Staff Accountant

Job Description

Position Type: Full-time, Monday to Friday, 37.5 hrs/week, plus Saturdays in March and April

Hours: Office hours are 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Flexible hours are available: you may adjust your start and end times, provided you work 7.5 hours per day and are in the office for core hours of 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM each weekday.

About the Role

Our client is looking for a capable, detail-oriented Staff Accountant to join their growing firm. This role is ideal for someone with solid Canadian tax and bookkeeping experience who is ready to take on more complex files and a portfolio of their own clients.

The Staff Accountant bridges the junior and senior teams. You'll prepare moderately complex personal and corporate files, complete year-end working papers, review work prepared by junior accountants, and manage your own client relationships, with support and file review from our senior accountants.

Founded in 1990, our client provides tax, accounting and financial services to individuals and businesses throughout Brantford, Simcoe and beyond. Their mission is to help clients save on taxes, avoid audits, and make the best decisions for their businesses. They make life less taxing.

Key Responsibilities:

Tax Preparation & Compliance:

Prepare approximately 150–200 personal tax returns (T1s) per year, ranging from moderate to complex, including:

Self-employed individuals and sole proprietorships with HST/WSIB filing obligations
Rental properties, investment income and capital gains
Employment expenses, large medical expenses and donations
Prepare approximately 20–30 corporate tax returns (T2s) per year for small, owner-managed businesses, for review by a senior accountant.

Prepare HST returns and other related filings for clients.

Review simple personal T1 returns prepared by junior accountants for accuracy and completeness before senior review.

Handle CRA correspondence and review letters: gather supporting documents from clients, prepare responses, and liaise with the CRA to resolve inquiries.

Bookkeeping & Year-End:

Complete monthly/quarterly bookkeeping for an assigned portfolio of clients across a range of industries, using QuickBooks Desktop and QuickBooks Online.

Process and pay bills on behalf of select clients.

Maintain and reconcile general ledgers, bank and credit card accounts.

Prepare year-end working papers and Compilation Engagement financial statements.

Prepare adjusting journal entries and support month-end and year-end closes.

Review bookkeeping, bank reconciliations and payroll filings prepared by junior staff (source deductions, WSIB, T4s, T4As, T5s, T5018s).

Client Management & Support:

Act as the main point of contact for an assigned portfolio of clients.

Request documents, answer client questions, and communicate tax and year-end results clearly and professionally.

Identify issues, risks or planning opportunities and escalate to a senior accountant as appropriate.

Team Support:

Support and guide junior accountants, and help train new team members.

Help maintain consistent processes and workflow efficiency in Karbon.

Perform other related accounting or administrative duties as required.

Qualifications

Diploma or degree in Accounting or a related field. Progress toward a CPA designation is an asset.

Minimum 4–5 years of experience in Canadian personal tax preparation and bookkeeping, with some exposure to corporate (T2) returns and year-end files.

Solid working knowledge of:

o Canadian income tax legislation and CRA filing requirements
o Personal and small-business tax, including HST and payroll filings
o Year-end adjustments and Compilation Engagement financial statements
Proficiency with:

o Tax software (TaxCycle)
o Accounting software (QuickBooks Desktop & Online)
o Microsoft Office Suite
o Workflow management tools (Karbon or similar)
Strong organizational and time management skills, especially during tax season.

Excellent communication skills and a professional, client-focused approach.

Prior experience in a public accounting or professional services firm is strongly preferred.

Additional Information

Work Environment & Perks:

Supportive and collaborative team culture.

Flexible daily hours: adjust your start and end times around a 7.5-hour day, provided you work core hours of 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

Flexible summer hours (July–September): work longer Monday to Thursday and enjoy Fridays off.

Annual Health Spending Account (starting at $500/year) after the 3-month probationary period.

Two weeks of paid vacation to start, increasing with years of service.

Banked hours for extended hours worked during busy season.

Paid training, continuing professional development, and tuition reimbursement for CPA and accounting education.

Direct mentoring from senior accountants and managers.

How to Apply:

Please submit your resume and a brief cover letter outlining your tax and year-end experience, and let us know your preferred office (Simcoe or Brantford).

We thank all applicants for their interest; only those selected for an interview will be contacted. Our client is an equal opportunity employer, if you require accommodations during the recruitment process, please let us know. No AI is utilized as part of the recruitment and selection process.