Director, Finance

Company Overview: 

At Mara Renewables Corporation (Mara), we exist to re-engineer nature’s pantry, reimagine human nutrition, and revitalize wellness and the environment. We believe there has never been a more critical need to evolve health ingredients for human nutrition and related industries using the power of science and nature to build a more sustainable and healthier world. 

Mara’s remarkable journey has transformed us from a research & development startup into a global leader within the algal omega-3 oil industry, encompassing pivotal sectors such as food, beverage, and infant nutrition. Our commitment to commercializing our unique patent-protected technologies, coupled with the expertise of our diverse team of exceptional research scientists specializing in biology, fermentation, extraction, product quality, and analytical chemistry, has been the driving force behind our expansion. 

  

We currently have an opening for an experienced Director, Finance at our Dartmouth, NS location. 

The Position: 

Reporting to the Chief Financial Officer, this is a senior management role both inside the finance function and the entire group of companies that comprise Mara Renewables.  This position will work side-by-side with the CFO, with the Director, Finance managing everything internal to Mara and the CFO managing everything external. 

The Director, Finance is the quarterback of all the internal business and financial processes. This is also a leadership role providing direction to direct reports and cross functional departments to support the growing finance mandate.  We work as a collaborative team and in this role, you will play a key role in integrating all of the various parts. 

As the Director, Finance you will oversee all of the financial reporting and administer the funding needs of the organization with the support of the accounting team that feeds in monthly financial information for consolidation and reporting. 

Mara’s consolidated financial results are used by a large group of stakeholders to make important funding, investment, and lending decisions.  The consolidated financial statements are audited under Canadian Accounting Standards for Private Entities. 

Job Responsibilities: 

This position will require you to lead the accounting and finance team within Mara and provide high value advice on technical matters.  In your role, you will be responsible for: 

• Overseeing and reviewing the consolidation of the results from operations and preparing financial reports for the Board of Directors and other financial stakeholders

• Working with senior auditors to address technical GAAP issues and establish accounting policies in a proactive manner

• Managing the relationship with the external auditors

• Developing a budgeting and forecasting process and reviewing, challenging, and packaging budgets and forecasts for stakeholder review

• Engaging other financial professionals as required to address issues as they arise in areas of tax, risk management, and financing

• Working with the business unit controllers to establish a framework for internal controls over financial reporting and addressing any risks arising from occupational fraud

• Advising portfolio companies on accounting issues and any changes to corporate accounting policies

• Managing the vendor relationship with our ERP provider

• Working cross-functionally to ensure that the needs of operations, sales, R&D and capital projects are being met and that all financial issues are surfaced and addressed proactively

• Managing the treasury function including the collection of sales, disbursement of funds and maintaining a positive relationship with the banks.

• Working with currency advisors and brokers to minimize the transaction costs as well as to establish hedging strategies to minimize exposures to different currencies.  Mara transacts in CAD, USD, GBP and EUR

• Liaison with group controllers to facilitate any investment or cash transfers as required

• Liaison with equity investors, send reporting as requested and manage relationship

• Manage CTDI’s financial reporting and relationship/requests of CTDI shareholders.

• Manage the annual insurance renewals by coordinating the completion of the applications internally and communicating with brokers.

Core competencies: 

• A strong, people-oriented leadership approach to managing diverse teams spread across diverse geographic locations

• A special expertise in identifying, analyzing, and making GAAP accounting policy-based recommendations

• A commitment to meeting reporting deadlines is required which may require overtime to get the job done when the information is required

• An uncanny ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines simultaneously

• An incredibly precise eye for detail to ensure that nothing is missed and that final reports are professional, accurate, and well understood by our diverse stakeholders

• Ability to work independently in a fast paced and exciting work environment

• Strong Excel skills will certainly help analyze, document, and tailor reports to meet the needs of our stakeholders

• Strong knowledge of the audit process and the willingness and desire to cultivate strong professional relationships with our external auditors and other external financial advisors

• A strong process-driven mindset to envision a stream-lined financial close process

• Ethics and integrity are paramount in everything you do

• Professional written and verbal communication skills including preparing professional presentations to share finding, insights and management performance

Desired skills and experience:

• A minimum of 10 years of demonstrated experience and passion working in senior financial reporting roles is mandatory

• A strong financial educational background is required, with a Canadian CPA designation

• MBAs or other post-secondary degrees/certifications would be an asset

• The Mara group of companies is implementing an ERP system (Xero), and experience with ERP or implementing ERP would be considered an asset

What we offer:

Mara is proud to offer a competitive salary and benefits package, including but not limited to:

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plan from day one of employment
• Employee & Family assistance program
• RRSP matching program
• Health spending account
• Physical wellness reimbursement plan
• Employee share option program
• Competitive compensation package
• Paid time-off
• Opportunities for job related training and professional development

At Mara we value diversity, equity, and inclusion. We strongly encourage applications from all qualified candidates, including persons who identify as racially visible, Indigenous, persons with disabilities, women in underrepresented roles and members of the LGBTQ+2S community. Mara supports candidates and employees with access and accommodation needs.