ERP Functional Lead - Finance

_Our Purpose at The Little Potato Company is to “Feed the World, better.”_

_Because we believe everyone, everywhere, deserves to eat good, healthy food. And it all starts with our little Creamer Potatoes – one of the most economical, energy efficient, and highly nutritious food crops available._

_The Little Potato Company (LPC) is an innovative, fast-growing company in a unique niche market with a dynamic team that embraces diversity and unique differences._

_Come join our rapidly expanding company and help us transform the entire potato industry – one little Creamer at a time!_

_LPC offers a competitive salary, comprehensive benefits, and retirement programs. We encourage a healthy work life balance with paid Family Time Off & vacation days. _

At The Little Potato Company, we're on an exciting transformation journey. We're looking for an experienced *ERP Functional Lead - Finance *to play a critical role in the selection, design, and implementation of our future ERP platform while helping define, standardize, and optimize future-state Finance business processes across our growing North American business.

This is a unique opportunity for a finance professional with strong ERP implementation experience to bridge the gap between Finance, Operations, IT, and external implementation partners. You'll lead the definition of Finance requirements, help modernize financial processes, and ensure our future ERP solution supports the business today and into the future.

Following implementation, you'll become a key steward of Finance ERP processes, master data, governance, reporting, and continuous improvement initiatives.

*Why This Role Is Different*

This is a *permanent, full-time role* and not a temporary project, contract, or consulting position. As a Finance Functional Lead, you will be a hands-on member of the ERP program team, personally leading Finance process design, requirements gathering, testing, data validation, reporting, and governance activities throughout the implementation and beyond.

While this role provides significant functional leadership and influence across the organization, it does not include direct people leadership responsibilities. Success in this position comes from actively partnering with stakeholders, applying deep Finance and ERP expertise, and personally driving key deliverables that will shape The Little Potato Company's future operating model.

Reporting to the Director of Finance, this position is ideally based out of our Nisku, Alberta or DeForest, Wisconsin locations and offers a hybrid work arrangement. Remote candidates may also be considered. The role operates on a standard Monday to Friday work schedule, with flexibility required during key ERP project milestones and implementation activities.

*Key Responsibilities* for this position include (but not limited to):

*Finance ERP Requirements, Processes and Data*

* Plan and facilitate Finance workshops, interviews, process walkthroughs, and requirements-gathering sessions across Canadian and U.S. operations.
* Document current-state and define future-state Finance processes, including process gaps, manual activities, control weaknesses, systems, reports, integrations, and improvement opportunities.
* Capture and document multi-entity, multi-currency, consolidation, tax, reporting, statutory, regulatory, and internal control requirements.
* Partner with IT to define security, reporting, integration, and master data requirements.
* Deliver a complete, prioritized, traceable, and leadership-approved Finance requirements dataset in support of ERP project milestones and readiness gates.

*Cost Accounting and Manufacturing Finance*

* Lead Finance requirements for manufacturing finance, inventory, and cost accounting processes.
* Define future-state requirements for standard costing, bills of materials (BOMs), routings, inventory valuation, cost allocations, and variance analysis.
* Partner with Operations and Supply Chain to align financial and operational processes.
* Develop requirements for margin reporting, cost-to-serve analysis, planning, forecasting, and financial performance insights.
* Document existing and future-state financial workflows, approval processes, authorization controls, and system governance requirements.

*ERP Selection and Solution Design*

* Translate Finance requirements into ERP request-for-proposal (RFP) documentation, evaluation criteria, vendor questionnaires, demonstration scripts, and transaction scenarios.
* Participate in ERP software and implementation partner evaluations, including the assessment of functional fit, implementation methodology, risk, scalability, and total solution capability.
* Evaluate vendor responses, demonstrations, references, proposed scope, and implementation approaches against LPC's business, financial, reporting, and operational requirements.
* Assess and validate vendor capabilities to ensure alignment with LPC's current and future Finance operating model and business objectives.

*Implementation, Testing and Change Enablement*

* Lead Finance participation in design validation, configuration assessments, and functional sign-off activities.
* Coordinate Finance data migration planning, data validation, reconciliation activities, and opening balance verification.
* Develop and execute Finance testing strategies, including integration testing, user acceptance testing (UAT), defect management, issue resolution, and sign-off support.
* Develop Finance procedures, work instructions, training materials, and user-support documentation to support adoption and operational readiness.
* Support organizational change management, user training, knowledge transfer, and stakeholder engagement activities.
* Participate in go-live planning, deployment support, hypercare activities, and post-implementation stabilization.
* Support Finance teams through initial financial close cycles, including the first month-end close following ERP implementation.

*Governance and Continuous Improvement*

* Serve as the Finance Lead for Finance ERP processes following implementation.
* Maintain Finance process documentation, master data standards, costing methodologies, reporting structures, and governance controls post go-live.
* Identify opportunities to improve efficiency, controls, reporting, and user experience.
* Support future ERP enhancements, integrations, and Finance transformation initiatives.

*Desired Qualifications:*

* Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance or Business Administration; a professional accounting designation (CPA,CMA) strongly preferred.
* Minimum of 7+ years of progressive finance and accounting experience in a manufacturing environment, including substantial cost accounting experience with *at least one full-lifecycle cloud-based ERP System implementation.*
* Completion of multiple major full-lifecycle ERP implementations for manufacturing companies in a finance, costing or finance-systems role, whether as a client-side lead, consultant or implementation partner would be an asset.
* Hands-on experience gathering and documenting business requirements and contributing to an ERP RFP, vendor demonstrations and selection.
* Strong manufacturing cost accounting knowledge, including standard costing, bills of materials, variance analysis and inventory valuation.
* Experience with core accounting and reporting in a multi-entity environment; multi-currency and Canada-US cross-border experience is an asset.
* Experience with ERP data migration, testing and end-user training.
* Experience in food processing, agriculture, consumer packaged goods or similarly complex manufacturing is an asset.
* Project management and/or change management expertise is an asset.
* Experience with Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance & Supply Chain, Infor Cloud Suite, IFS, QAD, Oracle NetSuite, or other cloud-based ERP systems is an asset.
* Advanced Excel and Microsoft 365 skills; Power BI, Smartsheet or similar reporting/project tools are assets.

*Key Competencies:*

* Strong knowledge of manufacturing finance and cost accounting, including standard costing, inventory valuation, variance analysis, and profitability reporting.
* Experience with enterprise ERP systems, Finance process design, integrations, data migration, testing, and master data governance.
* Understanding of multi-entity financial reporting, consolidations, chart of accounts structures, internal controls, and Canadian/U.S. accounting practices.
* Expertise in end-to-end Finance processes, including Record-to-Report (R2R), Procure-to-Pay (P2P), Order-to-Cash (O2C), and Fixed Assets.
* Skilled in business process analysis, requirements gathering, process mapping, fit-gap analysis, and translating business needs into system solutions.
* Strong analytical, problem-solving, and continuous improvement capabilities, including root cause analysis and process optimization.
* Proven ability to develop and execute testing, training, documentation, and user adoption activities.
* Excellent project management, prioritization, and stakeholder management skills in complex, cross-functional environments.
* Strong communication skills with the ability to translate technical concepts into clear business language.
* Ability to build trusted partnerships and influence stakeholders across Finance, Operations, IT, and Supply Chain.
* Self-directed, adaptable, and capable of balancing project deliverables with ongoing business priorities.
* Demonstrated ability to drive standardization, support organizational change, and improve process efficiency, data quality, controls, and user experience.
* Down-to-earth, humble, and kind, with a strong work ethic and a willingness to roll up your sleeves and contribute wherever needed.
* Leads with integrity, openness, and respect, building strong relationships through honest communication and collaboration.
* Resilient and adaptable, embracing change and helping others navigate transformation with a positive, solutions-focused mindset.
* Committed to creating a positive team environment by sharing knowledge, supporting colleagues, and celebrating collective success.

*Work Conditions:*

Location: Hybrid work arrangement available for candidates based near our Nisku, AB or DeForest, WI facilities. Fully remote candidates within Canada or the United States will also be considered.

Work Environment: This role requires extended periods of computer-based work using ERP systems, financial applications, reporting tools, Microsoft 365, and virtual collaboration platforms. The role requires frequent collaboration with cross-functional teams and external implementation partners. Regular participation in workshops, stakeholder meetings, training sessions, and project activities is expected, along with the ability to effectively communicate, build relationships, and drive outcomes across multiple teams, locations, and time zones.

Travel Requirements: Occasional travel within Canada and the United States may be required to support ERP workshops, testing, training, implementation, and go-live activities. A valid driver's license and the ability to travel independently are required. Candidates must also be eligible for cross-border travel and able to obtain and maintain a valid passport to support business travel as needed.

Work Schedule: Monday to Friday, with flexibility to collaborate across multiple time zones and support key project milestones.

Extended Hours: Occasional additional hours may be required during critical phases of the ERP program, including testing, data migration, implementation, go-live, and month-end close support.

Language Skills: Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to effectively collaborate and communicate with employees, leaders, cross-functional stakeholders, implementation partners, and vendors. Proficiency in English is required.

_LPC offers a competitive salary, comprehensive benefits, and retirement programs. We encourage a healthy work life balance with paid Family Time Off & vacation days._

_We thank all applicants but only those selected for an interview will be contacted_

Benefits:
* Casual dress
* Dental care
* Employee assistance program
* On-site parking
* Paid time off
* RRSP match
* Vision care
* Work from home

Application question(s):
* Why do you want to work for The Little Potato Company?

Education:
* Bachelor's Degree (preferred)

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Nisku, AB T9E 1C6