Certification manager

Job Description

Vortex Strategy & Recruitment is actively seeking a Certification Manager for its client, a highly reputable and fast-growing provincial accounting firm based in Montreal. The firm has over 200 employees and continues to expand.

The selected candidate will manage a variety of accounting and assurance engagements, involving frequent interactions with partners and clients. They will act as a key resource for CPA candidates, file managers, and assistant directors on the engagements they lead. The Director is able to take charge of assurance and accounting mandates of low to moderate complexity. Through their actions and communications, they demonstrate a consistent commitment to the team’s success.

Your Role and Responsibilities

• Plan engagements with the partner, optimizing team resources and meeting deadlines.

• Set team priorities and serve as a reference point for colleagues.

• Participate in the management of engagements and team in a multi-engagement environment.

• Foster a positive work environment by leveraging each team member’s strengths.

• Prepare and submit engagement budgets for approval.

• Prepare and actively participate in engagement team planning meetings.

• Be available to answer team members’ questions during engagements.

• Monitor the progress of ongoing work using available tools.

• Identify issues arising during engagements and discuss them with the partner in a timely manner.

• Review completed work and reports.

• Identify issues, discuss them with the partner, and propose solutions for low to moderate complexity matters.

• Issue review notes and ensure they are addressed rigorously, both in terms of quality and deadlines.

• Inform stakeholders of applicable deadlines and take necessary actions to ensure compliance.

• Manage time budgets and communicate any overruns to the partner and client to obtain additional budget if needed.

• Prepare and obtain partner approval for budget modification requests in a timely manner.

• Be responsible for preparing draft interim and final invoices (if applicable) in a timely manner.

• Keep the responsible partner informed of progress, constraints, and budget compliance.

• Ensure progress and completion of files within established deadlines.

• Identify additional work (if applicable) and propose wording and billing amounts to the partner.

• Communicate with clients regarding accounts receivable collection when required and at the partner’s request.

• Provide feedback to CPA candidates, file managers, and assistant directors, with the support of the engagement partner (EP).

• Prepare and lead post-mortem meetings, ensuring full documentation.

• Collaborate with the partner to identify areas for improvement in engagements, both technically and in terms of efficiency and effectiveness.

• Ensure clear and professional communication among team members and clients, making sure technical points are well explained and understood.

• Regularly communicate engagement progress and validate priorities with stakeholders.

• Coordinate communications and guide stakeholders for low-complexity engagements.

• Follow procedures and use tools and calculators.

• Inform the EP and the client in a timely manner of any issues related to the engagements.

• Respond promptly to EP review notes.

• Collaborate with the EP to address review notes from the quality management department.

• Ensure deadlines, budgets, and quality criteria are met.

• Analyze dividends to be declared and related considerations for these engagements.

• Obtain necessary information for the preparation of tax slips related to these engagements.

• Submit information and returns to the partner for approval.

• Follow up on preparation and electronic filing, and report back to the partner.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting.

• CPA designation.

• More than 6 years of experience in an accounting firm in similar roles.

• Knowledge of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) is an asset.

• Knowledge of CaseWare/CaseView software.

• Knowledge of accounting standards for private enterprises, auditing standards, quality control standards, and tax competencies.

• Strong planning and organizational skills.

• Analytical mindset, attention to detail, and rigor.

Benefits

• Highly competitive salary based on experience.

• Comprehensive and flexible group insurance program.

• Annual wellness allowance.

• Flex-time, flexible schedule, and flexible workplace: this flexibility takes various forms to maximize autonomy. Flex-time allows time off to be taken from busier periods, flexible scheduling allows adjustment of working hours based on personal routines, and flexible location allows you to choose where to work based on personal needs while respecting operational requirements.

• 100% remote work option if desired.

• Telemedicine.

• Social activities such as happy hours, BBQ lunches, outdoor days, tax season parties, game and quiz nights, raffles, etc.

• And much more.