Accounting Co-op

About Optima Living
Founded in 2007 by two friends inspired by their families’ dementia journeys, Optima Living was created to provide a more home-like experience in seniors housing and care. What began as a personal mission has grown into one of Western Canada’s leading senior living and continuing care providers.

Today, Optima Living offers Independent Living, Assisted Living, Supportive Living, Long-Term Care, Brain Health, and Memory Care across Alberta and British Columbia. Our innovative approach includes Spark, Your Wellness, Your Way; our proprietary brain health and care model. As the only Top 10 Canadian senior living and care provider focused exclusively on Western Canada, we proudly serve more than 6,000 residents.

Guided by our North Star, Let us welcome you home™, we are committed to People, Place, and Community. With a resident-first philosophy and a focus on innovation, we are redefining aging with purpose creating communities where seniors live with dignity, connection, and joy.
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Location: Edmonton
Term: 8 months
Compensation: $20/hour
Position Summary
As a co-op student, you will not be doing side work, You will support day-to-day accounting operations and financial reporting processes and will contribute to real projects that impact employees, residents, and operations across the organization.
These positions are funded through WIL Digital and Co-op Grants program. To qualify for a placement under the program's funding requirements, candidates must be Canadian citizens, permanent residents of Canada, or protected persons as defined under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. International students are ineligible for this funding program, as per the program’s eligibility criteria.
Why This Role
You will gain exposure to full-cycle accounting in a real operating environment.
Responsibilities
• Bank Reconciliations: Prepare monthly bank reconciliations and investigate discrepancies.
• Square Sales and Fee Reconciliation: Reconcile daily Square sales and processing fees against bank deposits and supporting reports.
• Resident Comfort Fund: Record resident payments and maintain accurate supporting documentation for audit purposes.
• Float Reconciliation: Reconcile community cash floats, verify balances, and investigate discrepancies.
• Payroll Templates and Journal Entries: Prepare payroll templates and assist with payroll-related journal entries.
• Rent Increase Letters: Prepare rent increase letters and maintain accurate resident rent records.
Other Accounting Responsibilities
• Reconcile accounts and investigate discrepancies.
• Maintain accurate financial records and supporting documentation.
• Reconcile credit card transactions and process necessary adjustments.
• Process intercompany charges.
• Collect financial data and prepare journal entries.
• Assist with month-end accounting activities and other duties as assigned.
Qualifications and Experience
• Enrollment in a relevant post-secondary program
• Basic accounting knowledge
• Comfortable working with details, data, and structured tasks
• Able to manage deadlines and handle multiple priorities
• Working knowledge of Excel, Word, and PowerPoint
• Clear communication and willingness to ask questions
• Able to work independently and collaborate with a team
• Takes initiative and follows through on assigned work
Eligibility
• Enrolled in a Co-op or Work-Integrated Learning (WIL)
• Currently attending a post-secondary institution
• Open to domestic students (Canadian Citizen/Permanent Residents) only.
Why Join Optima Living
• Work on real projects that impact 40+ communities across BC and Alberta
• Gain exposure to how a multi-site organization operates behind the scenes
• Learn directly from experienced professionals across functions
• Build practical skills you can use in future roles
• Contribute to work that supports seniors, teams, and communities
• Opportunity to extend your term or return for future roles based on performance
Embark on this journey with us and pave the way for a rewarding career in senior living.
Your journey starts here.
Let us Welcome You Home