Chief Financial Officer

Who We Are

Emterra Group is a dynamic, growth-oriented, and safety-focused group of companies. Our organization have been deemed to be an “essential service” by providing collection and processing for recycling, organics, and waste that keep our communities clean and safe. With customer service and safety as our focus, we are looking for an energetic and driven employee to support our growing company and play a crucial role in waste diversion and the circular economy. Emterra is proud to be recognized as one of Canada’s Greenest Employers, a certified diverse supplier of the Canadian Aboriginal and Minority Supplier Council (CAMSC) and the Canadian Women Business Enterprise National Council (WBE).

Job Summary

The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) is a key member of the executive leadership team and will be an active contributor in defining, communicating and fulfilling the company’s mission, values, strategic direction and plans. The Chief Financial Officer will report to the ownership and executive leadership team and will be accountable for the overall financial stewardship of Emterra Group. This includes financial strategy, accounting, treasury, tax, capital planning, budgeting, forecasting, insurance, risk management, business analytics, financial systems, and oversight of finance-related processes that support operations across Ontario, British Columbia, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Michigan, and future jurisdictions. The CFO will be expected to provide practical, data-driven advice to ownership and senior leaders, improve the quality and timeliness of financial information, and ensure the finance function supports profitable growth, operational accountability, and long-term business sustainability.

In addition to delivering on their financial duties, the CFO will play a critical role in positioning the organization for its next phase of evolution. This includes helping to conceptualize and implement advanced data, automation, and AI-enabled capabilities that reshape products, services, core business processes, and organizational systems in a practical, operationally grounded manner. The ownership group views these changes as table stakes and the strategy, as well as the tactical implementation, belongs with the business and not with any single department.

The CFO will help build enduring organizational capabilities across people, process, and technology, ensuring the business can adapt to changing regulatory, market, and competitive conditions while helping to solve complex business problems.

Position Description

• Financial strategy and capital planning: Oversee development and the maintaining of a multi-year financial strategy that supports profitable growth, disciplined reinvestment, working capital management, capital structure decisions, acquisitions, major contract opportunities, and long-term shareholder value.
• Financial reporting and controls: Oversee accurate monthly, quarterly, and annual financial reporting; strengthen internal controls; ensure compliance with accounting standards and applicable federal, provincial, municipal, tax, and regulatory requirements; and, improve the consistency of reporting across business units and regions.
• Treasury, cash flow, and banking: Manage cash flow, debt facilities, banking relationships, bonding, insurance requirements, credit risk, investment decisions, and liquidity planning to ensure the company has the financial capacity to meet operating and growth requirements.
• Tax and shareholder planning: Work with external advisors and ownership to manage corporate tax planning, shareholder-related tax matters, estate and succession considerations, trusts, intercompany structures, and other matters relevant to a privately owned, family-led enterprise.
• Risk management: Identify, assess, and manage financial, operational, contractual, insurance, compliance, cyber, and business continuity risks, ensuring risk mitigation plans are practical, documented, and aligned with business priorities.
• Technology and data: Oversee finance systems and partner with information technology leaders to improve data quality, reporting automation, analytics, cybersecurity awareness, system controls, and the use of technology to increase efficiency across the business.
• Executive and stakeholder communication: Prepare clear financial updates and ownership materials, lender reporting, insurance and bonding submissions, and business cases that translate complex financial information into practical recommendations for decision-making.
• Team leadership: Lead, coach, and hold accountable finance, accounting, and related support teams; establish role clarity, service standards, timelines, reporting expectations, and succession plans for key positions; Ensure annual performance reviews are conducted for all Team members to celebrate successes and identify areas for training and development.
• Cross-functional business partnership: Work directly with operations, commercial, legal, human resources, safety, procurement, and regional leadership to improve decision-making, contract performance, cost control, asset utilization, and accountability for results.
• Stakeholder Relations: Communicate financial performance, risks, priorities, and recommendations to ownership, the executive leadership team, senior operators, lenders, bonding companies, insurers, external auditors, tax advisors, and other key partners.

They will also, as a member of Emterra’s Executive Leadership team.

• Serve as a senior advisor to the ownership group and executive leadership team on financial strategy, capital allocation, risk, growth opportunities, acquisitions, major customer contracts, and operational performance;
• Build a finance function that is accurate, timely, service-oriented, and commercially aware, with reporting tools that help leaders understand margin, cost drivers, cash flow, asset performance, and contract profitability; may develop a financial planning & analysis (FP&A) capability that aligns closely with business operations and divisions and encourages the finance team to partner closely with the business units;
• Partner with the CEO, COO, ownership group, and operating leaders to align financial, information technology, and risk management priorities with the company’s strategic plan;
• Lead annual business planning, budgeting, forecasting, capital expenditure planning, internal controls, audit readiness, valuation support, pricing review, treasury, credit, tax, insurance, and external reporting;
• Model a hands-on leadership style by setting clear expectations, developing leaders, addressing performance issues directly, and building practical processes that improve accountability and decision-making;
• Help embed a data-driven and accountable culture;
• Enable enterprise-wide visibility through real-time performance dashboards and analytics;
• Keep abreast of current trends and emerging industry issues and advise the Executive Leadership Team on the opportunities and impacts to Emterra and its strategic direction;
• Help drive cultural change to achieve a “one-company” approach and mindset across Emterra’s national operations;
• Foster an environment that stimulates open and transparent communication, creativity and collaboration; engender a team spirit in solving problems and identifying and capturing new business opportunities;
• Help assess, pursue, execute on, and, where appropriate, integrate merger/acquisition opportunities; and,
• Contribute to the development, negotiation, and the management of new contracts with EPR and non-EPR based customers.

The Ideal Candidate Profile

The key goal in making this appointment is to attract someone who offers high intellectual and emotional intelligence capacity, is strategically minded, and can bring strong communication and interpersonal skills to Emterra Group. To remain a leader in the sector, the organization is committed to hiring, developing, nurturing and retaining more than just managers – they need charismatic, inspirational leaders.

The CFO must thrive in a founder-led environment, partnering closely with Emmie Leung to translate her bold, entrepreneurial vision into disciplined financial execution while respecting the instincts that have driven the company’s success. Success in the relationship requires a leader who can engage as a trusted thought partner – bringing structure, data, and challenge where needed – while aligning with the pace, intensity, and high standards set by the founder.

In addition to the leadership competencies highlighted above, the CFO will also possess the following experience, knowledge, attributes and education:

• 10+ years of progressive senior financial leadership experience, including responsibility for day-to-day financial operations, budgeting, forecasting, reporting, controls, treasury, tax, and business performance analysis for a complex organization;
• Experience as a CFO, Vice President Finance, or equivalent senior finance leader with multi-division, multi-location, or multi-jurisdictional accountability;
• Expertise in developing and executing a strategic finance plan that is aligned with a business’ overall strategic plan;
• Experience gained within complex environments; has ideally led finance teams for manufacturing, logistics, transportation, and/or material processing operations; expertise in optimizing a large fleet (routing, operating and maintenance) is beneficial;
• Experience supporting a privately owned, owner-operated, family-led, or entrepreneurial organization where the CFO is expected to balance strategic advisory work with hands-on execution;
• Demonstrated ability to lead finance teams, develop direct reports, improve service levels, clarify accountabilities, and manage performance in a practical and respectful manner;
• Strong understanding of Canadian accounting, tax, audit, payroll, insurance, bonding, banking, and regulatory requirements, with the ability to work effectively with external advisors and institutions;
• Ideally has helped in the planning, execution and management of rapid and transformational change;
• Experience developing, pricing, reviewing, and negotiating: large or complex multi-year customer contracts; capital projects; acquisitions; financing arrangements; and, major commercial commitments;
• Strong analytical capability, including the ability to interpret financial and operational data, identify root causes, test assumptions, quantify risk, and provide recommendations that leaders can act on; expertise developing a financial planning and analysis (FP&A) capability would be beneficial;
• Comfortable working across operations, commercial, legal, human resources, safety, procurement, and technology functions to collaboratively explore opportunities and to solve business problems;
• Communicates clearly with financial and non-financial audiences, including ownership, executives, lenders, auditors, insurers, bonding companies, and operational leaders;
• An ability to adapt to and positively impact the Emterra culture while establishing proven financial disciplines and methodologies that will further enhance the company’s performance;
• High emotional intelligence, necessary to focus on the people aspects of transformational change;
• Humble, hard-working, confident and curious professional who can respectfully stand their ground in making and defending recommendations;
• Entrepreneurial spirit with a keen interest in being part of a growing business striving to be the best in its industry; projects a strong presence in the field and genuinely enjoys interacting with employees; projects a ‘down-to-earth’ and engaging manner;
• Open, honest and respectful; will embrace Emterra’s values and collaborative working environment;
• Accessible with an appreciation for the attention requirements of an organization that operates across national time zones;
• Exhibits a high degree of discretion, judgment, integrity, and confidentiality when handling corporate, shareholder, succession, compensation, and business-sensitive information;
• Practical, down-to-earth leadership style with the ability to operate in a fast-paced, changing environment where priorities can shift quickly and decisions often require both urgency and discipline;
• Able and willing to travel up to approximately 20% to support business needs across Canada; and,
• Can call on a sense of humour.

Education/Professional Qualifications

Technically astute with relevant professional training including a CPA designation; MBA, CFA, or equivalent advanced business or finance education is considered an asset.

Onsite - Oakville

Reasons to Apply, Stay and Grow with Emterra Group

• Opportunity to be part of one of Canada’s Greenest Employers!
• Competitive wages!
• Employee Assistance Program, paid for by the company!
• Be part of an entrepreneurial organization that wants to continue to learn and grow!
• Ability to have an impact and make change!

Are you ready to jumpstart your career by joining one of Canada’s Greenest Employers and become part of the environmental solution? If so, apply now! We appreciate all applicants who apply however only those who are qualified, will be contacted.

Emterra Group is committed to maintaining an equitable, fair, and diverse environment. Any applicants who have a disability or require reasonable accommodation may speak directly with our Human Resources Department. Reasonable accommodations will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, disability, or veteran status.

Please note that AI may be used to support the application review process; however, all applications are reviewed by our Human Resources Team.

This posting is for an immediate vacancy, and we are actively hiring for this position.