Senior Manager - Partner Track

Elby Professional Recruitment; Waterloo; On-site; CAD 150,000 - 230,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Accelerated partnership path

Competitive compensation and bonuses

Established client base and community\

Work-life integration

Job summary

Elby Professional Recruitment partners with a respected Public Accounting firm in the Kitchener-Waterloo region to present a high-impact Senior Manager opportunity. The role offers a defined fast-track to Equity Partnership within 12–24 months, mentoring from Partners, and exposure to a diverse client portfolio.

Ideal candidates hold an active CPA designation with 6+ years in public accounting, including leadership experience.

Qualifications

• Active CPA designation in good standing is required.
• Minimum 6+ years of progressive public accounting experience, with at least 3 years at the Manager or Senior Manager level.
• Partner-minded with strong business acumen and commercial awareness.
• Outstanding leadership and communication skills with a proven track record of staff development.

Responsibilities

• Client leadership & relationship management across owner-managed businesses.
• Engagement oversight of review, audit and compilation engagements; ensure technical quality and compliance with Canadian standards.
• Direct corporate and personal tax planning strategies for high-net-worth clients.
• Mentor and develop staff accountants and senior team members.
• Support practice growth, internal processes, and client onboarding in collaboration with Partners.

Skills

Leadership

Client relationships

Team mentorship

Business acumen

Education

CPA designation

Tools

CaseWare

Taxprep

MS Office 365

Cloud accounting platforms

Job description

Are you a seasoned CPA leader looking for a clear, accelerated pathway to Partnership? Are you tired of empty promises and ready to step into a firm that genuinely values your leadership, offers direct mentorship, and delivers on rapid career advancement? Elby Professional Recruitment has partnered with a highly respected and well-established Public Accounting firm rooted in the Kitchener-Waterloo region. This is a rare, high-impact opportunity for a high-performing Senior Manager to join a thriving, community-minded firm with a defined fast-track to Partner within 1 to 2 years (and ideally sooner for the right leader). You will work closely with the existing Partners, manage a diverse portfolio of clients, mentor a dedicated team of accounting professionals, and position yourself to take over an established book of business as key partners transition toward retirement.

What the Organization Has to Offer:

• Accelerated Partnership Path: Concrete, transparent roadmap to Equity Partnership within 12–24 months (or sooner).
• Competitive Executive Compensation: Market-leading salary package plus lucrative performance bonuses and partner-track incentives.
• Established & Loyal Client Base: Immediate exposure to a rich portfolio of local family and owner-managed businesses, professional services, and high-impact not-for-profit organizations.
• Exceptional Work-Life Integration: A firm culture built on trust, flexibility, and employee well-being—offering reasonable busy-season expectations compared to Big 4 and other national firms.
• Comprehensive Benefits Package: medical, dental, and health coverage, generous paid time off, and dedicated CPA professional development funds.
• Strong Community Presence: A firm with decades of deep-rooted reputation, high client retention, and an approachable, collaborative workplace culture.

Responsibilities:

• Client Leadership & Relationship Management: Serve as a trusted business advisor to owner-managers, executive teams, and board members across diverse industries in the KW region.
• Engagement Execution & Oversight: Lead review, audit, and notice to reader (compilation) engagements, ensuring top-tier technical quality, risk management, and compliance with Canadian accounting standards (ASPE, ASNPO).
• Tax Advisory & Planning: Direct corporate and personal tax planning strategies, reorganization support, and estate planning initiatives for high-net-worth clients and private business owners.
• Team Development & Mentorship: Manage, train, and coach staff accountants and senior team members, fostering a collaborative and growth-oriented team environment.
• Practice Growth & Strategy: Collaborate directly with current Partners on business development, process improvement, internal operational strategies, and client onboarding.

Qualifications:

• Designation: Active CPA designation in good standing is required.
• Experience: Minimum 6+ years of progressive public accounting experience, with at least 3 years at the Manager level or Senior Manager level.
• Partner Mindset: Excellent business acumen, commercial awareness, and a proactive approach to solving client problems.
• Leadership & Communication: Outstanding interpersonal skills with a proven track record of developing staff and building long-term relationships with clients and community leaders.
• Software Proficiency: Hands-on experience with standard public practice tools (CaseWare, Taxprep, MS Office 365, modern cloud accounting platforms).

This posting is for an open vacancy currently available within our client's organization.

To be eligible for this role, you must be legally eligible to work in Canada. Please note that we use AI tools as part of our recruitment process to enhance efficiency and improve candidate experience.