Senior Accountant

MPA Recruitment; Toronto; On-site; CAD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

MPA Recruitment is seeking a detail-oriented Senior Accountant to lead employee expense management, budget analysis, and cross-border accounting for Canada and the US. You will mentor junior staff and ensure GAAP/ASPE/IFRS compliance while partnering with department heads on financial planning.

The role requires 3-4 years of progressive accounting experience, strong ERP skills, and the ability to communicate complex financial concepts to non-finance stakeholders. Toronto area, full-time.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field required.
• CPA designation or active CPA in progress.
• 3-4 years of progressive accounting experience.
• Experience with multi-currency, cross-border (Canada/US) accounting operations is highly desirable.
• Experience supervising or mentoring junior staff is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Employee expense review, audit, and approval for US and Canadian staff per policy.
• Collaborate with department heads to develop and monitor annual operating budgets; provide variance analyses.
• Provide day-to-day direction and mentorship to junior accounting staff; manage workload and priorities.
• Prepare journal entries, close activities, reconciliations, and intercompany transactions.
• Ensure cross-border compliance with US/Canada tax laws, HST/GST, PST, and sales tax; coordinate with tax advisors.
• Identify opportunities for process improvements and SOP development; support ERP optimization.

Skills

Attention to detail

Analytical skills

Communication

Integrity & confidentiality

Cross-functional collaboration

Deadline management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field

CPA designation or in progress

Tools

ERP software

Concur

Expensify

Ramp

Job description

This position is responsible for ensuring the accuracy and integrity of financial operations, with a primary focus on employee expense management, departmental budget oversight, cross-border accounting compliance, and the day-to-day supervision and mentorship of junior accounting staff. The ideal candidate is a detail-oriented accounting professional with strong technical skills, cross-border regulatory knowledge, and the ability to collaborate effectively across all levels of the organization.

Key Responsibilities

Employee Expense Review & Management

• Review, audit, and approve employee expense reports in accordance with company policy for all US and Canadian staff
• Identify irregularities, policy violations, and misclassifications; follow up with employees and managers to resolve discrepancies
• Maintain and update the employee expense policy in alignment with IRS regulations (US) and CRA guidelines (Canada)
• Analyze expense trends and present findings to management with recommendations for cost controls

Departmental Budget Review & Analysis

• Collaborate with department heads to develop, monitor, and analyze annual operating budgets across all business units
• Prepare monthly and quarterly budget-vs-actual variance reports with written commentary for leadership review
• Provide financial guidance to non-finance managers to support informed spending decisions
• Identify and flag budget overruns early, recommending corrective actions as appropriate
• Assist in the development of forecasts and multi-year financial plans in coordination with the Controller

Supervision & Mentorship of Junior Accountant(s)

• Provide day-to-day direction, review, and quality control for work completed by junior accounting staff
• Assign tasks, set priorities, and manage workload distribution to ensure departmental deadlines are met
• Train and develop junior staff on accounting processes, system usage, and professional best practices
• Conduct informal performance check-ins and provide constructive feedback on an ongoing basis
• Escalate performance concerns to the Controller or HR as warranted

General Corporate Accounting

• Prepare and post journal entries for accruals, prepaid expenses, deferrals, and intercompany transactions
• Perform monthly and year-end close activities, including account reconciliations and trial balance reviews
• Support external audit processes by preparing schedules, supporting documentation, and responding to auditor queries
• Assist in the preparation of year-end financial statements in accordance with GAAP (US) and ASPE/IFRS (Canada)
• Maintain fixed asset schedules and ensure appropriate depreciation methods are applied per jurisdiction

Cross-Border & Compliance Responsibilities

• Ensure financial transactions comply with applicable US and Canadian tax laws, including HST/GST, PST, and sales tax requirements
• Maintain currency and awareness of changes in accounting standards and tax regulations in both countries
• Coordinate with external tax advisors and legal counsel as required for cross-border transactions

Systems & Process Improvement

• Maintain and optimize the use of accounting software (Microsoft Business Central Dynamics ERP)
• Identify opportunities to streamline accounting workflows, improve internal controls, and reduce manual processes
• Participate in system implementations or upgrades as a key Finance team stakeholder
• Develop and maintain standard operating procedures (SOPs) for core accounting functions

Qualifications and Requirements

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field (required)
• CPA designation or in the process

Experience

• Minimum 3-4 years of progressive accounting experience, preferably in a professional services or consulting environment
• Prior experience with multi-currency, cross-border (Canada/US) accounting operations is highly desirable
• Experience supervising or mentoring junior accounting staff is an asset

Technical Skills

• Proficiency in accounting software (major Accounting ERP)
• Working knowledge of Canadian (ASPE/IFRS) and US (GAAP) accounting standards
• Familiarity with expense management platforms (e.g., Concur, Expensify, Ramp)

Core Competencies

• Exceptional attention to detail and commitment to accuracy
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to synthesize complex financial data
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; ability to present financial concepts to non-finance stakeholders
• High degree of professional integrity and confidentiality
• Collaborative, team-oriented mindset with a willingness to support across functional areas
• Ability to manage competing priorities and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment