Manager, Public Practice

Job summary

Manage a portfolio of clients and lead compilation, review, tax, and advisory engagements, ensuring quality, compliance, budgets, timelines, and client commitments. Develop and review team members’ work, mentor CPA students, advise clients on accounting, tax, and business matters, and contribute to process and firm-wide improvements.

Job details

The Opportunity We are looking for an experienced Manager, Public Practice to join our team at our Lower Lonsdale office in North Vancouver. This is a client-facing leadership role for a CPA who enjoys taking ownership of a portfolio, leading engagements, developing people, and providing practical advice to privately held businesses and their owners. What You'll Do Serve as the primary point of contact for an assigned portfolio of clients, building trusted relationships and providing responsive, practical advice. Plan, manage, and review compilation and review engagements, corporate and personal tax assignments, and other advisory work from start to finish. Review working papers, financial statements, tax returns, and client communications for accuracy, completeness, and compliance with professional and firm standards. Identify accounting, tax, assurance, and business issues; develop recommendations; and communicate complex matters clearly to clients and team members. Liaise with the CRA and other regulatory bodies on client matters, as required. Manage engagement scope, budgets, timelines, workflow, and staffing while keeping the Partner group informed of progress, risks, and significant issues. Delegate work effectively and provide timely review notes and performance feedback. Mentor CPA students and other team members, supporting their technical development, professional growth, and progress through the CPA program. Support a collaborative and accountable team environment and help ensure client commitments and filing deadlines are met. Stay current with Canadian accounting, assurance, and tax developments and apply that knowledge across client engagements. Identify opportunities to improve processes, technology, service delivery, and internal standards, and contribute to firm-wide initiatives. What You Bring A Canadian Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) designation. At least five years of progressive Canadian public practice experience, including experience managing engagements and reviewing the work of others. Strong working knowledge of Canadian accounting and assurance standards and corporate and personal tax matters relevant to private-company public practice. Demonstrated experience taking ownership of a client portfolio, including managing client relationships, engagements, deadlines, budgets, and expectations. Ability to plan and delegate work effectively, matching assignments to team capacity and development opportunities while maintaining accountability for the engagement. Eligible to obtain a CRA Representative Identifier (RepID). Strong judgement, analytical and problem-solving abilities, and excellent written and verbal communication skills in English. Proficiency with Excel and accounting and tax software; experience with CCH iFirm, CaseWare, Taxprep, and QuickBooks Online is an asset. Ability to work regularly from our Lower Lonsdale office, particularly during onboarding, training, and key periods. What We Offer A full-time, permanent position based at our Lower Lonsdale office. The role will initially require more regular in-office attendance during onboarding and training, with flexible hybrid work arrangements available thereafter. An expected salary range of $90,000 to $110,000 per year, depending on experience and qualifications. Extended health and dental coverage, including a Health Spending Account, with Cahill paying 50% of benefit premiums for enrolled employees. Flexible paid time off that increases with length of service. RRSP matching after one year of employment, with the firm's contribution increasing based on length of service. Compensation for management-approved overtime worked during tax season. Tax season bonus and participation in the firm's profit-sharing program. Paid professional development and continued learning support. A welcoming and collaborative workplace with regular team events and social activities. Meaningful opportunities for continued growth, increased client responsibility, leadership, and advancement within the firm.

What you’ll do

Manage a portfolio of clients and lead compilation, review, tax, and advisory engagements, ensuring quality, compliance, budgets, timelines, and client commitments. Develop and review team members’ work, mentor CPA students, advise clients on accounting, tax, and business matters, and contribute to process and firm-wide improvements.

Requirements

Requires a Canadian CPA designation and at least five years of progressive Canadian public practice experience, including engagement management and review of others’ work. Candidates need strong knowledge of Canadian accounting, assurance, and private-company tax matters, client portfolio ownership, effective delegation, communication skills, software proficiency, and eligibility to obtain a CRA RepID.

Benefits

• Extended Health Coverage
• Dental Coverage
• Health Spending Account
• Flexible Paid Time Off
• RRSP Matching
• Overtime Compensation
• Tax Season Bonus
• Profit-Sharing Program
• Paid Professional Development
• Continued Learning Support
• Team Events and Social Activities
• Hybrid Work Arrangements

Listed skills

• Client Relationship Management · Preferred
• Microsoft Excel · Preferred

Other relevant skills

Identified from the job description. Confirm important requirements above.

• Client Relationship Management
• Engagement Management
• Compilation and Review Engagements
• Corporate Tax
• Personal Tax
• Canadian Accounting Standards
• Assurance Standards
• Financial Statement Review
• Tax Return Review
• Budget and Timeline Management
• Work Delegation
• Team Mentoring
• Regulatory Liaison
• Analytical and Problem-Solving Skills
• Written and Verbal Communication
• Excel

Job areas

• Finance & Accounting
• Management & Leadership
• Consulting