Lush is a global enterprise with more than 900 retail shops in 52 countries focused on producing creative and indulgent cosmetics and bath products using only the freshest organic fruits and vegetables, pure essential oils, and safe synthetics. We are dedicated to fair-trade sourcing, supporting sustainable communities, and giving back through our Lush Giving Products which donate 75% to grassroots organizations that support people, animals and the planet.
As Lush Handmade Cosmetics continues to grow and invest in integrated systems, we have formed a shared service approach to accounting for the organization. We are looking for a dynamic individual who can play a key role in evolving and improving that structure while delivering timely, accurate and relevant reporting. This position is responsible for managing a team, gaining an understanding of current processes, and leading the development of improvements to those processes.
In this role, you will lead a team that includes two Accounting Managers and one AP Manager as direct reports, with multiple indirect across accounting and AP that report into those managers. As a growing business, Lush needs people who can adapt and evolve with the needs of the business, analyze and interpret metrics, and translate strategy into behaviors that drive sales and improve profit. Our employees live with purpose, finding their personal value connection with the values of our business, bringing their work and life paths into one holistic journey. #mylushlife
Reporting to the Assistant Controller, the Senior Accounting Manager undertakes the following RESPONSIBILITIES:
Accounting and Financial Reporting:
- Responsible for the preparation and review of accurate financial reporting for North America (Canada, USA) as it relates to manufacturing and retail operations.
- Own month-end/ year-end close governance and execution, including close calendar ownership, deliverable tracking, and on-time completion.
- Lead the monthly review process, including balance sheet review, income statement analysis, and ensuring reconciling items are understood, resolved, and appropriately escalated.
- Partner cross-functionally with FP&A, Payroll, Tax, and AP leadership to ensure complete and accurate close inputs and outputs.
- Support planning activities by providing high-quality actuals and close insights that feed budgeting and forecasting (for example, trend analysis, key drivers, and variance explanations).
Audit, Group, and External Reporting Leadership
- Facilitate the year-end audit end-to-end for the North America scope: develop the audit timeline, coordinate internal readiness, and serve as the primary point of coordination for auditor requests.
- Lead audit coordination and governance: partner with external auditors to align timelines, manage deliverables across stakeholders, remove blockers, and escalate risks early to ensure audit deadlines are met.
- Connect auditors to the right process owners, coordinate walkthroughs and inquiries, and ensure follow-ups are tracked through to completion.
- Lead the identification, escalation, and resolution of complex accounting and reporting matters, including performing technical accounting research, documenting conclusions, and aligning stakeholders on the path forward.
- Own technical accounting memo ownership where needed to support audit, external reporting, and internal decision-making.
- Provide support to the tax team as it pertains to statutory requests and tax audit support (IRS/CRA and sales tax audits, corporate tax support as needed).
- Support reporting needs to stream owners and UK head office as applicable.
Business Partnering and support:
- Maintain strong working relationships across the business to promote alignment and efficient issue resolution.
- Gain a thorough understanding of stakeholder expectations and leverage accounting resources and knowledge to meet those expectations.
- Develop, analyze, and interpret statistical and accounting information to support reliable decision-making.
- Provide support to the tax team as it pertains to IRS/CRA & sales tax audits, transfer pricing, corporate taxes and any other ad hoc statutory requests.
- Assist with reporting to stream owners and head office in UK where applicable
Process Improvement and Controls:
- Review current accounting processes and identify areas for improvement, standardization, automation, and risk reduction.
- Develop, implement, and maintain procedures, controls, and documentation to create time savings and improve consistency across business units.
People Leadership, Coaching, and Development:
- Set clear expectations and measurable performance standards for the team (close quality, timeliness, reconciliation rigor, audit readiness, and control adherence).
- Coach and develop managers on delegation, review standards, and running an effective operating cadence (weekly priorities, close kickoffs, post-close retrospectives, and structured escalation).
- Build bench strength through cross-training and documented back-ups for critical close, cash forecasting, hedging, and audit coordination tasks.
- Drive role clarity and capability development across the team through recurring 1:1s, targeted feedback, and training plans that improve technical depth and execution over time.
- Ensure the AP function is appropriately governed through the AP Manager (day-to-day ownership sits with the AP Manager; this role focuses on close linkage, controls, and cash forecasting inputs).
You bring the following QUALIFICATIONS:
- Chartered Professional Accountant or equivalent with 7+ years progressive accounting experience post-designation
- Proven experience in high growth multi-national ecommerce and multi-location in the retail or manufacturing industry.
- Proven ability to ensure efficient and accurate day to day accounting tasks are completed while maintaining a view and leading the progress towards the longer-term needs of the business.
- Proven success in training, development of others, and leading and building strong, stable, high-performing teams.
- Accustomed to, and ability to deliver results within a highly seasonal, high pressure production environment.
- Self-motivated and results oriented
- Strong knowledge of or ability to learn and understand business system processes at a detailed level.
- Broad knowledge of information system development processes with a focus on financial, distribution and manufacturing.
- Able to travel domestically and internationally
Thriving with a diverse company culture, celebrating the uniqueness of our staff and committed to inclusion. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer.
We thank all interested applicants; however, only qualified candidates will be contacted.
#LI-IS1 #LI-Hybrid
Job Type: 20-Month Contract, Full Time. Hybrid (3 days in-office)
Location: Must be located in or around Toronto, Ontario.
- Office location: 35 Jutland Road, Etobicoke, Ontario, M8Z 2G6
Recruitment Process Overview:
This salary range is based on an assessment of the local market and may vary depending on the successful candidate's location. This range is based on base salary and does not include additional bonus program and total rewards eligibility.
Base Salary Range
$125,000—$135,000 CAD
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Lush Cosmetics North America respectfully recognizes that our business operates on Indigenous territory across Turtle Island. As a business headquartered in Canada, our largest facilities are located on the unceded territories of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh, as well as here on the lands of the Mississaugas of the Credit, Anishnabeg, Chippewa, Haudenosaunee and Wendat, and now home to many diverse First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples.
Our commitment to reconciliation and decolonization is guided by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action #92. We recognize that our facilities, along with our settler and newcomer staff are guests on this land and as we act to repair past harm, we do it together in ally ship with Indigenous People everywhere, including staff, customers and with leadership from organizations and communities we work with.
