fostering a culture of continuous improvement, analytical excellence, and accountability. Ensure financial reports, forecasts, and key performance indicators are prepared accurately and on schedule while delivering actionable insights into operational and financial performance.
- Lead the annual budget process end to end, partnering with facility and department leaders to build plans they own. Familiarity with Workday Adaptive Planning or other FP&A software is an asset.
- Support the field in maintaining rolling forecasts and create and implement methods to continuously improve the forecasting process.
- Using historical and forward-looking information, assist in preparing consolidated P&L and cash flow forecasts/projections used to assess operations, support bank reporting, inform periodic Board reporting, and meet financial reporting needs.
- Support the monthly, quarterly, and annual close, and the delivery of accurate financial statements and analysis on a predictable calendar basis. Prepare documents for SEDAR reporting as required (e.g., MD&A, news releases, AIF).
- Work with the finance team on tax planning and compliance, staying current so that the effects of current events on tax are mitigated (corporate income tax, commodities tax, duties/tariffs and other cross-border issues).
- Support compliance with IFRS, the annual audit process, and liaise with external accountants as necessary.
- Assist in the preparation of quarterly board reporting packages.
- Assist the CFO in building and maintaining the financial model used for scenario planning, capital expenditure planning, capital allocations, debt financing, and strategic decisions such as M&A.
Commercial Banking & Treasury
- Own compliance with credit agreement requirements such as covenant calculations and quarterly reporting deliverables.
- Support refinancing, credit facility renewals, and expansion of the capital structure as the business grows.
- Assist with the approval of digital and cheque disbursements.
- Eventually own the function of optimizing working capital and liquidity management.
Risk Management & Insurance
- Support, and eventually own, the annual insurance-policy renewal process across the organization.
- Support and coordinate the insurance claims process.
- Review quarterly claims status reports and prepare quarterly summaries for the audit committee.
- Support the CFO in maintaining the enterprise risk register and the enterprise risk management process as needed.
Procurement, Contract Review & Commercial Support
- Review customer and vendor agreements for financial terms, payment structures, pricing mechanics, and downstream risk, and report findings to the CFO for consideration.
- Model the financial impact of proposed commercial terms before agreements are signed, as needed.
- Supervise and work with the Manager of Strategic Sourcing to continuously strengthen procurement processes, gaining cost efficiencies and time savings while maintaining internal controls over the procurement cycle.
- Partner with external counsel to amend agreements to mitigate risks and leverage opportunities, as required.
- Support diligence on acquisitions, major capital projects, or other initiatives as applicable.
- Collaborate with the Controller to continuously improve the ERP, reporting tools, and process automations to gain time efficiencies for the field.
People Leadership
- During the first three years, provide direct supervision and development of a Manager of Strategic Sourcing and a Financial Analyst.
- Eventually assume direct supervision of the Controller and overall leadership of the accounting team.
- Coach and develop team members with a focus on ownership, a positive culture, and succession planning.
The Path to Senior Financial Leadership
We're direct about how this role progresses. Advancement is earned, not scheduled — but here's the intended arc:
Year 1 — Learn the business cycles from an operational, risk management, and financial reporting perspective. Build a deep understanding of the FP&A process to support the CFO with insurance renewals, monthly/quarterly/annual financial analysis, board reporting, and AGM preparation. Become the go-to person for business compliance, contract reviews, and the first line of risk identification. Assist with deployment of the Company's new ERP (NetSuite) platform and its integration with Adaptive Planning FP&A software. Establish credibility with the leadership team through accurate, timely, and impactful analysis.
Years 2–3 — Take primary ownership of insurance matters, procurement (including supervision of a Manager of Strategic Sourcing), and the FP&A software. Own the annual budgeting process end to end — scheduling, supporting front-line budget completion, software training, and troubleshooting. Gradually take on the lead FP&A role and learn the capital expenditure planning process. Begin building relationships with the Company's banks and assist with debt financing transactions.
Years 4–5 — Act as a strategic partner to operations rather than a scorekeeper. Lead the enterprise risk management process and the annual budgeting process end to end, and assume direct supervision of the Financial Analyst (if not already done). Become the main relationship partner for the Company's banks and lead debt refinancing. Take direct oversight of quarterly and annual financial reporting and gradually become the lead relationship officer with the Company's auditors. Participate in Board meetings as appropriate and own AGM preparation. By the end of Year 5, be ready to assume expanded senior financial leadership responsibilities, including capital structure and long-range strategic planning.
What We're Looking For
Required
- 6+ years of progressive finance, accounting, and business compliance experience, including at least 2 years leading a team. Experience with publicly listed companies is an asset.
- Demonstrated ownership or oversight of a monthly close and preparation of full financial statements.
- Hands-on budgeting and forecasting experience — you've built the model, not just reviewed someone else's.
- Hands-on experience preparing financial analysis for direct use by operations teams to enhance decision-making and operational excellence.
- A self-starter and quick learner with sharp analytical skills to determine appropriate materiality levels, business drivers, operational priorities, and the critical success factors that require KPIs and continuous analysis.
- Direct working experience with commercial bank relationships, including credit facilities and covenant compliance.
- Comfort and interest in reviewing commercial contracts in detail for financial and risk terms.
- Advanced Excel and financial modeling capability.
- Experience with ERP systems such as NetSuite and Workday, and operational software systems such as POS and CRMs.
- Excellent written and verbal communication with a focus on teamwork and positive office culture.
- Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, or a related field, plus a CPA designation, MBA, or CFA designation.
Preferred
- Experience with publicly listed companies of comparable scale; experience in the hospitality industry is an asset.
- Background and training that began in audit/assurance, followed by industry experience.
- Exposure to insurance renewals and risk management programs.
- Experience supporting due diligence for M&A or other types of transactions.
The Attributes That Actually Matter Here
- You explain, not just report. Numbers are the beginning of the conversation, not the end of it.
- You're comfortable outside the finance function. You'll spend real time with operations, IT, and other non-financial teams; good ideas usually come from these departments.
- You're detailed enough to ensure completeness of contract reviews and accuracy of financial analysis, but you have good judgment over materiality — you know which issues to escalate and which to simply solve.
- You communicate clearly and concisely, whether with a team member, the CEO, a banker, an insurance broker, or a board member.
- Gradually, you're able to provide analysis and alternatives directly to the CEO and Executive team rather than communicating through the CFO.
- You build teammates, because your constraint is never your own capacity — it's the team's.
- You want the bigger job, and you're prepared to earn it by first doing this one exceptionally well.
NOTE: Only those applicants under consideration will be contacted. Please accept our utmost appreciation for your interest. We are an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. Employment decisions are based on merit and business needs, and not on race, color, creed, age, sex, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, marital status, medical condition, physical or mental disability, military service, pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions or any other classification protected by federal, provincial, and local laws and ordinances. Reasonable accommodation is available for qualified individuals with disabilities, upon request. This Equal Employment Opportunity policy applies to all practices. As part of our recruitment and hiring practices, we may use AI-based tools to assist in the initial screening and assessment of applications. All final hiring decisions are made by human reviewers.
