Director, Accounting

We are currently seeking a Director, Accounting to join our team.

The Director, Accounting leads the organization’s accounting operations and ensures high-quality financial reporting in accordance with Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). This role oversees the general ledger, subsidiary accounting, specialized accounting activities and accounts payable, delivering accurate and timely financial statements for a nationally regulated financial institution. As the senior technical accounting authority, the Director develops and maintains accounting policies, evaluates the effect of evolving standards, and directs the organization’s approach to the implementation. This role protects organizational assets by elevating internal controls, strengthening governance, and embedding sound risk practices into accounting processes. Through partnership with internal leaders and external stakeholders, the Director drives continuous improvement, develops efficient and scalable business processes, and supports informed decision making across the organization.

Here’s what would be included as a part of your typical day

• Leadership: Provides strategic and people‑centered leadership across the accounting and AP functions, including workforce planning, recruitment, onboarding, capability development, goal setting, performance management, and succession planning. Fosters a high‑performance culture grounded in employee engagement, psychological safety, accountability, and cross‑functional collaboration, while promoting cross‑training to enhance resilience and scalability.
• Accounting and Audit: Provides strategic oversight to ensure the integrity, accuracy, and reliability of the organization’s financial information, statements, and control environment in accordance with IFRS. Serves as the organization’s senior technical accounting authority on IFRS interpretation and and leading the assessment and implementation of new and amended standards impacting the credit union and its subsidiaries. Leads the end‑to‑end external audit process and acts as the senior liaison with external auditors and oversight bodies. Partners closely with cross‑functional leaders to ensure audit readiness, timely resolution of accounting and control matters, and continuous enhancement of financial governance. Collaborates strategically with the tax function to align IFRS‑based accounting outcomes with tax planning, regulatory requirements, and long‑term business objectives across the enterprise.
• Controls and Compliances: Provides strategic leadership to establish, maintain, and enhance a robust accounting control framework that supports accurate financial reporting and strong governance. Ensures the design and effective operation of accounting principles, policies, and reporting controls across the department and source systems, with clear accountability for data integrity and quality assurance over financial transactions. Partners closely with leaders across the Credit Union, internal and external audit teams, and regulatory authorities, including OSFI, to ensure financial reporting processes are efficient, scalable, and fully compliant with regulatory and accounting requirements.
• Organizational Collaboration: Partners with Finance leadership to advance department‑wide objectives and ensure alignment with enterprise financial strategy. Brings a deep understanding of end‑to‑end operational processes, systems, and their impact on the internal control environment to proactively identify, assess, and resolve complex operational challenges. Serves as a trusted advisor across the organization by participating in leadership meetings and leading or contributing to special initiatives of strategic importance. Provides clear, timely, and insightful technical briefings to leadership and stakeholders at all levels, translating complex accounting and control matters into actionable business insights.
• Professional Development: Maintains professional and technical knowledge by attending educational workshops, reviewing professional publications, establishing personal networks. Maintains CPA continuing professional development requirements.

Required Skills, Experience & Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, accounting or a related field required
• CPA, CGA, CA or CMA required
• 9+ years of progressive accounting or finance experience, including 5+ years in a management or leadership role
• Advanced knowledge of IFRS, accounting theory and standards, internal control over financial reporting, and taxation required
• Experience in a nationally operated financial institution preferred
• Experience leading change and effectively developing teams of people required
• Proven ability to collaborate with cross departmental and multiple business unit groups
• Demonstrated relationship building skills with the ability to communicate verbally, in writing and through presentations with a wide variety of stakeholders at varying levels
• Proven leadership in organizational or process change
• Proven ability to develop and execute on business plan and bridge any finance/accounting/regulatory change requirements to the business needs
• Demonstrated strong ability to manage multiple sources of diverse and complex information applied to the resolution of complex issues
• Advanced knowledge of banking systems and ERP systems
• Deep understanding of IFRS standards
• Strong expertise in accounting and control processes with a large and complex organization
• Displays an understanding of risk and risk ownership by being able to demonstrate adherence to policies and procedures.