Financial Analyst

Cooke Aquaculture Inc. • City of Saint John, NB

14d • Onsite

About The Position

We are seeking a commercially sharp and analytically rigorous Financial Analyst to join our Operations Team. This role sits at the intersection of operational performance and strategic decision-making — you will own the budgeting and capital expenditure cycles, drive meaningful variance analysis, and serve as a trusted financial advisor to operational managers across multiple divisions. This is not a passive reporting role. We are looking for someone who embraces modern financial tools — including AI-powered analytics — to elevate the quality and speed of insight delivery, and who can translate complex financial data into clear, actionable guidance for non-finance audiences.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, or a related field
• 3–6 years of progressive experience in financial planning and analysis, management accounting, or a similar role
• Demonstrated expertise in budgeting, forecasting, and variance analysis in a multi-division or multi-site environment
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel; strong working knowledge of financial modelling techniques
• Experience with ERP and financial reporting systems (e.g. SAP, Dynamics, Oracle, or equivalent)
• Clear, confident communication skills — able to present financial information to non-financial audiences at all levels

Nice To Haves

• CPA designation (or actively pursuing) is a strong asset
• Hands-on experience using AI tools, automation platforms, or BI tools (e.g. Power BI, Tableau, Copilot, or similar) to enhance financial workflows
• Experience in a capital-intensive industry such as aquaculture, agriculture, food processing, or natural resources
• Familiarity with government grant programs and capital funding claims processes
• Experience designing and delivering financial coaching to operational leaders

Responsibilities

• Lead the end-to-end North American operational budgeting cycle across multiple divisions, ensuring alignment with corporate strategy and divisional priorities
• Own the capital expenditure (CapEx) budgeting process from project submission and prioritization through approval, tracking, and post-completion review
• Develop and maintain rolling medium- and long-range financial plans to support strategic planning and resource allocation decisions
• Coordinate with operations, engineering, and project teams to build accurate and defensible budget submissions
• Conduct rigorous monthly and quarterly budget-to-actual variance analysis across operating divisions, identifying root causes and recommending corrective actions
• Deliver consolidated financial performance reports and commentary to senior leadership, providing actionable insight — not just numbers
• Develop and maintain monthly forecasting models that incorporate operational data, ensuring early identification of cost, volume, and margin trends
• Support weekly Treasury cash flow updates and monthly farmgate and CapEx reporting to Finance and Treasury teams
• Track capital project spending against approved budgets, flag deviations early, and coordinate with the accounting team on actual spend reconciliation
• Act as a financial business partner to operational managers and senior leaders — presenting financial results, explaining variances, and translating technical financial concepts into plain language
• Design and facilitate periodic financial literacy sessions for department heads and site managers, improving their capacity to interpret budgets, track costs, and make data-driven decisions
• Develop intuitive financial dashboards and summary tools that give operational leaders real-time visibility into their financial performance
• Challenge assumptions embedded in budget submissions and business cases, fostering a culture of financial accountability across the organization
• Actively leverage AI-powered tools and automation to improve the efficiency, accuracy, and timeliness of financial reporting and analysis
• Identify and implement opportunities to automate recurring reporting tasks (e.g. variance narratives, forecast refreshes, CapEx dashboards) using modern tools
• Champion continuous improvement in financial systems, data quality, and reporting infrastructure — always seeking faster, more insightful ways to deliver value
• Stay current with emerging financial technology and AI capabilities relevant to aquaculture and resource-based industries
• Support major capital and strategic project evaluations, including ROI analysis, NPV modelling, and scenario planning
• Support relationships with government funding agencies in support of capital funding applications, ensuring alignment with program requirements and reporting obligations
• Coordinate between operations teams (project status) and accounting teams (actual spend) to maintain accurate and current project tracking records
• Assist with business acquisition analysis and financial due diligence as required

Benefits

• Health Benefits: Includes coverage for dental, vision, and extended medical care.
• Insurance: Life and disability insurance provided for financial security.
• Support Services: Access to an Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
• Financial Planning: Opportunity for RRSP matching to support your retirement savings.
• Time Off: Paid vacation, holidays, and sick leave for work-life balance.
• Wellness: Wellness programs and access to on-site gym facilities (available in some locations).
• Career Development: Professional growth opportunities and avenues for advancement.
• Perks: Employee discounts on company products or services.
• Convenience: On-site parking or parking allowance.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level