Finance & Operations Controller

I build the engine
that runs underneath.

14+ Years | Bookkeeping | Controls | People Ops | AI-Native Accounting

I design the financial and operational infrastructure that lets leadership stop firefighting and start deciding — full-cycle accounting, audit-ready controls, and the systems that quietly free up everyone's time.

14+
Years in Finance & Ops
80%
Faster Onboarding
(3 Wks → 3 Days)
100%
CEO Time Reclaimed
for Strategy
45
Client Portfolios
Under Review
// 01 — Philosophy

The engine, not the dashboard.

Most finance hires keep the lights on. I build the wiring behind the wall — the close process, the controls, the documentation — so the numbers on the dashboard can actually be trusted. That's been the throughline across 14+ years: controllership and operations management, wherever the work has taken me.

As Junior Controller at Novanni Stainless, that meant owning the general ledger, month-end close, and bank reconciliations at 99% accuracy — and coordinating external audits that closed with zero major findings. At Convergence Blended Finance, it meant rebuilding financial controls and reporting structures until close stopped being a fire drill. At Canyon Entertainment Group, it meant standing up an entire People Operations function from a blank page so the CEO never had to think about it again.

Now, as Controller at Otterz, an AI-native accounting firm, it means owning a portfolio of client files while reviewing 45 more across a five-accountant team — applying the same controllership discipline at a larger scale, with AI-driven workflows built in from the start.

BaseToronto, Ontario, Canada
Core stackQuickBooks Online/Desktop, Xero, Sage 300
SpecialtyFull-cycle bookkeeping, controls, audit readiness, operations management
CurrentlyController, Otterz — AI-native accounting
LanguagesRussian, Armenian, Spanish
// 02 — Operations

The systems behind the systems.

Beyond the numbers — the trackers, processes, and people systems built to keep a finance team running without friction.

Client Master Tracker
Built a portfolio-wide Google Sheets/Excel system linking a KPI dashboard, bookkeeper task manager, and a financial-statement readiness queue — giving leadership a single live view of every client's status.
Compliance & Close Tracking
Designed an automated status formula to monitor monthly client-meeting compliance windows, flagging gaps before they became missed deadlines.
Hiring Systems
Designed a four-round interview process and job postings for accounting roles — structured to assess technical skill and team fit consistently, not just on gut feel.
Team Culture & Morale
Authored a culture proposal for leadership built around recognition and morale initiatives, and led an internal presentation addressing reconciliation gaps, task hygiene, and communication breakdowns across the team.
Reporting Cadence
Built a structured Slack status-update rhythm across three work zones — client portfolio, reviewer, and operations — so progress and blockers stay visible without status meetings.
Health Alert Tracking
Built an automated Excel health-alert tracker that surfaces at-risk client accounts from key metrics, so issues get caught before they reach the close.
// 03 — Track Record

Where the systems got built.

A working history of standing up financial infrastructure, fixing what was broken, and shipping audits with zero major findings.

Controller Current

05/2026 — Present
Otterz / Remote — AI-native accounting firm
  • Manage a portfolio of 7 client files end-to-end: bookkeeping, reconciliations, month-end close, and financial reporting.
  • Serve as reviewer for 45 client portfolios across a team of five accountants, holding the line on accuracy and close deadlines.
  • Partner with product and technology teams to shape AI-driven bookkeeping workflows, feeding real-world accounting scenarios into model development.
  • Analyze financial data to identify trends, optimize processes, and deliver actionable insights for strategic decisions.
  • Work across banking, payroll, payment, and revenue recognition platforms to keep integrations accurate.
  • Build and maintain operational dashboards, KPI trackers, and centralized databases tracking portfolio health and team performance.
  • Maintain compliance with accounting standards and regulatory requirements across all client files.

People Operations Manager [contract]

01/2025 — 11/2025
Canyon Entertainment Group / Toronto, Canada
  • Launched a new division from scratch — workflows, hiring systems, admin processes — freeing 100% of the CEO's time for strategic work.
  • Cut onboarding ramp-up 80%, from 3 weeks to 3 days, via streamlined documentation and training workflows.
  • Standardized HR/ops documents (NDAs, contracts, onboarding packages), tightening compliance and cutting admin follow-ups.
  • Elevated quality of hire and candidate experience, improving alignment and retention.
  • Implemented recognition and feedback programs that lifted morale, collaboration, and employee development.

Senior Associate, Finance & Operations [interim]

12/2022 — 01/2024
Convergence Blended Finance, Inc. / Toronto, Ontario
  • Partnered with the CFO to rebuild financial controls and reporting structures, raising operational transparency.
  • Administered subscription contracts, commercial agreements, and incoming grants — 100% donor-compliance.
  • Coordinated annual audit prep; delivered a successful audit with zero major findings.
  • Managed end-to-end accounting operations (GL, reconciliations, reporting), cutting month-end close delays.
  • Delivered monthly and quarterly financial reports that directly shaped leadership's strategic planning.
  • Oversaw HR operations — payroll, benefits, documentation — with full compliance for all employees.

Project Accounting Assistant

09/2022 — 11/2022
Pro-Art Laboratories, Ltd. / Toronto, Ontario
  • Supported the Head Accountant in preparing documentation for a comprehensive external audit.
  • Organized financial records and compiled key data and reports for audit review.

Junior Controller

03/2019 — 12/2021
Novanni Stainless, Ltd. / Toronto, Ontario
  • Coordinated external audits, delivering zero major findings each cycle.
  • Reconciled high-volume bank accounts at 99% accuracy monthly, catching anomalies early.
  • Directed month-, quarter-, and year-end close, hitting 100% of deadlines under reporting standards.
  • Resolved accounting discrepancies and streamlined reporting workflows across teams.
  • Maintained the general ledger and chart of accounts; ran journal entries, account analysis, and full balance sheet reconciliations.

Independent Contractor

05/2018 — 09/2019
Reconciled / Toronto
  • Ran full-cycle financial operations — budgeting, bookkeeping, reconciliations, reporting — for fast-growing startups.
  • Reconstructed 2.5+ years of historical financial data and worked with external auditors to position a client for IPO consideration.
  • Managed Canadian and U.S. subsidiaries, establishing multi-state payroll, tax, and employer-registration compliance.

Bookkeeper [contract]

10/2017 — 01/2018
United Registrar of Systems, Ltd. / Burlington, Ontario
  • Processed high-volume invoices, deposits, and daily transactions with 100% protocol adherence.
  • Built a QuickBooks system from the ground up for precise income and expense tracking.

Junior General Accountant

05/2014 — 09/2016
The Password Group Inc. / Hamilton, Ontario
  • Ran detailed account and bank reconciliations across multiple accounts.
  • Delivered monthly financial statements that directly informed leadership decisions.
// 04 — Toolkit

What's on the panel.

The platforms and disciplines that keep the engine running — every switch flipped on through 14+ years of use.

QuickBooks Online/Desktop
Xero
Sage 300
Ceridian Wagepoint
QuickBooks Payroll
Expensify
Plooto
Google Sheets
Cloud Technology Management
Financial Department Management
Process Improvement & Optimization
Safeguarding C-Suite's Time
Russian
Native / Bilingual
Armenian
Professional
Spanish
Limited
// 05 — Education

Foundations.

Diploma — Accounting
McMaster University, Hamilton
01/2012 — 12/2012
Bachelor's Degree — Commerce
McMaster University, Hamilton
09/2007 — 08/2011