Trainee, Financial Audit

Employment and Social Development Canada; Ottawa; On-site; CAD 66,000 - 81,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid tuition fees

Paid study leave

Career progression pathway

Job summary

Employment and Social Development Canada is seeking candidates for the Financial Audit Professional Development program (APS) in Ottawa. The role supports CPA studies and practical experience hours while working on audits across federal entities.

Participants will receive mentoring, paid tuition, study leave, and access to internal/external CPA resources. A strong emphasis on analytic ability, teamwork, and ethical standards guides development into Audit Professional roles within ESDC.

Qualifications

• Graduation with a bachelor's degree by 31 May 2027.
• Completion of CPA prerequisites or CPA-eligible program by 31 May 2027.
• Cumulative academic average of B+ or higher.
• Pursuing a CPA designation with public accounting licence.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Excel.

Responsibilities

• Participate in audits of Canada’s Crown corporations, federal and territorial governments, or other federal organizations.
• Gain CPA-related experience hours through planning, examination and reporting phases.
• Receive mentoring and coaching while pursuing CPA milestones and progression to senior roles.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Strategic thinking

Rigorous analysis

Sound judgment

Communication

Project management

Integrity

Team collaboration

Client service

Education

Bachelor's degree

CPA prerequisites completion

Tools

Power BI

IDEA

Microsoft Excel

Job description

Selection process number
2026-AUD-G-OTT-EA-212

Employment tenure
Up to 5 days a week on-site presence.

Salary
$65,875 to $80,645-2025 rates

Level
AP-FIN-0S

Who can apply
Persons residing in Canada, and Canadian citizens and Permanent residents abroad.

Duties
About the Financial Audit Professional Development program and its Financial Auditors.
Are you just starting or are in the processing of completing your CPA studies or the practical experience requirements for obtaining your CPA designation? If so, no matter what phase of the CPA path you are in, look no further than our renowned 3-year APS program, which is pre-approved by CPA Canada that offers you:

• Paid tuition fees (eligible fees), paid Common Final Examination (CFE) fees
• Paid study leave
• Access to internal and external material and coaches for CPA modules, as well as the CFE preparation
• Paid overtime
• A “hire from within” culture with a defined career progression pathway which could allow financial auditors to be promoted into our audit professional positions

Our APS program’s paid CFE study leave makes CPA success possible. As a Financial Auditor, you will report to a director and receive continued mentoring by an in-house coach and auditor. As a developing talent within our financial audit teams, you will gain practical CPA experience hours by participating in the planning, examination, and reporting phases of audits of Canada’s Crown corporations, federal and territorial governments, or other federal organizations.
Upon successful completion of our APS development program, qualified Financial Auditors could be promoted to the Audit Professional level, where they begin to perform independent audits and are given additional responsibilities.
After a couple years’ experience, Audit Professionals could then apply and be considered for opportunities at the Senior Audit Professionals and when applicable, can apply to become Audit Project Leaders and manage a team of auditors.
Note that candidates already holding a CPA designation are not eligible for the APS program.

Work environment
At the Office of the Auditor General of Canada (OAG), we serve Canadians with the intention of supporting their trust in our public institutions and continued excellence of our public service, one audit at a time.
The OAG employs over 750 people at its head office in Ottawa and regional offices in Vancouver, Edmonton, Montréal, and Halifax. These dedicated employees are brought together to transform Canada’s future and to serve Canada through leadership and partnerships. Specifically, we conduct independent audits and studies that provide objective information, advice, and assurance to Parliament, territorial legislatures, boards of Crown corporations, government, and Canadians.

Intent of the process
This process may be used to establish a pool of qualified candidates to staff similar or identical positions with various security requirements, language requirements, and tenures

Important messages
When you apply to this selection process, you are not applying for a specific job, but to an inventory for future vacancies. As positions become available, applicants who meet the qualifications may be contacted for further assessment.
Preference will be given to veterans first, followed by Canadian citizens and permanent residents, with the exception of jobs located in Nunavut or Yukon. For positions located in Nunavut, qualified Inuit enrolled under the Nunavut Agreement will be appointed first. For positions located in Yukon, qualified Yukon First Nations will be appointed first, followed by qualified Indigenous persons. Learn more about preference to veterans (https://www.canada.ca/en/public-service-commission/jobs/services/gc-jobs/canadian-armed-forces-members-veterans.html) .Applications received by email will not be accepted. If you are a person with disability preventing you from applying on-line, you can contact the Federal Public Service Job Advertisement Information Line by calling 1-800-645-5605.Should your contact information change, it is your responsibility to notify the contact person identified in this job poster.The OAG reserves the right to retain a specific number of candidates who best meet the essential qualifications of the position.Selection based on asset qualifications, top-down selection, random selection, interest in bilingual positions and/or interest in certain geographical locations may be used at any stage of the selection process, including nomination.The OAG is a separate employer of the federal public service in accordance with Schedule V of the Financial Administration Act.Relocation assistance will be determined in accordance with the OAG’s directives.Specific details and dates related to the candidate assessment phase of the process will be provided only to candidates who will be further considered

Your application must clearly explain how you meet the following

Graduation with a bachelor's degree from a recognized university by 31 May 2027.

Completion of all pre-requisites recognized by a provincial CPA body for admission into the CPA Professional Education Program (PEP) or a CPA-accredited program by 31 May 2027.

Cumulative academic average of B+ or higher

Pursuing a CPA designation with a public accounting licence

Working knowledge of Microsoft Excel

Competency models for OAG employees (https://www.oag-bvg.gc.ca/internet/English/au_fs_e_43006.html#dx)
1. Technical subject matter expertise
2. Strategic thinking, rigorous analysis, and sound judgement
3. Productive and collaborative relationships with partners and stakeholders
4. Clear and influential communication
5. Personal effectiveness and project management skills
6. Personal and people development skills
7. Integrity and respect
8. Innovation and ability to guide change

Language requirements (essential for the job)

May be applied / assessed at a later date

Experience in financial statement audit

Experience working with data analytics or visualization software (e.g., IDEA, Power BI, etc.)

Experience in client service

Intermediate competency in the second official language (BBB/BBB)

Our commitment

We're committed to providing an inclusive and barrier-free work environment, starting with the hiring process. If you need to be accommodated during any phase of the evaluation process, please contact the hiring organization below to request specialized accommodation. All information received in relation to accommodation will be kept confidential.

The Public Service of Canada is committed to building a skilled and diverse workforce that reflects the population it serves. We promote employment equity and encourage you to self-declare if you belong to one of the designated employment equity groups when you apply.

• A list of the courses you have taken as well as any courses that you are taking now, or that you will be taking this academic year

We'd like to thank all those who apply. However, only the people selected for further consideration will be contacted.