Accountant - Public Practice

Jansen Dewolde Chartered Professional Accountants; Chilliwack; On-site; CAD 83,000 - 124,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Extended health benefits

Professional development opportunities

Fridays off during July and August

Flexible work arrangements

Job summary

Jansen DeWolde Chartered Professional Accountants in Chilliwack, BC, invites a Senior Accountant to join our public-practice team. You will lead year-end engagements, review work, and provide practical tax advice to owner-managed businesses, families, and individuals.

The role emphasizes client communication, professional judgment, and collaboration with other staff. Growth opportunities include client-management and leadership as the firm expands.

Qualifications

• CPA designation required.
• At least three years of recent public-practice accounting experience.
• Five+ years in public-practice preferred.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and review year-end engagements and financial statements.
• Prepare and review corporate and personal tax returns.
• Respond to client questions and provide practical accounting/tax advice.
• Train, mentor, and support staff.
• Manage multiple client engagements and deadlines.
• Develop and maintain client relationships.

Skills

Client communication

Tax planning

Review work

Mentoring staff

Public-practice judgment

Education

Bachelor's degree

CPA designation (Chartered Professional Accountant)

Job description

Senior Accountant / CPA – Public Practice

Jansen DeWolde Chartered Professional Accountants is an established and growing accounting firm based in Chilliwack, British Columbia. We work closely with owner-managed businesses, families, and individuals throughout the Fraser Valley, Alberta, and Saskatchewan.

We are looking for an experienced CPA to join our team in a senior accounting role. This position is well suited to someone who has strong public-practice experience, is comfortable exercising professional judgment, and enjoys working directly with clients and supporting other members of the accounting team.

The successful candidate will assist with reviewing work, answering client questions, preparing and overseeing year-end engagements, and providing practical accounting and tax advice. Over time, there will be opportunities for the successful candidate to assume additional client-management and leadership responsibilities as the firm continues to grow and plans for the gradual retirement of one of its partners.

The Role

This is a hands-on public-practice position involving a combination of year-end preparation, review responsibilities, client communication, tax compliance, tax planning, and staff support.

We are looking for someone who can take ownership of client files, identify issues requiring professional judgment, work through practical solutions, and communicate clearly with both clients and other staff members.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Prepare and review compilation engagements
• Prepare corporate year-end working paper files, financial statements, and corporate income tax returns
• Review personal income tax returns
• Assist with more complex personal and corporate tax matters
• Respond to accounting and tax questions from clients
• Identify practical tax-planning opportunities for individuals and owner-managed businesses
• Assist with tax-planning engagements, including business purchases and sales, corporate reorganizations, succession planning, estate planning, and buy-sell arrangements
• Prepare and review GST returns, trust returns, and estate filings
• Review work prepared by other staff members
• Train, mentor, and provide technical support to other team members
• Manage multiple client engagements and ensure deadlines are met
• Communicate directly with clients regarding outstanding information, engagement results, tax matters, and planning opportunities
• Develop and maintain trusted, long-term client relationships
• Collaborate with the partners and other staff on complex client matters and special projects
• Assist with improving the firm’s internal processes and workflow

Qualifications and Experience

• Canadian CPA designation
• At least three years of recent public-practice accounting experience
• Five or more years of public-practice experience would be preferred
• Strong experience preparing personal and corporate income tax returns
• Experience preparing compilation engagements and corporate year-end files
• Experience reviewing personal tax returns and work prepared by other staff
• Review-engagement experience would be an asset
• Experience with trusts, estates, tax planning, or corporate reorganizations would be an asset
• Strong professional judgment and the ability to identify issues requiring further investigation
• Ability to explain accounting and tax matters clearly and practically
• Strong organizational and time-management skills
• Ability to manage competing priorities and meet deadlines
• Ability to work independently while contributing positively to a collaborative team
• Experience supervising, reviewing, or mentoring staff would be an asset
• A practical, solutions-oriented approach to client service

The Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate is an experienced public-practice accountant who enjoys working directly with clients and wants to play a meaningful role within a smaller firm.

You are comfortable taking ownership of files, answering client questions, and making sound professional judgments. You are also willing to seek input when appropriate and enjoy helping other staff members develop their skills.

You may be looking for more direct client interaction, greater responsibility, and the opportunity to contribute to the ongoing development of an established practice.

Growth and Leadership Opportunities

The immediate focus of this position is to provide experienced accounting, tax, review, and client-service support.

As the successful candidate develops within the firm, there may be opportunities to:

• Assume responsibility for a larger group of client relationships
• Take a more active role in reviewing and overseeing engagements
• Mentor and support staff
• Participate in workflow, staffing, and practice-management decisions
• Contribute to the firm’s longer-term succession and leadership planning

The firm is interested in finding someone who has the ability and ambition to grow into a significant leadership role. The nature and timing of any future advancement would depend on the individual’s performance, professional development, client relationships, leadership ability, and fit with the firm.

Why Join Jansen DeWolde?

We pride ourselves on providing high-quality, practical service to our clients while maintaining a positive, flexible, and supportive work environment.

We offer:

• Competitive compensation based on experience
• Extended health benefits
• Professional development opportunities
• Direct client interaction and meaningful responsibility
• Opportunities to develop tax, advisory, review, and leadership skills
• A collaborative and approachable team environment
• Flexibility for the right candidate
• Fridays off during July and August
• The opportunity to grow with an established and expanding accounting practice

Position Details

• Full-time position
• Some flexibility may be available for the right candidate
• Compensation will depend on experience, qualifications, and the level of responsibility assumed

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $40.00-$60.00 per hour

Benefits:

• Dental care
• Disability insurance
• Extended health care
• Life insurance
• Paid time off

Flexible language requirement:

• French not required

Education:

• Bachelor's Degree (required)

Experience:

• Accounting: 5 years (preferred)

Language:

• English (preferred)

Licence/Certification:

• Chartered Professional Accountant (required)

Work Location: In person