Job Summary

Optimize LLP is seeking an experienced Manager – Public Practice to join and help lead our Kelowna office.

This is a hands-on management position intended for an experienced accounting professional who is comfortable managing client relationships, reviewing work prepared by staff, overseeing engagements, and preparing and reviewing corporate and personal tax filings.

The successful candidate will play an important role in ensuring work is completed accurately, efficiently, and on time while maintaining a high standard of responsiveness to clients. The Manager will work closely with the firm's partners and other team members and will be expected to take ownership of a portfolio of clients and the workflow associated with those clients.

This is a great role for someone who is organized and can manage people, and wants career progression. There will be opportunities to develop technical depth in various accounting, assurance, and tax engagements, as well as lead and develop a high quality team across multiple office.

Key Responsibilities

Accounting and Bookkeeping

- Manage and review recurring bookkeeping engagements for a portfolio of small and medium-sized businesses.
- Review monthly, quarterly, and annual accounting work prepared by bookkeeping and accounting staff.
- Review Compilations and Reviews or other year-end reporting
- Work extensively with cloud-based accounting systems, specifically QBO, and related applications and integrations.
- Assist clients and staff with bookkeeping questions and accounting treatment of day-to-day transactions.

Corporate and Personal Tax

- Review Canadian corporate and personal income tax returns.
- Identify tax planning opportunities and matters requiring partner involvement.
- Assist with shareholder remuneration planning
- Assist with corporate reorganizations, shareholder transactions, asset purchases and sales, and other tax matters appropriate to the candidate's experience.
- Review CRA notices and correspondence and assist with responses to CRA requests and reviews.
- Monitor tax filing deadlines, instalments, elections, information returns, and other compliance requirements.

GST/HST, PST, Payroll and Other Compliance

- Oversee recurring indirect tax and payroll compliance for assigned clients.
- Review GST/PST/EHT returns and related reconciliations.




- Review payroll remittances, T4s, T5s and other information returns.
- Ensure recurring client obligations are properly scheduled, assigned, completed, and reviewed before applicable deadlines.
- Work with the firm's workflow systems to ensure outstanding compliance items are visible and appropriately followed up.

Client Management

- Act as a primary point of contact for an assigned portfolio of clients.
- Develop strong working relationships with business owners, controllers, bookkeepers and other client personnel.
- Respond to client questions promptly and provide practical accounting and tax guidance.
- Proactively identify upcoming deadlines, missing information and issues requiring client attention.
- Conduct client meetings independently and involve a partner where appropriate.
- Help clients improve internal accounting processes, reporting quality and financial organization.
- Maintain a high level of professionalism and responsiveness in all client communications.

Staff Management and Review

- Supervise and support bookkeepers, accounting technicians and accountants.
- Assign work based on staff capacity, experience and client deadlines.
- Review work and provide clear review notes and practical coaching.
- Monitor outstanding work and follow up with staff to ensure deadlines are met.

Workflow and Office Management

- Take ownership of workflow for assigned clients and recurring engagements.
- Ensure work is properly scheduled throughout the year rather than accumulating around statutory deadlines.
- Work with the firm's practice-management systems to maintain accurate job statuses, due dates, assignments and completion records.
- Identify workflow bottlenecks and recommend improvements.
- Help ensure work is appropriately delegated rather than remaining unnecessarily at the manager or partner level.
- Support the continued development and growth of the Kelowna office.

Qualifications





The ideal candidate will have:

- A CPA designation, or significant relevant public-practice accounting and tax experience.
- Approximately 5+ years of progressive accounting experience in a public accounting environment.
- Strong experience with bookkeeping, year-end accounting and Canadian corporate taxation.
- Experience reviewing work prepared by accountants or bookkeepers.
- Strong knowledge of Canadian GST/PST and payroll compliance.
- Strong working knowledge of QuickBooks Online and integrations.
- Strong organizational skills and an ability to manage multiple client deadlines simultaneously.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- The ability to work independently and exercise professional judgment.
- A practical, client-focused approach to accounting and tax matters.

What We Are Looking For

We are looking for someone who takes ownership of their work and their client portfolio.

The successful candidate should be comfortable moving between technical work, client communication and staff management throughout the day. This role is well suited to someone who enjoys public practice but prefers a practical environment focused on providing useful advice, accurate work and responsive service to clients.

The Manager will be expected to identify issues rather than simply process information, communicate clearly when information is missing, and ensure assignments continue moving toward completion.

We place particular importance on:

- Technical competence – producing accurate accounting and tax work and knowing when additional research or consultation is required.
- Responsiveness – ensuring clients receive timely answers and know the status of their work.
- Ownership – taking responsibility for deadlines and following matters through to completion.
- Efficiency – effectively delegating work and using technology and standardized processes wherever possible.
- Leadership – helping staff improve while maintaining appropriate quality standards.
- Client service – providing practical advice that clients can understand and use.

Pay: $90,000.00-$110,000.00 per year

Advantages:

- Dental care
- Disability insurance
- Extended health care
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision care

Work Location: In person

📌 Manager (Okotoks)
🏢 Optimize
📍 Okotoks