Senior Director of Corporate Finance & Transformation (Remote)

Title: Senior Director - Corporate Finance & Transformation

Department: Finance

Reporting to: CFO

Type: Full Time

Location: Remote - Canada ( Candidates based in British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Ontario, Nova Scotia or willing to relocate)

Compensation: $190K - $215K CAD

Who We Are:

World Education Services (WES) is a non-profit social enterprise that supports the educational, economic, and social inclusion of immigrants, refugees, and international students. For 50 years, WES has set the standard for international academic credential evaluation, supporting millions of people as they seek to achieve their academic and professional goals. Through decades of experience as a leader in global education, WES has developed a wide range of tools to pursue social impact at scale. From evaluating academic credentials to shaping policy, designing programs, and providing philanthropic funding, we partner with a diverse set of organizations, leaders, and networks to uplift individuals and drive systems change. Together with its partners, WES enables people to learn, work, and thrive in new places. For more information about WES, please visit our website at www.WES.org.  

About the Opportunity:

This position will work directly with the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) to drive key strategic initiatives and ensure effective and efficient financial operations across WES.  You will be a seasoned financial leader with deep expertise in corporate finance, accounting consolidation and GAAP (General Accepted Accounting Principles) and FASB (Financial Accounting Standards Board) and experience driving financial transformation programs and initiatives.  You will have strong technical accounting skills, business perspectives and the ability to operate in a global environment.  You will play a critical role in overseeing financial consolidation, reporting, policies, controls, and compliance across the organization, as well as working in close collaboration with senior stakeholders across the organization to leverage insights, formulate plans and activities to ensure efficient and effective financial practices at WES. You will also have a specific focus and accountability on finance transformation, driving implementation and change management activities, and embedding a continuous improvement mindset throughout the finance function.

What You’ll Do:

• Lead, identify and support finance transformation projects, identifying and implementing opportunities for process optimization and automation in line with strategic and business priorities. Partner closely with finance leadership to align financial transformation initiatives and goals
• Provide independent perspective, based on market trends and conditions, with respect to finance and accounting functions, processes and practices, challenging status quo and identifying opportunities to leverage technology, best practices and effective operating models
• Working with external advisors, and internal teams, conduct in-depth analysis of existing finance and accounting processes (including monthly accounting close, transaction processing - A/R, A/P, Expense Reporting, treasury, cash management, and controls) to identify bottlenecks and inefficiencies along with opportunities for improvement, optimization and digitization
• Working with internal and external teams to develop solutions and implement changes to processes and practices to ensure efficient and effective financial service delivery. Develop and rollout across the function a continuous improvement and appreciative enquiry mindset and framework to ensure processes and practices are agile and adaptive to changing internal and external dynamics.
• Lead on the identification of potential risks and develop specific plans to ensure adherence to and support best practice in financial controls, financial reporting and accounting policies and procedures
• Drive the end-to-end effort to operationalize finance and accounting initiatives and measure/track key strategic initiatives through management of project scope, deliverables, routines, and tasks
• Establish a change management process leveraging methods and tools
• Lead corporate financial consolidation, including monthly and annual reporting in compliance with U.S. and Canada GAAP requirements
• Oversee financial aspects of global entities, including intercompany transactions, eliminations, and transfer pricing
• Collaborate with other finance leaders to ensure the seamless global reporting process
• Develop and implement internal control frameworks and policies to ensure compliance with accounting and regulatory requirements
• Provide training and guidance to employees on control-related policies and procedures ▪ Support special projects and other financial responsibilities as needed

Your Experience: 

The ideal candidate will have:

Required:

• Significant level of proven senior level experience in a financial leadership role with focus on accounting standards, financial consolidation and financial reporting
• Experience of driving and leading major finance transformation projects that include systems implementation, business process design and proves or service delivery improvement initiatives
• Preferred Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
• Significant experience in leading projects with proven knowledge of project and change management methodologies and tooling
• Proven ability to work independently at a senior level, providing executive-ready insights
• Strong analytical and reporting skills
• Expert knowledge of U.S. GAAP and compliance
• Strong IT and systems orientation, with NetSuite experience as an advantage
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to translate complex financial data into actionable insights for non-financial executives
• Ability to operate autonomously while being a team player who brings a positive attitude.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, collaborative, and dynamic team environment. A strong commitment to WES’s mission and values and awareness of social enterprise mandates.

Desirable:

• MBA in Finance or equivalent advanced degree
• Public accounting experience is preferred; Big 4 audit experience is a plus, particularly in audit and transformation advisory
• Experience working in a non-profit social enterprise model 

What We Offer:

Joining our team at WES means embarking on a purpose-driven career with a global impact, where you contribute daily to making a tangible difference in the lives of people worldwide. You'll thrive in an employee-centric environment, with access to learning opportunities, pathways for personal and professional development, and recognition of your achievements. Our inclusive, mission-driven culture values employees and focuses on investing in our people through our culture, people framework, and programming while offering the flexibility of remote work options.

• Work-Life Harmony: We believe that success is all about maintaining balance. Enjoy the freedom of remote work and flexible scheduling, paired with generous time-off policies designed to assist you in maintaining a healthy equilibrium between your personal and professional commitments. Our comprehensive wellness programs and work environment are focused on fostering your well-being.
• Rewards and Recognition: Your dedication and achievements are the cornerstone of our success. We recognize the importance of valuing your hard work which is why we offer competitive compensation, comprehensive benefits, and tangible rewards to celebrate your contributions.
• Professional Growth and Development: We are committed to nurturing growth within our team, recognizing that growth is essential to providing opportunities for career advancement and ongoing professional development. To prioritize your learning and success, we invest in comprehensive training programs and offer tuition reimbursement opportunities. We promote a culture of continuous learning that empowers you to thrive and evolve in your career.
• Innovation and Impact: Engage in work that directly transforms lives and empowers individuals and communities by expanding access to global educational and professional pathways. Join us in fostering a culture that values innovation, embraces new approaches, and leverages transformation to implement and drive impactful change.
• Community and Connection: Our team is made up of individuals from different cultures and backgrounds who have varying perspectives and ideas. Our diverse workforce reflects the global community we serve, and we take pride in it. We are committed to fostering a workplace where everyone feels valued, respected, and included. Experience the power of connection by participating in a range of activities, including employee-led resource groups, town halls, collaborative team events, meaningful volunteer opportunities, and initiatives that promote equity, celebrate diversity, and cultivate a strong sense of belonging within our organization. 

Values: 

• Opportunity - We open doors so people can build better futures.
• Inclusion - We become stronger, more creative, and more resilient when we embrace diversity.
• Equity - We uphold fairness and justice in our work and actions.
• Enterprising - We are resourceful, inventive, and driven.
• Expertise - We challenge ourselves to be the best at what we do.

Inclusive Recruitment Process:

We welcome all applicants, irrespective of their experience perfectly fitting the job description, as we value diverse and innovative viewpoints. At our organization, individuals who thrive in a culture of continuous learning and inclusive teamwork excel. We are committed to fostering an inclusive and accessible work environment where everyone feels valued, respected, and supported and welcome members of all backgrounds and perspectives to apply.

Our Commitment:

At World Education Services, we're committed to fostering an inclusive workplace that reflects the rich tapestry of our communities, both in the US and Canada. This commitment is underscored by our unwavering dedication to providing equal opportunities to all qualified individuals, regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or genetics. This commitment extends to every aspect of employment, from recruitment and hiring to promotions, training, and benefits. We comply with all applicable federal, state, and local anti-discrimination laws. For us, diversity goes beyond compliance – it's about embracing unique perspectives and cultivating an environment where everyone feels valued and empowered to reach their full potential.

If you encounter challenges accessing or using our career site due to a disability, you may request reasonable accommodation by contacting us via email at [email protected]. Our Talent Acquisition team is dedicated to supporting qualified candidates by providing solutions that can meet their needs. 

Please be advised that this email address is intended to receive and respond to inquiries concerning the accessibility of the online application system, and requests for assistance and accommodation during any part of the recruitment process. Résumés or applications sent to this email address will not be reviewed.

For more information about WES, please visit our website at www.WES.org.