Summer Accounting Student - Multiple Branches

Ontario Securities Commission; Toronto; On-site; CAD 5,786,000 - 9,919,000; Full time

Job summary

Ontario Securities Commission is offering Summer Accounting Student positions across multiple divisions. Students will gain exposure to audit and assurance, financial reporting, management accounting, and governance, with mentorship from senior accounting staff.

Applicants should be in later years of university, pursuing a Commerce/Accounting degree and CPA designation, and be able to manage multiple deadlines in a fast-paced setting.

Qualifications

• Applicant has completed at least two years of university study in Commerce or Business Administration with Accounting specialization.
• Demonstrated strong communication and time-management skills; ability to work in a team.
• Pursuing CPA designation or interested in CPA path and professional development.

Responsibilities

• Assist with financial reporting and accounting tasks as part of the CPA track.
• Support audits, month-end close procedures, and internal control reviews.
• Prepare and review documentation for OSC proceedings and annual reports.

Skills

Communication

Time management

Teamwork

Education

University degree in Commerce or Business Administration with Accounting specialization

Tools

Excel

MS Office

Job description

The Ontario Securities Commission (OSC) is the statutory body responsible for regulating Ontario’s capital markets in accordance with the mandate established in the provincial Securities Act and the Commodity Futures Act. The mandate of the OSC is to provide protection to investors from unfair, improper or fraudulent practices, to foster fair, efficient and competitive capital markets and confidence in the capital markets, to foster capital formation, and to contribute to the stability of the financial system and the reduction of systemic risk. This mandate is performed through policy, operational, and enforcement activities. The OSC also contributes to national and global securities regulation development.

We offer a diverse, fair, and flexible work environment and take pride in our challenging and rewarding work.

Summer Accounting Student positions will be available in the below divisions. These positions may offer experience aligned with the foundational experience requirements needed for the CPA designation.

Registration, Inspections and Examinations

The Registration, Inspections and Examinations (RIE) division is a regulatory division that oversees dealers, advisers and investment fund managers, derivative firms and other market participants in Ontario that the public relies on when investing in securities. RIE is also responsible for the oversight of market infrastructure entities, including marketplaces, self-regulatory organizations (SROs), and clearing agencies.

Corporate Finance

The Corporate Finance division is a regulatory division responsible for regulating issuers (other than investment funds) in the public and exempt markets. The division reviews public distributions of securities, exempt market activities and continuous disclosure of reporting issuers, and leads issuer-related policy initiatives. The division is also responsible for supervising insider reporting, regulating credit rating agencies and overseeing the listed issuer function for OSC recognized exchanges.

Enforcement

The Enforcement division investigates and litigates breaches of securities laws in Ontario. Team members work closely with other securities regulators, SROs and law-enforcement agencies to enhance initiatives to fight misconduct. A strong visible enforcement presence assists in protecting investors from unfair, improper or fraudulent practices, fosters fair, efficient and competitive capital markets, fosters capital formation, and contributes to the stability of the financial system and the reduction of systemic risk.

Finance and Administration

The Finance and Administration (F&A) division is a corporate division that provides financial management and analysis, reporting and treasury services to allow the OSC to continue carrying out its regulatory responsibilities. The division prepares financial reports and statements, both routine and ad-hoc, for various stakeholders (both internal and external).

Summer Accounting Students will work towards the development of the required technical and enabling competencies for the CPA designation. The exposure to technical competencies over the summer term may include audit and assurance, financial reporting, management accounting, finance and strategy and governance. This will be achieved through placement in one of the following divisions: Registration, Inspections and Examinations, Corporate Finance, Enforcement and Finance and Administration.

Summer Accounting Students may perform work such as:

• conducting reviews of registered firms and regulated entities to assess compliance with Ontario securities laws that support investor protection and confidence in the capital markets,
• conducting focused reviews of registered firms’ compliance with internal policies and procedures,
• assisting with the preparation of formal reports detailing non-compliance with securities laws and internal control weaknesses and work with registered firms and regulated entities to determine what corrective action is required and assess appropriateness of corrective actions,
• completing continuous disclosure reviews of public company filings,
• reviewing and analyzing records filed by public companies including financial reports,
• performing research on industry wide trends and patterns,
• reviewing records related to complex transactions and assisting in assessing complex transactions,
• applying forensic accounting techniques to review and analyze financial and non-financial documentary evidence and testimony as part of investigations,
• preparing materials for use in OSC proceedings,
• support in the preparation and review of various sections of the OSC’s annual report, including the Management Discussion & Analysis (MD&A), and Financial Statements and Note Disclosures,
• support in the completion of month-end and quarter-end financial close procedures, including but not limited to, account reconciliations, trend and variance analyses, accruals, and preparation of monthly and quarterly financial statements, and
• updating process documentation for standard operating procedures and controls activities.

Our students will be mentored by senior accounting staff that will coach and provide guidance in performing the above-listed work.

We are looking for students who have completed their second year or higher, pursuing a university degree in Commerce or Business Administration with a specialization in Accounting and are interested in pursuing a CPA designation. To meet the varied deliverables that encompass this role, students should have a demonstrated ability to effectively manage multiple demands on time. Their strong communication skills to seek out additional information and adapt style to suit audience/client will serve them well in this fast-paced, multi-faceted role. Above all else, students have the ability to build and foster strong relationships and a demonstrated initiative and willingness to learn.

We thank all applicants for their interest in the Ontario Securities Commission. We will contact those selected for an interview.

The OSC is committed to diversity and providing an inclusive workplace and providing accommodation in accordance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act and the Human Rights Code. It is our priority to ensure employment opportunities are visible and barrier-free to all under-represented groups including but not limited to, Indigenous, Black and racialized groups, people with disabilities, women and people from the 2SLGBTQI+ community, to achieve an employee demographic profile reflective of the demographic profile of Ontarians.

The OSC is a proud partner with the following organizations: Ascend Canada, BlackNorth Initiative, Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion, and Pride at Work Canada

If you require an accommodation during the recruitment process, please let us know by contacting our confidential inbox [e-mail].

Visit Accessibility at the OSC to review the OSC’s policies on accessibility and accommodation in the workplace.