COMPANY OVERVIEW:
The La Rocca tradition of dessert making began 60 years ago in Naples, Italy. Our family’s passion for the art of baking inspired the many original and unique recipes we have today. In 1986, La Rocca Creative Cakes was established in Canada. Over the last forty years, we’ve grown to become one of the most respected artisanal dessert manufacturers in North America.
Today, as part of the Sammontana Italia family, La Rocca brings together European craftsmanship and modern scale to deliver premium cakes to thousands of grocery, foodservice, and fine food partners. We are entering an exciting phase of growth and modernization under La Rocca.
ROLE PURPOSE:
Own the integrity of product cost data across the plant — standard costs, BOMs, routings, and manufacturing variances and translate plant-floor cost drivers into accurate inventory valuation and SKU-level margin visibility. This role works from the shop floor into the ERP.
REPORTS TO: Assistant Controller
ANNUAL COMPENSATION:
Competitive compensation starting at $70,000 per year. A higher starting salary may be offered based on the successful candidate's experience, qualifications, and demonstrated expertise, plus a potential performance bonus.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
The following is not intended to be all-inclusive or restrictive; other duties may be assigned as necessary.
- Standard Costing & BOM/Routing Integrity (≈ 35%)
- Maintain and update standard costs in the ERP (Business Central) for all SKUs, reflecting current material, labour, and overhead inputs.
- Audit BOM and routing accuracy against actual production, working directly with Operations and Engineering to correct discrepancies at the source rather than adjusting around them.
- Lead the standard cost roll (annual or as-needed), validating impact on inventory valuation and SKU margin before publishing.
- Own cost master data governance — no BOM, routing, or overhead rate change goes live without a documented cost impact review.
- Variance Analysis & Manufacturing Cost Control (≈ 30%)
- Analyze material, labour, and overhead variances (purchase price, usage, rate, efficiency) monthly, identifying root cause with plant leadership rather than just reporting the number.
- Track scrap, yield, and waste by SKU and production line, flagging trends that erode margin before they show up in the P&L.
- Partner with plant management on cost-reduction initiatives, quantifying expected savings and tracking realization against target.
- Own inventory valuation integrity across raw materials, WIP, and finished goods, ensuring alignment between physical counts and the ERP.
- Margin & Capital Support (≈ 15%)
- Provide SKU- and category-level cost detail feeding the Senior Financial Analyst's margin dashboards and management reporting.
- Support capital equipment evaluation (e.g., throughput, labour offset, and cost-per-unit impact) with cost modelling input.
- Support new product costing and quoting for Sales and NPD, ensuring pricing reflects true fully-loaded manufacturing cost
- Lead or support cycle counts and the annual physical inventory, investigating and resolving discrepancies to root cause.
- Reconcile inventory-related GL accounts monthly as part of the close process, coordinating with the Senior Financial Analyst and Assistant Controller.
CORE COMPENTENCIES:
- Self-motivated and self-directed
- Detail-oriented with strong organizational and communication skills
- Systems & Technical Proficiency - ERP, Excel, Google Sheets, and BI tools used to build reusable reporting, not one-off analysis.
- Manufacturing Cost Fluency — genuinely understands how cost flows through a plant, not just how to book a variance journal entry.
- Data & Systems Discipline — treats BOM/routing/cost master data as a control environment rather than a one-time setup.
- Root-Cause Orientation — chases variances to their source on the floor rather than explaining them away in a report.
- Ownership — resolves cost data issues end-to-end without needing escalation for routine problems.
- Collaboration & Business Partnering — works cross-functionally with Operations and Supply Chain as a peer, not just a reporting function.
EDUCATION & QUALIFICATIONS:
- Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business, or a related field.
- CPA designation or active progress toward CPA designation is preferred.
- 3–5 years of progressive experience in accounting, financial analysis, FP&A, or a related finance role.
- Demonstrated experience building forecasts, budgets, or margin/cost analysis in a manufacturing or CPG environment not close/reporting experience alone.
- Industry experience is required, with experience in a CPG, food manufacturing, or other high-volume manufacturing environment strongly preferred.
- Previous experience with a public accounting firm is considered a strong asset, particularly candidates with exposure to audit, financial reporting, internal controls, or manufacturing/CPG clients.
- Hands-on experience supporting month-end close, including journal entries, account reconciliations, financial statement preparation, and management reporting.
- Strong analytical capability with the ability to translate financial and operational data into meaningful business insights.
- Proficiency with ERP systems such as Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, NAV, or equivalent, together with advanced Microsoft Excel skills.
- Experience with Power BI or other business intelligence/reporting tools is considered an asset.
- Strong communication skills and demonstrated ability to work cross-functionally with Finance, Operations, Supply Chain, and other business teams.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, & ABILITIES:
- Understanding of accounting principles (GAAP/IFRS) and financial reporting processes.
- Strong analytical and quantitative skills with proficiency in Microsoft Excel (pivot tables, lookups, formulas)
- Ability to interpret financial and operational data, identify variances and cost drivers, and provide clear, decision-ready recommendations — not just flag the variance.
- Knowledge of budgeting, forecasting, and variance analysis in a manufacturing cost structure (fixed vs. variable, cost center ownership).
- Comfortable operating with a high degree of autonomy and taking ownership of recurring deliverables end-to-end.
- Awareness of compliance, audit, and internal control frameworks.
- Eagerness to learn and adapt within a dynamic, fast-paced environment.
Pay: From $70,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Dental care
- Disability insurance
- Extended health care
- Life insurance
- On-site parking
- Vision care
Work Location: In person
