Job Description

Department:

Finance

Reports to:

VP of Finance & Business Performance

Status:

Full-time

Role Overview

The Director of Finance - Sales & Commercial will play a pivotal role in providing strategic financial leadership and business partnership across the Commercial organization. This position works closely with Sales, Marketing, and Executive Leadership to drive profitable growth, optimize trade investments, and shape key strategic initiatives. The role is ideal for a results-driven finance leader with deep commercial acumen and a passion for transforming data into strategic insight.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Business Partnering:

Collaborate with senior Sales and Marketing leaders to develop and execute commercial strategies that deliver sustainable revenue and profit growth. Lead a finance team supporting our Cheese, Dairy, Ingredients business units and our sales organization. Provide strategic support for pricing, trade investment, customer profitability, and commercial decision-making. Partner with sales, business unit teams, and operations to drive margin improvement and growth.

Financial Modeling & Decision Support:

Build and refine financial models, scenario analyses, and sensitivity studies to support pricing, trade investment, and channel strategies.

Trade & Pricing Strategy:

Provide financial leadership on pricing architecture, promotional spend effectiveness, and customer profitability analysis.

Performance Management:

Deliver clear, actionable financial insights and recommendations to senior leadership, driving accountability for performance against plan.

Executive Reporting:

Prepare and present financial updates, strategic analyses, and recommendations for the Board of Directors and Executive Leadership Team.

Process Improvement & Automation:

Identify and lead initiatives to enhance financial reporting, streamline processes, and strengthen analytical capabilities through automation and systems optimization.

Leadership & Development:

Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing finance team, fostering collaboration, continuous learning, and excellence in execution.

Qualifications:

Bachelor's degree in Finance, Economics, Business Administration, or related discipline; MBA or CPA designation preferred. 12+ years of progressive finance experience, including 7+ years in leadership roles. ideally within Dairy, CPG, or Food industries. Deep understanding of pricing, trade management, and commercial finance within a customer-driven environment. Advanced Excel and financial modeling skills; strong proficiency with financial systems and data tools. Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to influence and engage at all levels of the organization. Demonstrated success in leading, coaching, and developing finance teams. Strategic thinker with strong business acumen, analytical rigor, and a proactive mindset.

Gay Lea Foods is a leading Canadian dairy co-operative renowned for producing high-quality, nutritious dairy products that Canadian families love and trust. From farm to table, our 1,200 farmer members in Ontario and Manitoba, and more than 1,200 employees across four provinces, work together to nourish communities through award-winning brands including Gay Lea, Nordica, Salerno, Bothwell Cheese, and more. As part of its deeply rooted, balanced commitment to people, profit, and planet, Gay Lea Foods proudly invests one percent of pre-tax earnings back into Canadian communities through a national food security partnership with Second Harvest, and the community-building efforts of the Gay Lea Foundation. To learn more, visit gayleafoods.com.



Gay Lea Foods is an equal-opportunity employer and values diversity in our workplace.

Reasonable accommodation is available upon request throughout our recruitment and selection process.



Thank you for your interest in Gay Lea Foods.

Wishing you all the best with your career search!