We are seeking a Senior Financial Analyst (14-Month Maternity Leave Contract) to step in and assume full operational ownership of the finance and accounts receivable ecosystem for our client, a successful, privately held manufacturer of building materials headquartered in Mississauga, Ontario. This isn't a passive "maintenance" role; we need a confident, proactive, and detailed finance professional who can start ASAP to maximize a comprehensive 2-month hand-off and overlap period before steering the cycle independently. This is a pivotal contract for a professional who thrives in a fast-paced environment, can comfortably manage both automated workflows and manual deep-dives, and excels at bridging day-to-day transaction processing with high-level year-end audit preparation. Key Functional & Cycle-Based Responsibilities End-to-End Accounts Receivable & Deduction Management: Manage overall AR workflows (~500 transactions overall, heavily automated via EDI/retail portals, with 20–40 processed manually). Take ownership of collections, resolve complex price mismatches, approve new customer credit limits, and meticulously track customer deductions/rebates for tier-1 retail accounts (including Amazon, Home Depot, Lowes, and Rona). Banking Operations & Cash Flow Analysis: Execute daily bank postings, review transactions, and apply cash accurately. Prepare weekly cash forecasts to optimize liquidity, handle automated Amazon bank deposits, and process recurring payment reconciliation journals. Full-Cycle Payroll Administration: Accurately process and post biweekly payroll journal entries for 40 employees (a clean 50/50 split of salaried and hourly staff) utilizing ADP, ensuring exact payroll accrual and compliance standards are maintained. Month-End Close & Financial Reporting: Lead and execute full month-end close activities within a tight 3-day turnaround window. Prepare monthly lead sheets, process rebate/payroll/sales accruals, manage intercompany transactions, and compile monthly balance sheet reports for management review. Tax & Compliance Execution: Prepare, verify, and file corporate compliance documentation, including GST/HST filings and applicable US tax returns. Year-End Audit Ownership (BDO): Drive year-end closing processes for the company's November 30th fiscal year-end. Serve as the primary operational contact for BDO auditors, facilitating the interim audit in December and the full year-end audit execution through January. Qualifications & Experience Post-secondary education in Accounting, Finance, or a related business field. (A CPA designation or active pursuit of it is considered a strong asset). Minimum of 5+ years of hands-on accounting or corporate finance experience, preferably within a manufacturing, distribution, or consumer goods sector. Proven experience managing retail portal systems, EDI transactions, and processing high-volume retail transactions (e.g., HD Commerce Hub, Amazon vendor networks). Demonstrated expertise in processing corporate payroll within ADP. Advanced technical proficiency in Microsoft Excel (Pivot Tables, VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, and building complex manual reconciliation models) alongside comfort navigating robust ERP systems. Soft Skills You are a meticulous, highly detailed, and confident analytical thinker who doesn't wait for direction—you actively anticipate business needs. You possess exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, making you comfortable collaborating with internal teams, challenging retail deductions, and coordinating directly with BDO auditors. You thrive under the structure of tight deadlines (such as a 3-day month-end close) and are agile enough to seamlessly transition between high-volume data entries and strategic cash forecasting. Contract, Compensation & Hybrid Structure Duration: 14-Month Contract (extending to August 2027) with an immediate, proactive 2-month paid overlap. On-Target Salary: $90,000 - $95,000 base on the client's payroll. (Note: The client offers flexibility to scale the base salary upward if the contractor chooses to waive the benefits and RRSP packages). Benefits & Perks: Comprehensive benefits package + 4% company RRSP match after 3 months. Work Arrangement: Hybrid environment operating out of the Mississauga corporate headquarters (In-office: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday; Work-from-home: Monday & Friday). How to Apply: If you’re qualified, highly proactive, and interested in taking immediate ownership of this contract role, please send your resume to Rabia Azeem, ACCA at Rabia.Azeem@randstad.ca.