Bookkeeping Manager

Achen Henderson Chartered Accountants; Calgary; Hybrid; CAD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Remote work Canada

Dedicated client portfolio

Team support & systems

Onboarding & training

Job summary

Achen Henderson Chartered Accountants is seeking an experienced Bookkeeping Manager to lead a 15–30 client portfolio within a cloud‑based environment. You will oversee bookkeepers, guide client work, and coordinate with the Director of Bookkeeping for operational direction.

The role emphasizes ownership, accuracy, and strong client relationships, with onboarding in‑office and potential hybrid/remote arrangements based on performance and AH standards.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of bookkeeping experience, ideally in public practice.
• Ability to work accurately and independently within defined systems.
• Strong knowledge of Canadian small‑business tax (GST/HST, payroll, year‑end prep).
• Experience with CRA portals and filings (T4/T5/T5018).
• Proven ability to manage client relationships and collaborate across teams.
• Strong understanding of accounting controls and cleanup processes.
• Proficiency in cloud tools (Xero, QBO, Dext, Hubdoc).
• Highly organized, proactive, and excellent communicator.
• Experience guiding or coaching bookkeepers.

Responsibilities

• Own a portfolio of 15–30 clients with regular client meetings.
• Lead full‑cycle bookkeeping for a subset and supervise teammates.
• Coordinate year‑end with the tax team (T2s, GST/HST, payroll).
• Apply accounting controls to ensure accuracy and AH standards.
• Review bookkeepers’ work for accuracy and completeness.
• Hire, onboard, and train new bookkeepers.
• Support onboarding of new clients and document workflows.
• Escalate risks to the Director of Bookkeeping as needed.
• Collaborate with tax advisors and firm leadership.
• Ensure timely deliverables following established workflows.

Skills

Bookkeeping

Client relationships

Cloud tools

Coaching

Team leadership

Tools

Xero

QBO

Dext

Hubdoc

Job description

We’re Hiring: GURU Bookkeeping Manager – Achen Henderson Chartered Professional Accountants
Reports to: Director of Bookkeeping

Achen Henderson (AH) is seeking an experienced, detail‑driven Bookkeeping Manager to join our fast‑growing GURU bookkeeping team. This is a long‑term opportunity for professionals who value meaningful client ownership, enjoy leading and overseeing bookkeepers on assigned client files, and want to work in a modern, cloud‑based accounting environment.

This role is ideally in‑office during the onboarding and training period to ensure a strong start and seamless integration with our team and systems. After successful onboarding and demonstrated performance, a hybrid or remote arrangement may be considered based on team needs and alignment with AH standards. Fully remote may also be available for exceptional candidates.

As a Bookkeeping Manager, you will manage a small, dedicated book of 15–30 clients, while also reviewing and overseeing the work of bookkeepers supporting those files. This role works closely with and supports the Director of Bookkeeping, who provides department‑level leadership, technology oversight, and operational direction.

The Role: What You’ll Do

As a Bookkeeping Manager, your work will focus on client ownership, quality control, and providing direction to bookkeepers working on your assigned files.

Client Ownership (Your Own Portfolio)

• Serve as the primary point of contact for a portfolio of 15–30 clients, ensuring clear communication, well‑managed expectations, and exceptional client service. Lead regular client meetings and maintain strong, professional relationships.
• Lead full‑cycle bookkeeping for a subset of clients while overseeing and reviewing the bookkeeping work completed by team members across your full client group. Responsibilities include month‑end close, reconciliations, clean‑ups, and preparation of accurate financial reports.
• Prepare complete and accurate year‑end files, and coordinate with the tax team on T2s, GST/HST, payroll, and required adjustments to ensure seamless year‑end processing.
• Apply strong accounting controls to maintain clean, consistent, and well‑documented client books, ensuring accuracy, reliability, and adherence to AH standards.

Oversite of Bookkeepers

• Review and approve the work completed by bookkeepers on your assigned client files, ensuring accuracy, completeness, and full adherence to AH standards and processes.
• Support the hiring, onboarding, and training of new bookkeepers, helping them integrate smoothly into AH’s systems, tools, and expectations.
• Provide ongoing coaching, clarification, and guidance to bookkeepers to strengthen their technical skills, judgment, and overall performance.
• Conduct regular check‑ins with bookkeepers and participate in quarterly performance reviews to support development, address challenges, and maintain accountability.
• Ensure that all deliverables for your client portfolio are completed on time, following established workflows and maintaining AH’s high‑quality service standards.
• Identify file‑specific risks or issues early, resolving what you can and escalating broader or systemic concerns to the Director of Bookkeeping when necessary.

Workflow Execution & Collaboration

• Collaborate closely with the GURU Bookkeeping team on client deliverables, historical clean‑ups, and cloud‑based migrations to ensure smooth transitions and high‑quality outcomes.
• Lead the onboarding of new clients by setting up and documenting workflows, integrations, and systems using AH’s cloud tools, and manage the seamless handoff to a bookkeeper once the file is running smoothly.
• Assist with scoping and renewals for new and existing clients, ensuring service levels, pricing, and expectations remain aligned. Respond to file‑specific bookkeeping and accounting questions, and elevate cross‑team technical or capacity issues where appropriate.
• Recommend process improvements to the Director when recurring issues, inefficiencies, or system gaps are identified, contributing to continuous improvement across the department.

Team & Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Collaborate closely with bookkeepers, the tax team, and firm leadership to deliver seamless, high‑quality service across all client engagements.
• Communicate proactively with the Director of Bookkeeping regarding capacity, emerging risks, client status, and any support needed to maintain service excellence.

Who We’re Looking For

You are a highly capable bookkeeping professional who thrives on structure, clarity, and client ownership while guiding others at the file level.

Must Have Qualifications

• 10+ years of bookkeeping experience, ideally in public practice
• Ability to work accurately and independently within defined systems
• Strong knowledge of Canadian small‑business tax (GST/HST, payroll, year‑end prep)
• Experience with CRA portals and filings (T4/T5/T5018)
• Proven ability to manage client relationships and collaborate across teams
• Strong understanding of accounting controls and cleanup processes
• Proficiency in cloud tools (Xero, QBO, Dext, Hubdoc)
• Highly organized, proactive, and excellent communicator
• Experience guiding or coaching bookkeepers

Nice to Have

• Experience working in a multidisciplinary environment
• Experience with fractional controllership or CFO services such as cash flow reporting, forecasting and budgeting

What We Offer

• Full remote position within Canada
• Ownership of a dedicated portfolio of 15-30 clients
• Strong support from the GURU Bookkeeping team, tax advisors, and workflow systems
• Comprehensive onboarding and training to help you be successful quickly

About GURU by Achen Henderson

GURU is AH’s cloud based, flat rate virtual finance department providing bookkeeping, payroll, AR/AP, GST/HST, and yearend coordination. You will play a central role in delivering accurate, timely financial insights that help entrepreneurs grow with confidence.‑based, flat‑rate virtual finance department providing bookkeeping, payroll, AR/AP, GST/HST, and year‑end coordination. You will play a central role in delivering accurate, timely financial insights that help entrepreneurs grow with confidence.

Who Thrives in This Role?

• Experienced bookkeepers who want meaningful client ownership
• Public practice professionals seeking stable, structured work without long tax seasons
• Individuals who thrive in a high accountability, cloud-accounting environment‑accountability, cloud-accounting environment
• Professionals wanting a balanced, long‑term role with growth potential

Our Vision

Experts who own their craft and their outcomes. A team-of-teams that deliver unparalleled results.

Our Core Values

• Own the Craft – Deliver exceptional, polished work with clear communication and efficient execution.
• Own the Outcome – Be accountable, address issues early, and consistently deliver on expectations.
• Team-of-Teams – Collaborate openly, share context, and bring in the right expertise when needed.
• Make Meaning – Lead with purpose, care for others, and strengthen the community around us.

Take ownership of your time, your clients, and your future. Join one of Canada’s most forward-thinking accounting firms and help us build something better—for your clients and for yourself.