Senior Accountant

Distinct | North America; Kitchener; On-site; CAD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Distinct | North America in Kitchener is seeking a CPA with 3+ years of Canadian public accounting experience to join a broad-based practice. You will work across owner-managed businesses, not-for-profits, and private companies, handling compilation, review and audit engagements with direct client contact.

Responsibilities include preparing financial statements, tax returns, and assisting with tax planning while mentoring junior staff and collaborating with Managers and Partners on complex

Qualifications

• 3+ years of Canadian public accounting experience.
• Strong compilation and review engagement experience.
• Audit experience would be useful.
• Experience preparing T2 and T1 tax returns.
• Strong understanding of ASPE.
• ASNPO experience would be an asset.
• Able to manage multiple files without missing deadlines.
• CPA designation or actively progressing toward completion.

Responsibilities

• Take compilation and review engagements from planning through completion.
• Work on audit engagements across a variety of industries.
• Prepare financial statements and year-end working papers.
• Prepare corporate T2 and personal T1 tax returns.
• Assist with trust and other tax filings.
• Review adjusting entries and supporting schedules.

Skills

Compilation & review engagements

Audit experience

Tax compliance (T2/T1)

Client communication

Mentoring junior staff

ASPE knowledge

CaseWare experience

Education

CPA designation or in progress

Tools

CaseWare

Job description

One of the advantages of working for a smaller CPA firm is that eventually people stop asking you to prepare one section of the file and start trusting you with the whole thing.

That’s really what this opportunity is about.

You’ll join an established CPA firm in Kitchener, working across owner-managed businesses, privately held companies and not-for-profit organizations. The work is deliberately broad, so you won’t have to choose between becoming “the audit person” or “the tax person” quite yet.

Why consider it:

• Broad mix of compilation, review and audit engagements
• Corporate and personal tax exposure
• Direct client contact
• Work closely with Managers and Partners
• Opportunity to review and develop junior staff
• Variety across owner-managed businesses and not-for-profits
• Exposure to accounting, tax planning and advisory work
• Progression toward Manager level

What you’ll be doing:

• Take compilation and review engagements from planning through completion
• Work on audit engagements across a variety of industries
• Prepare financial statements and year-end working papers
• Prepare corporate T2 and personal T1 tax returns
• Assist with trust and other tax filings
• Identify accounting, assurance and tax issues during engagements
• Deal directly with clients throughout the file
• Respond to CRA correspondence and information requests
• Assist with tax planning for owner-managed businesses
• Review adjusting entries, reconciliations and supporting schedules
• Review work prepared by junior accountants
• Coach and support CPA students and less experienced staff
• Manage several engagements and deadlines at the same time
• Work directly with Managers and Partners on more complex matters
• Gradually take greater ownership of client relationships

What they’re looking for:

• 3+ years of Canadian public accounting experience
• Strong compilation and review engagement experience
• Audit experience would be useful
• Experience preparing T2 and T1 tax returns
• Strong understanding of ASPE
• ASNPO experience would be an asset
• Comfortable dealing directly with clients
• CPA designation or actively progressing toward completion
• Some experience reviewing or mentoring junior staff would be useful
• CaseWare experience advantageous
• Able to manage multiple files without needing somebody to chase you for each one