Senior Accountant

Co-operators; Guelph; Hybrid; CAD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A Canadian financial services co-operative is seeking a Senior Accountant responsible for managing complex financial reporting and accounting projects. This role requires a CPA designation and a minimum of five years of relevant experience. The ideal candidate will demonstrate strong analytical skills, effective communication, and an innovative approach to process improvement. The position offers a hybrid work model, flexible options, and a commitment to employee well-being, alongside opportunities for professional growth.

Benefits

Training and development opportunities

Flexible work options

Health programs

Volunteer opportunities

Qualifications

• Minimum five years accounting/financial statement preparation experience.
• Solid understanding of reporting for life or property and casualty insurers.
• Ability to analyze reported data to recognize and correct significant errors.

Responsibilities

• Manage contributions to the reporting process from various companies.
• Prepare journal entries for complex activities like reinsurance and actuarial calculations.
• Review and analyze reporting and account balances for accuracy.

Skills

Innovative thinking

Strong communication

Critical thinking

Relationship building

Education

CPA - CMA, CGA or CA designation

Tools

Spreadsheet software

Database literacy

Word processing software

Job description

Company: CGL
Department: Finance
Employment Type: Temporary Full-Time (12 months)
Work Model: Hybrid
Language: This role operates in English.
Additional Information: This/these role(s) is/are currently vacant

The Opportunity:

We are a leading Canadian financial services co-operative committed to being a catalyst for a sustainable and resilient society and our team is essential to deliver on this strategy. That’s why we prioritize our people, to ensure we provide a strong culture and development opportunities which enables our team to thrive and to live our purpose. The best part is that you will work with people that care passionately about you, our clients and our communities.

Our national Finance team aspires to create, enhance, and protect value for our organization and its stakeholders. Our knowledgeable team educates and influences the organization to make well-informed, risk-based decisions. We think innovatively and strategically to solve business problems and strive to move our business forward with practical, integrated processes and tools that ensure organizational success.

The Senior Accountant is responsible for various aspects of Life or Property & Casualty reporting for the entities owned by Co-operators Group Ltd., including monthly, quarterly and annual financial statements, internal/external reinsurance reporting, as well as annual and quarterly reporting to OSFI, and quarterly reporting to Statistics Canada. The Senior Accountant also manages specialized accounting and reporting projects, plays a key role on a variety of teams across the Finance area, and acts as a resource and coach of more junior team members. The scope and complexity of the work require a seasoned, service-oriented professional with a comprehensive understanding of the insurance industry, who can think and act independently, manage to tight deadlines, and maintain strong, effective interpersonal relationships This role will have a specialization in finance project management and representation of the P&C Reporting department in business-led projects.

How you will create impact:

• Manage the contributions to the reporting process from several Co-operators companies and departments.
• Prepare journal entries to record complex manual accounting activities such as reinsurance, investment contracts, segregated and pooled funds, and actuarial calculations.
• Review and analyze reporting and account balances, to ensure accuracy.
• Keep informed of GAAP, IFRS and developments within the insurance industry.
• Act as a technical resource and coach for more junior Reporting team members.
• Serve as a key resource on accounting and reporting issues to the Life and P&C Insurance Financial Reporting Directors, VP Finance, other Finance leaders, Corporate Reinsurance department, Life insurance company, Wealth administration departments and peers.
• As a senior member of the FAS team, take the initiative to formulate and recommend process improvements or solutions to problems that may affect all FAR teams.
• Manage process and reporting improvement projects within FAR and in the broader Finance Community.

How you will succeed:

• You have an innovative mindset to improve operational efficiencies and ability to influence change, with a primary focus on client needs.
• You use critical thinking skills to recognize assumptions, evaluate arguments, draw conclusions and proactively propose solutions.
• You have strong communication skills to clearly convey messages and explore diverse points of view.
• You build trusting relationships and provide guidance to support the development of colleagues.

To join our team:

• CPA - CMA, CGA or CA designation.
• Minimum five years accounting/financial statement preparation experience.
• Solid understanding of reporting for life or property and casualty insurers.
• Ability to analyze reported data to recognize and correct significant errors or explain significant variances.
• Strong spreadsheet skills, plus database and word processing literacy.

What you need to know:

• Extended work hours, including weekends, may be required during peak periods.
• You will be subject to a background check as a condition of employment, in the event you are the successful candidate.

What’s in it for you?

• Training and development opportunities to grow your career.
• Flexible work options to support personal and family needs.
• A holistic approach to your well-being, with physical and mental health programs and a supportive workplace culture.
• Volunteer opportunities to give back to your community.