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

NagataCONNEX Executive Legal Search; Toronto; Hybrid; CAD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

CPA Ontario is seeking a Professional Standards Counsel (Regulatory Prosecutor) to join its legal team. You will prosecute allegations of professional misconduct before the Discipline and Appeal Committees and the courts, and provide legal advice to the Professional Conduct Committee.

The ideal candidate has 15+ years of litigation experience in regulated industries, with independent handling of investigations, knowledge of administrative law, and strong advocacy before tribunals.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 15+ years of litigation experience.
• Experience with regulatory bodies or government ministries, or self-regulating professions within a regulated industry.
• Experience handling investigations and prosecutions independently.
• Familiarity with disciplinary processes and criminal prosecutions.
• Ability to advocate before tribunals and courts; strong communication and negotiation skills.
• Excellent organization and leadership in a deadline-driven environment.

Responsibilities

• Prosecute allegations of professional misconduct before the Discipline and Appeal Committees and courts.
• Provide legal advice to the Professional Conduct Committee.
• Oversee investigations: appoint investigators, review reports, and guide intake professionals.
• Formulate and apply policies and strategies; advise other departments within CPA Ontario.
• Potential Provincial Offences Act prosecutions may be involved.

Skills

Litigation experience

Regulatory prosecutions

Independent investigations

Tribunal & court advocacy

Administrative law knowledge

Communication & negotiation

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.