CPA ASSOCIATE

City of Toronto; Toronto; On-site; CAD 65,000 - 91,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Toronto is seeking CPA Associates for a 30-month rotational program within Finance and Treasury Services. You will gain experience across Accounting Services, Financial Planning, and possibly Internal Audit while preparing for CPA examinations.

Two rotations emphasize practical accounting, budgeting, and analytics, with training and study supports provided to help you qualify as a Chartered Professional Accountant.

Qualifications

• Post-secondary undergraduate degree required; CPA path required.
• Admission to CPA Ontario; enrollment in CPA Professional Program.
• Foundational Development module for CPA track; CPA exams supported by employer.
• Transcripts may be requested later in process.
• Excellent time and project management skills to handle multiple projects.
• Strong presentation skills for communicating to stakeholders.
• Analytical skills for data analysis, financial planning, and reporting.
• Ability to collaborate with divisional staff, senior management, and other stakeholders.
• Proficient with Word, Excel, PowerPoint; SAP experience a plus.

Responsibilities

• Participate in rotational assignments across Accounting Services, Financial Planning, and Internal Audit.
• Assist in planning, scope, and reporting for audits and financial reviews.
• Develop and review accounting policies, financial statements, and disclosures.
• Support budget development, forecasting, and financial planning analyses.
• Prepare concise working papers, reports, and executive summaries for stakeholders.
• Contribute to process improvements, internal controls, and cost management.

Education

Post-secondary undergraduate degree meets CPA Professional Program requirements

Admission to CPA Ontario

CPA Professional Program enrollment/Foundational Development module

Post-secondary transcripts may be provided upon request

Strong time and project management

Excellent presentation skills

Strong analytical skills

Ability to work with diverse groups

Proficient computer skills (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SAP)

Tools

SAP

Job description

Job Category: Finance, Accounting & Purchasing

Division & Section: Finance and Treasury Services
Work Location: City Hall, 100 Queen St. W . , Toronto, ON M5H 2N2
Job Type & Duration: Full-time, Temporary Vacancies (30 Months)
Salary Range: $64,529.00 - $91,111.00
Shift Information: Monday-Friday, 35 hours per week
Affiliation: Non-Union
Number of Positions Open: 2
Posting Period: 29-Sep-2026 to 13-Oct-2026

The City of Toronto is Canada's largest municipality serving 2 . 9+ million residents & thousands of communities in Toronto . We have consistently been named one of Canada's Top 100 Employers . As a leading public sector employer, the City of Toronto provides meaningful opportunities for aspiring professionals to develop their skills while contributing to the communities we serve.

An exciting pathway for building this experience is the Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) Rotational Program, which is currently recruiting for CPA Associate positions. Over a 30-month term, this program will provide CPA Associates with the experience needed to qualify as a Chartered Professional Accountant.

In alignment with the new CPA Professional Program which will launch in January 2027, CPA Associates will gain professional experience through two rotational assignments in either Accounting Services or Financial Planning, with an optional rotation in Internal Audit . The City of Toronto also supports CPA Associates in preparing for CPA examinations by providing training and study support, including ample study leave for preparing for and writing exams.

Information Session - Join Us!

If you are interested in learning more about the CPA Associate role, you can participate in a virtual information session with City of Toronto CPA Program staff on October 8, 2026 from 4pm – 4:45pm.

Please register to participate in the information session using this

Major Responsibilities:

As a CPA Associate at the City of Toronto, you will participate in rotational assignments across three divisions, with primary practical experience rotations in either the Accounting Services Division or Financial Planning Division, followed by a secondary rotation in the remaining primary division or Internal Audit, based on organizational requirements.

Details of the CPA Associate’s responsibilities for each division are noted below:

Accounting Services Division

• Research, interpret, and apply new and/or revised Public Sector Accounting Standards (PSAS) to complex and non-routine accounting transactions and consolidated financial statements.
• Analyze and provide recommendations of appropriate accounting treatment for complex accounting matters.
• Support the development, implementation, and ongoing review of corporate accounting policies, and financial reporting practices to ensure compliance with applicable accounting standards and relevant legislation.
• Contribute to the preparation of the annual financial statements and reporting requirements, including the consolidation of relevant agencies, corporations and other consolidated entities.
• Prepare and evaluate relevant financial statement accounts and note disclosures and ratios for routine and non-routine financial statement elements and reporting.
• Assist in the preparation of ad hoc financial analysis, staff reports, and presentations for submission to City executives, Committees or Council.
• Investigate significant fluctuations in financial results and general ledger balances, identify root causes, and provide recommendations to management for compliance with PSAS.
• Assist the Supervisor or Manager with various tasks/operational requests and attend meetings where confidential financial information is discussed.
• Support the development of corporate budget systems/ reporting tools that support strategic corporate and political decision-making.
• Assess and challenge budget assumptions, revenue projections, expenditure forecasts, staffing plans, economic assumptions, and service delivery impacts using historical trends and analytical techniques.
• Assist in the preparation of corporate and divisional financial planning and analysis for capital/operating budget estimates and submissions that align with council directives, corporate guidelines, and City service and operational needs based on the most cost-effective use of City resources.
• Perform multi-year financial forecasting, scenario analysis, and sensitivity analysis to evaluate financial sustainability and support strategic planning initiatives.
• Support the development of strategic approaches, analytical techniques, and fiscally sustainable solutions to meet the City's fiscal challenges/opportunities, including cost containment, full cost recovery, and revenue maximization.
• Analyze costs and revenues for both operating and capital budgets, including resources required to deliver identified services and appropriate business case analysis.
• Supports cash flow forecast validation to monitor and report on the City's overall cash availability.
• Review budget impact on programs/agencies' service delivery and performance measures and prepare finding summaries that guide the City's strategic objective discussions.

Internal Audit Division

• Assist in the planning and execution of risk-based audits by contributing to the development of audit objectives, scope, criteria, report writing, findings, recommendations and audit reports.
• Conduct audit procedures in accordance with approved audit plans, including interviews, process walkthroughs, control testing, documents reviews, data analysis, site visits, etc.) to assess the effectiveness of governance, risk management, and internal control processes.
• Perform financial, operational, compliance and performance reviews across the City of Toronto to evaluate the reliability of information, effectiveness of the internal control environment, and compliance with applicable legislation, organizational policies and procedures.
• Support the planning, coordination and execution of audits for the organization's major business and accounting processes to identify control weaknesses, opportunities for process improvement including cost savings and improvements to the efficiency/effectiveness of operations.
• Assess the design and operating effectiveness of internal controls and provide recommendations to strengthen risk management practices, enhance accountability, and support achievement of organizational objectives, ensuring they are in accordance with City by-laws, policies, and best practices.
• Prepare concise, well-documented audit working papers, reports, executive summaries, and presentations that communicate audit results, conclusions, and recommendations to stakeholders at all levels of management.
• Effectively present audit observations and recommendations to management and be able to support discussions regarding corrective action plans to improve controls, mitigate risks, and enhance business processes.

Key Qualifications:

• Post-secondary undergraduate degree that meets the qualifications for enrollment into the new CPA Professional Program (meet the requirements to begin at minimum the Foundational Development module)
• Post-secondary transcripts may need to be provided upon request.
• Admission to the CPA Professional Program and in good standing with CPA Ontario.
• Experience leading and participating in extracurricular activities.
• Experience conducting research, data analysis, and summarizing findings for various audiences.
• Excellent time and project management skills to successfully complete multiple projects concurrently, meet deadlines and work with diverse groups
• Ability to apply critical thinking, professional skepticism, and sound judgement when analyzing financial information, evaluating assumptions, and developing recommendations.
• Strong investigative skills to identify and evaluate inconsistencies, emerging risks, and unusual trends, and communicate findings to stakeholders.
• Excellent presentation skills to prepare and communicate clear, concise, and audience-appropriate reports, presentations, and briefing materials for financial and non-financial stakeholders of all levels of the organization.
• Ability to work effectively as a team member and build collaborative relationships with divisional staff, senior management, and other stakeholders to support better support decision-making activities.
• Proficient computer skills to use a variety of software packages (e.g. Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SAP).
• Effective decision-making, conflict resolution and problem-solving skills with a results-oriented approach and strong customer service orientation.

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
The City is an equal opportunity employer, dedicated to creating a workplace culture of inclusiveness that reflects the diverse residents that we serve. Learn more about the City’s commitment to employment equity .