Project Finance Director Jobs

Company Description
Varennes Carbon Recycling will produce biofuels and circular chemicals made from non-recyclable waste and residual biomass based on Enerkem’s exclusive technology. The plant, located in Varennes, will leverage green hydrogen and oxygen produced by the largest electrolyzer in Canada provided by Accelera by Cummins. VCR is a project being undertaken by Varennes Cellulosic Ethanol LP whose partners include Shell, Suncor and Proman, with the support of the Canadian and Quebec governments. It is a prime example of how a true circular economy can be achieved by diversifying the energy mix and by making everyday products greener while offering a smart, sustainable alternative to landfilling and incineration.

The Project Finance Director will act as a senior business partner and financial controller. They will effectively manage and bridge the gap between accounting, finance, operations, and engineering departments to appraise and influence the operational effectiveness of the project. The director will lead the financial and administrative functions of the plant construction and operations and will be accountable for plant-level responsibilities including general accounting and financial reporting, payables, cost accounting, personnel management and payroll, business analysis and budgeting. This role is hands-on and an integral part of the leadership team, the person will report directly to the Managing Director. They will develop the organization for the sustaining operations of the facility following the start up. This is an opportunity to collaborate with a dynamic team as you enrich your career and work on a first-of-kind construction and plant operation built on a unique and disruptive technology.

• Ensure that the change management process is maintained and integrated into VCR's policies, procedures, and contracts.
• Perform budgetary monitoring of purchases for all projects.
• Participate and contribute to the development of financial management and digital systems and existing IT tools and solutions.
• Ensure that the project is carried out in accordance with the directives, policies, and procedures established.
• Exercise active leadership of the end-to-end accounting and reporting within a joint venture environment for all aspects of the Project’s internal financial management and performance ensuring fiscal health and accountability.
• Participate in special assignments or projects as well as financial analysis as needed.
• Responsible for tax, payroll, compliance, regulatory functions, and government remittances.
• Maintains accurate general ledger accounts, account reconciliations, complete month-end close of accounting books and records and prepare financial reporting in accordance with IFRS.
• Produce monthly governance reports that reflect the Project's key metrics.
• Ensure the control and support of project managers in their budget monitoring.
• Maintain adequate internal controls and procedures, including standardization of the joint venture policies, processes, and procedures, and ensure properly designed to mitigate relevant accounting and reporting risks and are operating effectively, all the while fostering a process improvement culture.
• Install proper financial controls for the partnership. Compile and harmonize control references for projects, including the development of project execution plans, project specific control procedures.
• Ensure compliance with internal controls in the safeguard of plant assets (including property, plant, and equipment) and cost control. Create and maintain asset schedules for tax purposes, including asset management and capitalization of assets
• Manage the budget and project cost tracking process and all project financial information by monitoring the progress according to the schedules of sub-projects in development.
• Responsible for the coordination with external sales tax and financial audits.
• Assist in the analysis of construction change orders and/or complaints.
• Enable commercial and project management teams to deliver the project portfolio via reviewing, guiding and participating the strategies and documentations in the different phases of the portfolio by contributing with valuable finance advisory perspectives
• Oversees responsible cash flow management and appropriate use of funds, supervise transactional procedures to ensure transparent accounting practices and traceability of project expenditures.
• Prepare monthly, quarterly, and annual management and Board reporting packages including statement of operating results, monthly forecasts, annual operating plan, and strategic planning for presentation to Project senior management and Advisory Board.
• Execute FP&A (financial planning and analysis) activities ensuring timely and accurate project summary submissions of complex financial data to oversight steering committees and governing bodies.
• Oversees and controls the accounts receivable and accounts payable related to project execution.
• Provide reliable day-to-day accounting and finance services while complying with all legislative and corporate requirements.

Qualifications
The successful candidate will have the following competencies:

• Ability to understand and interpret contracts and subcontracts.
• Good attention to detail.
• Profound working knowledge of general and cost accounting, internal controls and asset management in an operational environment
• Excellent interpersonal skills with an ability to facilitate team engagement in a matrix organizational framework.
• Effective knowledge and ease using computer systems (experience with Primavera P6 and Microsoft Dynamics 365 - project modules, an asset).
• Knowledge of cost and schedule management.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills across all levels within and outside the Project organization.
• Proven experience in financial reporting, accounting, analysis of financial data, forecasting, budgeting, and gap analysis.
• Proven leadership aptitudes and skills, sense of organization with good priority management skills.
• Experience with project cost management systems.
• Good exposure with the project management methodology.
• Strong analytical skills and proficiency in excel modelling.
• Good understanding of general business interfaces/processes related to procurement, engineering, operations, and accounting.

Skills And Qualifications

• Knowledge of engineering, construction, general contracting, joint ventures, or industrial plant operations a definitive asset
• Qualified professional accountant with university degree and CPA designation (required), in business or in the engineering field.
• Minimum of 8 to 10 years of field or office project financial control experience related to engineering and project construction at senior-level managerial accounting/controllership positions.
• Bilingual, French/English, written and spoken

Additional Information
This role is located in Montreal, remote work is not possible.