Manager, Professional Standards

Manager, Professional Standards

Location: Ottawa, ON (Preferred) • Category: Full Time, Permanent*•* Job Type: Hybrid

Choose Welch LLP  

The key to our success is continually evolving to meet the needs of our employees, clients and the marketplace.  With a full suite of professional services, ranging from traditional assurance to expert business advisory, our clients respect and value the firm’s expertise and commitment to exceptional service. Our clientele is as varied as the economic landscape, ranging from start-ups to large, multi-divisional privately-held companies, not-for- profit organizations and public sector entities. 

We offer our employees invaluable prospects: possibility for growth and advancement; variety to explore different career paths; opportunity to specialize and deepen skills; and flexibility of work-life balance to enjoy family and personal interests.  

  

Grounded in a values-led culture (care, impact, empower), we are focused on creating a diverse and inclusive environment, in our leadership, and supporting our surrounding communities. 

  

National Firm expertise, with the value and service of a small firm 

  

Established in 1918, we evolved from a single office to the largest locally-owned and operated firm in the region. With 12 offices and over 300 people across Ontario and Western Quebec, Welch LLP has deeps roots in the communities it serves.  Welch ranks as the 14th largest accounting firm in Canada and continues to grow.  

  

About the Opportunity

Join Welch LLP as a Manager, Professional Standards and ensure the integrity of our accounting processes. You’ll monitor, evaluate, and enhance financial data accuracy and compliance, collaborating with Partners and Managers across all offices. If you're driven to uphold excellence in financial practices, this is your chance to make a meaningful impact. Be part of our commitment to professional standards!

Duties and Responsibilities

Compliance Monitoring

• Ensure adherence to regulatory standards, accounting principles, and internal policies. This includes keeping up-to-date with changes in regulations and accounting and audit practices.

• Reviewing files for each partner on a test basis ensuring compliance with minimum assurance standards and documentation requirements.

• Monitoring adherence to minimum preset standards for independence and objectivity of client service staff.

• Facilitate practice inspections for all Welch LLP offices.

• Manage and ensure Firm compliance with the Provincial CPA PERT program.

Quality Control Reviews

• Conduct systematic reviews of audit engagement and review engagement files and financial statements to assess compliance with professional standards and internal guidelines.

Training and Development

• Develop and facilitate training sessions and workshops for all levels of staff to enhance their understanding of quality standards and best practices.
• Draft and issue memos and bulletins regarding revisions to the CPA Handbook, topical accounting trends in a timely manner.

Documentation

• Assist with establishing and updating the following items:

  • financial statement presentation and disclosure checklists;

  • practice aids for all assurance engagements;

  • file documentation requirements including questionnaires for all assurance engagements;

  • internal policies standards, requirements and controls related to all assurance engagements.

Continuous Improvement

• Proactively develop and implement initiatives aimed at improving the quality of services provided by the firm including updating the maintaining the firm’s library of publications and reference materials.

Collaboration

• Work closely with audit teams to support them in understanding and applying quality standards throughout the engagement process.
• Respond to requests from Client Service staff for assistance with complex problems involving statement presentation, disclosure issues, assurance procedures and documentation requirements on an ongoing and consultative basis.
• Participating in planning meetings with all the offices engagement teams to communicate the new accounting and auditing requirements; providing practical implementation guidance with respect to how the requirements should be addressed on a particular job
• Working with engagement teams to identify practical matters that need to be addressed in upcoming assurance engagements as a result of the introduction of new standards or based on feedback from the firm’s practice inspections and internal monitoring reports.
• Contribute to projects at a Firm level that seek to reduce risk and/or enhance the efficiency and effective

Stakeholder Communication

• Act as the primary contact with the following:
  • provincial accounting bodies and other government regulators;
  • insurers on matters related to claims and potential claim matters;

Qualifications

• A minimum completion of University Degree with a specialization in Accounting

• CPA Designation, required

• 3 plus years of practical experience leading assurance engagements and overseeing personnel performing assurance engagements.

• In-depth knowledge of accounting principals and regulatory standards.

• Comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the CPA Handbook and Code of Ethics for provincial accounting bodies.

• Strong problem-solving skills

• Exceptional interpersonal skills and good team player

• Outstanding client/customer service skills

• Effective planning and organizational skills

• Ability to prioritize work and handle multiple assignments

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English

• Verbal and written communication skills in French would be an asset but is not a requirement.

If you are interested in a great career opportunity with a growing, flexible and dynamic organization, please apply!

Welch LLP welcomes and encourages applications from people with disabilities. If you require accommodation during any stage of the recruitment process, please indicate this in your application.

We thank all applicants for their interest but only those selected for an interview will be contacted.