Senior Designated Accountant

The Firm

Hey, we’re glad you found this! We are the HGA Group.

What started as an accounting firm quickly evolved into the ultimate entrepreneurial resource centre: the first of its kind in Alberta.

Our team is innovative, highly skilled, and highly collaborative. We believe that bringing together every major resource that business owners need to succeed under a single banner, driven by the singular purpose to give entrepreneurs the resources they need, is the key to maximizing the potential of Alberta’s entrepreneurs.

In a sea of professional service providers, it is our mission to do things differently, to break from the norm, and help people build their dreams— not only those of our clients, but our team’s. We want to help you grow, develop, and enjoy the career that you have always wanted. Most importantly though, we want you to live the life you have always wanted.

Our employees drive the success of the HGA Group, and that means we pride ourselves in empowering our employees to grow with us. The HGA Group gives employees so many opportunities to learn and develop their skills. We welcome you to the team knowing that you are looking to grow your toolkit and make an impact. It all starts here at the HGA Group.

We love what we do, and you will too.

The Role

Reporting to the Principals and Managers, the Senior Designated Accountant is responsible for delivering a range of public accounting services to a variety of clients, on time and on budget. The Senior Designated Accountant will also be responsible for reviewing client files prepared by Staff Accountants.

Act as a resource in developing Staff Accountants by sharing a wealth of skills and knowledge. The successful candidate will value teamwork and constantly seek to achieve personal and team-oriented growth. This position provides technical expertise and advises clients on financial and strategic business planning, by utilizing strong business acumen and the ability to develop and maintain positive client relationships.

Key Duties & Responsibilities

• Preparing Compilation, Review and Audit engagements
• Preparation and review of working papers required to complete financial statements, corporate income tax returns, year-end closing and reporting, and government reporting (i.e. quarterly GST remittances)
• Preparing T4’s, T5’s, personal income tax returns, and other tax returns and schedules, as required
• Maintaining client files to ensure accurate and timely completion of returns and schedules
• Assume leadership roles on complex engagements
• Analyzing complex financial reports and records
• Making recommendations based on analysis and status of reserves, assets and expenditures
• Performing variance analyses and preparing account reconciliations
• Ensuring timely follow-up on notices of assessment
• Assisting with financial and strategic planning for businesses, income tax planning, and estate planning
• Assist principals and managers with managing a portfolio of clients, ensuring their needs are met and that relationships and accounts grow and develop
• Assisting clients with the acquisition and sale of businesses
• Supervising the preparation of financial statements of business clients, reviewing the work of Staff Accountants, and completing complex portions of the file
• Maintaining high-quality control by overseeing and reviewing Compilation, Review and Audit Engagements
• Assisting with reviewing Corporate, Personal and Trust income tax returns and other tax forms
• Reviewing, investigating and correcting discrepancies and irregularities in financial entries and reports

• Assisting the principals and managers with managing a portfolio of clients, ensuring their needs are met and that relationships and accounts grow and develop
• Other ad hoc projects (process improvement, best practices) as required
• Conducting any and all other duties assigned

Qualifications

Education & Experience:

§ Undergraduate degree in a relevant field (i.e., B.Com., B.BA., etc.)

• CA or CPA designation, with a minimum of 3-5 years public practice experience dealing with the accounting and taxation needs of private companies and their shareholders

§ Comprehensive experience in compilation and review preparation

§ Experience leading and supervising staff is an asset

Skills & Knowledge:

§ Knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP)

§ Knowledge of relevant accounting frameworks and file documentation best practices

§ Knowledge of Accounting Standards for Private Enterprise (ASPE)

§ Knowledge of Canadian Auditing Standards (CAS)

§ Proficient in CaseWare and Profile, QuickBooks Online (QBO) and Sage;

§ Strong business acumen

§ Strong computer skills (especially in Microsoft Office)

Competencies:

§ Focused on client service orientation

§ Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal

§ Strong awareness of attention to detail

§ Ability to solve problems independently and use judgement to raise awareness of challenging/complex issues

§ Proven ability in results management

§ Ability to operate in a cooperative environment, with a team orientated mindset

§ Excellent interpersonal skills, and ability to translate this into mentorship through leading teams

What We Offer

Benefits & Perks

• Comprehensive benefits package including Extended Health Care, Dental Care, Disability and Life Insurance, etc.
• Group Registered Retirement Saving Program (RRSP) with company matching
• On-Site Gym with employee discounts and group fitness classes
• On-Site Free Parking
• Wellness Program

HGA is on a mission to provide meaningful and impactful opportunities that drive individuals to grow personally and professionally. We do this by offering competitive total compensation, challenging work, and engaging and collaborative work culture.

Our people are what set us apart, and we believe in providing an inclusive and diverse workplace where all individuals have the opportunity to succeed. We are committed to building and employing an inclusive and diverse work culture to serve our clients with excellence. Joining the HGA team means that everyone is welcome, and we can provide reasonable accommodation during the selection process, upon request, to meet your needs at any stage in the recruitment process.

If you are a passionate professional who is eager and excited to take on a challenging opportunity, this is it!

Please note that only those selected for an interview will be contacted.