Sue Ross

CFO

Sue is a people-focused, adaptable Finance and Operations leader based in Ottawa, Ontario, with a proven track record of driving growth and success for small to medium-sized organizations. With diverse experience across industries—from publishing and education to non-profits and professional services—Sue combines a forward-looking approach with a passion for operational excellence and employee engagement.

Specializing in virtual and fractional CFO services, Sue supports businesses in the Greater Ottawa area, delivering strategic financial leadership to optimize performance and drive sustainable growth.

Track record highlights

Led a comprehensive digital transformation across cybersecurity, Salesforce, and research grant management systems, optimizing the tracking and management of over $25M in government funding.
Developed and standardized reporting protocols for the $11.6M Bio Create startup funding program, ensuring efficient tracking and compliance.
Spearheaded a robust internal employee engagement strategy, fostering a strong company culture that maintained a 4.4/5 rating, even during the pandemic.
Led the successful migration of the accounting system to Microsoft Dynamics, cutting monthly financial reporting time by 40%.
Oversaw the seamless consolidation of two school locations into one, while managing the build-out and occupancy of two new corporate offices.
Secured $500K in funding for the school relocation and construction project, ensuring successful execution and growth.
Led finance, HR, and operations (including IT) through a successful acquisition by a $1B US-based company, establishing comprehensive reporting processes and metrics for seamless integration with the new parent organization.

Sector Experience

Services: Founded and led a proprietary consulting firm serving major multinational clients across pharma, manufacturing, financial services, and telecommunications sectors.
Technology-Media-Telecoms: Tax Director overseeing international tax strategy for a prominent book publisher, a nationwide Canadian newspaper, and a digital media publisher.
Not-for-profit: Administrator for French Immersion private school charity; Led strategic planning, project management, and governance structure review for a major foundation in the Greater Toronto Area, driving operational efficiency and long-term growth; Managed government-funded grant allocation for a genetics research organization, ensuring effective distribution and compliance with funding guidelines.

Sue's specialist skills

Budgeting & Forecasting

Skilled in budgeting, forecasting, and financial monitoring for small to medium-sized organizations.

Cash flow Improvement

Expert in daily cash flow management, forecasting, and enhancing cash flow stability and predictability.

People Manager

Extensive HR experience in recruitment, employee engagement, career development, performance management, and benefits administration.

Leadership

Trusted leader with a proven track record in staff development, engagement, and practical problem-solving.

Strategic Thinker

Innovative thinker who asks the right questions to senior leaders, ensuring strategic decisions align with both company goals and employee needs.

Unlock your business’s potential – schedule your free discovery call

Need to speak to us right away?

1-800-918-1906

Schedule your free discovery call

We're committed to your privacy. The CFO Centre uses the information you provide to us to contact you about our relevant content, products, and services. You may unsubscribe from these communications at any time. For more information, check out our Privacy Policy.