Accounting Manager

Smart & Biggar; Ottawa; On-site; CAD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Smart & Biggar, a leading firm in intellectual property law, seeks an Accounting Manager for their National Finance Team in Ottawa. The role demands a proactive individual skilled in financial reporting and compliance, offering a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits in a collaborative environment.

Benefits

Flexible benefits program

Personal days for work-life balance

Employee referral program

Qualifications

• 5+ years of progressive accounting and financial analysis experience.
• Strong understanding of internal controls and accounting best practices.
• Experience with financial reporting and coordination of audits.

Responsibilities

• Lead month-end and year-end close processes.
• Oversee general ledger accounting and account reconciliations.
• Prepare and review financial statements for submission.

Skills

Analytical skills

Problem-solving skills

Attention to detail

Organizational skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or related field

CPA designation

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Dynamics 365

Job description

What We Do.

Smart & Biggar has been at the forefront of intellectual property (IP) and technology law for over 125 years. We practice in every area of IP on behalf of an exceptional international clientele, and we are consistently ranked as Canada’s leading IP firm. We are committed to hiring people with different backgrounds and experience, who represent the best talent in their field.

We are part of the IPH Group. IPH Limited is the holding company for intellectual property (“IP”) and associated companies offering a wide range of IP services and products. IPH companies employ a highly skilled multidisciplinary team of over 1,200 people in Australia, Canada, China, Hong Kong SAR, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, and Thailand. IPH companies service a diverse client base of Fortune Global 500 companies, multinationals, public sector research organizations, SMEs, and professional services firms worldwide.

We are passionate about what we do and what we can achieve. The IPH Group is committed to promoting and maintaining a workplace culture of shared respect across companies to enable us all to feel valued and be the best we can be.

The Opportunity.

Smart & Biggar is currently looking for an Accounting Manager to join our National Finance Team. The successful candidate will be a proactive, collaborative team player who thrives in a fast-paced environment.

You will play a key role in financial reporting, month-end and year-end close, audits, internal controls, and financial system implementations.

Responsibilities.

• Lead and manage the month-end and year-end close processes, including preparation and review of journal entries related to banking transactions, intercompany billings, expense allocations, and accruals.
• Oversee general ledger accounting, account reconciliations, and vendor master data management.
• Prepare and review financial statements for submission to the Director of Finance.
• Perform monthly and quarterly financial reporting and variance analysis against budget and forecast.
• Support the budgeting and forecasting processes, including the development of financial metrics to enhance business performance and enable data-driven decision-making.
• Maintain and validate internal controls to ensure the integrity of financial processes and compliance with standards.
• Coordinate and manage external and internal audit processes to ensure timely and compliant outcomes.
• Assist with indirect tax compliance, including preparation and submission of sales tax filings.
• Document, implement, and communicate financial policies, procedures, and best practices.
• Maintain open and effective communication with finance leadership and cross-functional teams to ensure alignment across departments.
• Other duties may be assigned or amended as required
  
  

Qualifications, Competencies And Experience.

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or related field
• CPA designation (Chartered Professional Accountant) required
• 5+ years of progressive accounting and financial analysis experience
• Strong understanding of internal controls and accounting best practices
• Proven expertise in general ledger accounting, account reconciliations, budgeting, forecasting, and variance analysis
• Experience with financial reporting and coordination of audits
• Familiarity with IFRS accounting standards (considered an asset)
• Experience with vendor master data and sales tax compliance
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Highly organized, detail-oriented, and able to manage multiple priorities in a high-volume environment
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel; experience with Microsoft Dynamics 365 is a strong asset
  
  

No recruiters or agencies please.

Smart & Biggar offers a comprehensive total rewards package including:

• A competitive compensation structure based on transparency, clarity and fairness;
• A flexible benefits program;
• Personal days to help balance personal and professional commitments;
• Employee referral program.
  
  

Smart & Biggar is a proud member of the Law Firm Diversity and Inclusion Network (LFDIN), working to promote diversity and encourage a culture of inclusion in our Firm and the broader legal profession.

We welcome applications from all qualified individuals. Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process.

We thank all applicants in advance for their interest; however, only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.