Senior Accountant

Distinct | North America; Burlington; Hybrid; CAD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid flexibility

Direct client contact

Long-term progression

Partnership potential

Job summary

Distinct | North America in Burlington, Ontario is seeking a Senior Accountant with a strong assurance background to own audit, review and compilation engagements while deepening client relationships. The role offers hybrid flexibility and potential long-term progression.

You will work on established client portfolios, including leveraging transitions to take on more accounts and contribute to corporate tax work where required. CPA designation or near completion is expected.

Qualifications

• 3–5+ years of Canadian public accounting experience.
• Strong audit and review experience.
• Experience working with privately owned businesses.
• Strong ASPE knowledge.
• Comfortable managing engagements from start to finish.
• Experience reviewing or mentoring junior staff.
• Compilation and corporate tax exposure would be valuable.
• Existing client relationships or a small book of business would be an advantage, but are not essential.

Responsibilities

• Lead audit and review engagements.
• Prepare and review compilation files.
• Handle engagements from planning through completion.
• Work directly with clients.
• Prepare and review financial statements.
• Identify and resolve accounting and assurance issues.
• Support corporate tax work where required.
• Mentor and develop less experienced team members.
• Manage engagement deadlines and workflow.
• Gradually take greater ownership of client relationships.
• Potentially take responsibility for additional accounts over time.

Skills

Audit experience

Client relationships

Mentoring junior staff

Engagement management

ASPE knowledge

Corporate tax exposure

Education

CPA designation or close to completion

Job description

There comes a point where being good at files is no longer enough.

The more interesting question is whether you’re starting to build something of your own.

This Senior Accountant opportunity is with an established Burlington CPA firm looking for someone with a strong assurance background who can take ownership of audit, review and compilation engagements while building deeper client relationships over time.

There is also an interesting longer-term succession angle. The firm has established client portfolios that could gradually transition to the right person, including approximately $400K–$500K of compilation, corporate and tax work alongside roughly $250K of assurance-related revenue.

The role is primarily connected to the Burlington office, with some flexibility to work from home depending on client commitments and the needs of the team.

Why this role stands out:

• Hybrid flexibility
• Strong audit and assurance exposure
• Review and compilation engagements
• Direct client contact
• Opportunity to take on additional client relationships
• Close access to senior leadership
• Long-term progressionPotential future leadership or partnership opportunity
• Established client portfolios that may transition over time

What you’ll be doing:

• Lead audit and review engagements
• Prepare and review compilation files
• Handle engagements from planning through completion
• Work directly with clients
• Prepare and review financial statements
• Identify and resolve accounting and assurance issues
• Support corporate tax work where required
• Mentor and develop less experienced team members
• Manage engagement deadlines and workflow
• Gradually take greater ownership of client relationships
• Potentially take responsibility for additional accounts over time

What they’re looking for:

• CPA designation or close to completion
• 3–5+ years of Canadian public accounting experience
• Strong audit and review experience
• Experience working with privately owned businesses
• Strong ASPE knowledge
• Comfortable managing engagements from start to finish
• Experience reviewing or mentoring junior staff
• Compilation and corporate tax exposure would be valuable
• Existing client relationships or a small book of business would be an advantage, but are not essential

We support the CPA firms we partner with in building diverse, inclusive and equitable workplaces. Even if this role isn’t the perfect fit, there’s a good chance we’ll have another opportunity that is.