PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS COUNSEL (Regulatory Prosecutor) (15+ Years’ Experience)

NagataCONNEX Executive Legal Search; Toronto; Hybrid; CAD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

CPA Ontario is seeking a Professional Standards Counsel (Regulatory Prosecutor) to join its legal team. The role involves prosecuting misconduct before Discipline and Appeal Committees and courts, providing legal advice to the Professional Conduct Committee, and overseeing investigations.

The position requires leading investigators and shaping enforcement policy, with a flexible hybrid work arrangement at CPA Ontario's offices in Toronto.

Qualifications

• Minimum 15+ years of litigation experience in a regulatory or related setting.
• Experience handling investigations and prosecutions, preferably in a regulated industry.

Responsibilities

• Prosecute allegations of professional misconduct before committees and courts.
• Provide legal advice to the Professional Conduct Committee and other departments.
• Oversee investigations, appoint investigators, and review investigation reports.
• Formulate policies and strategies and guide staff in enforcement initiatives.
• Advise internal stakeholders and represent CPA Ontario in regulatory prosecutions.

Skills

Litigation experience

Regulatory enforcement

Tribunal advocacy

Legal writing

Negotiation skills

Job description

Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario (“CPA Ontario”) protects the public interest by ensuring our members meet the highest standards of integrity and expertise. We ensure that our 105,000 members and 19,000 students stay ahead of global market trends and abreast of regulatory changes. CPA Ontario represents a globally recognized, premium designation. Our Chartered Professional Accountants are valued by organizations in a wide range of positions in public accounting, business, finance, government, not-for-profits and academia.

CPA Ontario is currently seeking a Professional Standards Counsel (Regulatory Prosecutor) to join its legal team. Reporting directly to the Senior Vice President, Enforcement, you will prosecute allegations of professional misconduct before the Discipline and Appeal Committees of CPA Ontario and before the courts, provide legal advice to the Professional Conduct Committee, and oversee investigations. This role may also involve Provincial Offences Act prosecutions for misuse of the CPA designation. In addition, your responsibilities will include appointing investigators, reviewing and supervising investigator reports, providing direction and advice to investigators and other intake professionals, formulating and applying policies and strategies, and providing legal advice to other departments within CPA Ontario. CPA Ontario offers a flexible hybrid work arrangement and is currently located at Yonge & Bloor.

The ideal candidate will have a minimum of 15+ years of litigation experience (preferably prosecution or on the plaintiff side) gained at a regulatory body, government Ministry, law firm, or corporation within a regulated industry. Experience assuming independent carriage of investigation and prosecution files, and prior experience with the disciplinary process of self-regulating professions or criminal prosecutions is preferred. As well, comfort advocating before tribunals and courts, and knowledge of administrative law will be important. You will need to have strong communication, judgment, interpersonal, presentation, public speaking, and negotiation skills. Excellent organization, multi-tasking and leadership skills with prior experience working in a high volume, deadline-driven environment will also be considered an asset. This position is for an active, existing job vacancy.

At CPA Ontario, we are committed to building high-performance teams with professionals who are collaborative, innovative and passionate within an environment that values work/life balance. CPA Ontario prioritizes inclusivity to bring together the best talent to protect the public, advance the profession and enable CPAs to lead business and society forward. This role will be provided excellent mentorship, with opportunities for advancement in the future.