POSITION OVERVIEW
We are seeking an experienced and detail-oriented Senior Bookkeeper to join our public accounting practice in Ottawa. This is primarily an in-person part-time office role and hybrid role working from home. In this senior role, you will serve as the primary bookkeeping lead for a portfolio of clients across a range of industries — managing full-cycle bookkeeping, regulatory filings, and payroll obligations while mentoring and overseeing junior bookkeeping staff. You will work directly with clients to review their financial position and ensure accuracy and compliance at every step. Expected minimum hours per week is 20 hours, no less.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Staff Oversight & Quality Control
- Onboard new clients
- Prepare bookkeeping for our clients or transactions, as needed.
- Assign, prioritize, and distribute bookkeeping work to junior staff based on client deadlines and complexity.
- Review and approve all work completed by junior staff before submission or delivery to clients, ensuring accuracy, completeness, and consistency with firm standards.
- Provide guidance, on-the-job coaching, and constructive feedback to junior team members to support their professional development.
- Identify workflow efficiencies and contribute to the development of standardized procedures across the bookkeeping team.
- Prepare bookkeeping for more complex clients or transactions, as needed.
Payroll & Statutory Obligations
- Process and oversee full-cycle payroll for multiple client accounts, ensuring accurate calculation of wages, salaries, overtime, and deductions.
- Calculate, remit, and reconcile source deductions (CPP, EI, and income tax) to the Canada Revenue Agency on behalf of clients.
- Prepare and file T4 and T4A slips and summaries annually, ensuring accuracy and timely submission within CRA deadlines.
GST/PST/HST Tax Compliance
- Prepare, review, and file GST/HST returns for clients on applicable reporting periods (monthly, quarterly, or annual).
- Prepare and file PST returns where applicable, ensuring compliance with provincial requirements.
- Reconcile sales tax accounts and assist clients in understanding their obligations and remittance schedules.
Year-End & Financial Reporting
- Prepare organized and complete year-end working paper packages for accountant engagement preparation.
- Reconcile all balance sheet accounts and ensure all supporting schedules are accurate and well-documented prior to year-end handoff.
- Meet with clients on a regular basis to review financial statements, discuss bookkeeping findings, and provide guidance on their financial position.
QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE
- Minimum 4–6 years of full-cycle bookkeeping experience, with at least 2 years in a public accounting or multi-client environment.
- Demonstrated experience processing payroll and filing source deductions with CRA.
- Hands-on experience preparing and filing GST/HST returns; PST knowledge an asset.
- Proven ability to prepare T4 and T4A slips and year-end working papers for accountant review.
- Experience supervising or mentoring junior bookkeeping or accounting staff.
- Proficiency in QuickBooks Online and/or Sage 50; experience with other cloud accounting platforms is an asset.
- Familiar with cloud based tools and other integration technology such as Dext, Plooto, Hubdoc, etc.
- Strong client-facing communication skills — comfortable presenting financials and explaining bookkeeping matters in plain language.
- CPB (Certified Professional Bookkeeper) designation is an asset, though not required.
- Exceptional attention to detail, time management, and ability to manage competing client deadlines.
COMPENSATION
Hourly Rate:
$30 – $35 per hour
Commensurate with experience. Range reflects Ottawa market data for senior-level bookkeeping roles in a public accounting environment. The successful candidate may be offered above range based on demonstrated qualifications.
Pay: $30.00-$35.00 per hour
Benefits:
- On-site parking
- Paid time off
Work Location: In person
