Senior Accountant

Zenbooks; Ottawa; Remote; CAD 70,000 - 83,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Personal days

Vacation days

Holiday week during winter holidays

Health benefits (100% employer-paid)

RRSP matching

Job summary

Zenbooks is a fully remote Canadian accounting firm seeking a Senior Accountant. You will manage client relationships, oversee day-to-day accounting, and prepare financial reports from home, with a clear path to Accounting Manager as the firm scales.

The ideal candidate has 2–3 years in client-facing public accounting, is proficient with cloud accounting (Xero or QBO), and can work independently with strong communication skills.

Qualifications

• 2-3 years of experience working in a client-facing position within public accounting.
• Familiarity with cloud accounting software such as Xero and/or QBO is required.
• Must pass a criminal background check and/or education and employment verification.

Responsibilities

• Manage client relationships and oversee accounting activities for assigned clients.
• Enter and review data in accounting systems with high accuracy and integrity.
• Prepare financial reports, budgets, and statements for clients.
• Mentor staff accountants and work toward pod-level ownership as the firm grows.

Skills

Attention to detail

Customer service

Adaptability

Time management

Collaboration

Tools

Xero

QBO

Job description

Zenbooks is a fully remote Canadian accounting firm founded in 2015 and headquartered in Ottawa. We serve 300+ small and mid-sized businesses coast to coast — companies in the $1M to $10M revenue range across professional services, SaaS and tech, marketing and creative agencies, e-commerce, and non-profits. Every client is on a monthly recurring engagement. Our regulated practice operates as Zenbooks Tax Services Professional Corporation under CPA Ontario.

In 2026, we were named to the Financial Times’ Americas’ Fastest Growing Companies list. In 2024, the Globe and Mail ranked us among Canada’s Top Growing Companies. Both rankings are based on independently verified compound revenue growth.

We don’t just do the work - we shape the conversation. Our team has been published in the Toronto Star, Policy Options, Canadian Accountant, The Hill Times, Le Devoir, BetaKit, and the Ottawa Business Journal, and has appeared on CBC and CTV on tax policy, small business finance, and the future of the accounting profession. Through OpenSME, we led national advocacy for Canadian SMEs, including a 30,000-signature CRA petition that generated 25 media interviews in five days. We also hosted the Small Business Big Insights podcast, with guests including mayors and executives from Wagepoint, Mastercard, and Wealthsimple.

We are seeking a highly organized Senior Accountant who is committed to delivering exceptional customer experiences and has a keen eye for detail. The ideal candidate will be proactive in asking questions, eager to learn new skills, and dedicated to continuous improvement. This is a role with a clear path to Accounting Manager: you’ll be expected to take on team leadership and pod-level ownership as the firm grows, with a formal promotion on the horizon for the right person.

The ideal candidate is a self-starter who takes ownership, does what’s right for the client, is approachable and resilient, and builds trust with the people around them.

Priorities will include:

• Manage accounting information systems and software for client organizations
• Mentor and coach Staff Accountants on technical accounting issues.
• Manage client relationships.
• Build toward managing a small team of staff accountants as the firm’s practice grows.
• Own the gross margin of your pod, with visibility into engagement profitability and accountability for team utilization.
• Own complex bookkeeping and vController engagements.

Key Responsibilities:

• Perform the day-to-day accounting activities to maintain client records, including accounts receivable and payables, while ensuring completeness of the records.
• Enter data into accounting systems/software, while managing the integrity of information and documentation.
• Review and process documentation submitted by clients (bills, invoices, etc).
• Proactively reach out to clients for additional information that’s needed.
• Communicate with clients by email and video calls.
• Prepare financial reports and budgets to share with the client.
• Organize accounting records, financial statements, and reports to share with the client.
• Identify process improvements and bring them to resolution to share with the Manager of Accounting Services.
• Execute assigned tasks while ensuring compliance.
• Identifies opportunities for additional services.
• Build and manage accounting and financial systems using Zenbooks best practices and SOPs.
• Provide subject matter expertise and understand the needs of clients.
• Maintain client relationships
• Ensure client solutions are delivered on time.
• Maintain and build relationships with internal accountants and consultants.
• Oversee implementation of new software (e.g., payroll, accounting, payments) and processes in client organizations.
• Perform bank and credit card reconciliations and follow up on outstanding supporting documentation
• Preparing sales tax (GST/HST/PST) returns
• Perform financial statement reviews and prepare client files for year-end tax accountants

Core Competencies

• Attention to Detail and Strong Organizational Skills
• Customer Service-Oriented with Excellent Communication
• Adaptability and Effective Problem-Solving Skills
• Time Management and Multitasking Abilities
• Collaboration and Initiative in Team Settings

Experience + Requirements

• 2-3 years of experience working in a client-facing position within public accounting
• Familiarity with cloud accounting software (such as Xero and/or QBO) is required
• Must pass a criminal background check and/or education and employment verification
• Working from home is a requirement, including access to high-speed internet and availability during core business hours

Benefits & Perks

Job Type: Full-time

Salary: $70,000 to $83,000 per year

• 5 personal days + 10 vacation days + 1 week during the winter holidays
• 100% employer-paid health benefits (medical, dental, disability, life insurance) and a flexible health spending account
• RRSP matching program