Senior Manager in Kitchener

Are you a seasoned CPA leader looking for a clear, accelerated pathway to Partnership? Are you tired of empty promises and ready to step into a firm that genuinely values your leadership, offers direct mentorship, and delivers on rapid career advancement? Elby Professional Recruitment has partnered with a highly respected and well-established Public Accounting firm rooted in the Kitchener-Waterloo region. This is a rare, high-impact opportunity for a high-performing Senior Manager to join a thriving, community-minded firm with a defined fast-track to Partner within 1 to 2 years (and ideally sooner for the right leader).

You will work closely with the existing Partners, manage a diverse portfolio of clients, mentor a dedicated team of accounting professionals, and position yourself to take over an established book of business as key partners transition toward retirement.

What the Organization Has to Offer:

• Accelerated Partnership Path: Concrete, transparent roadmap to Equity Partnership within 12–24 months (or sooner).
• Competitive Executive Compensation: Market-leading salary package plus lucrative performance bonuses and partner-track incentives.
• Established & Loyal Client Base: Immediate exposure to a rich portfolio of local family and owner-managed businesses, professional services, and high-impact not-for-profit organizations.
• Exceptional Work-Life Integration: A firm culture built on trust, flexibility, and employee well-being—offering reasonable busy-season expectations compared to Big 4 and other national firms.
• Comprehensive Benefits Package: medical, dental, and health coverage, generous paid time off, and dedicated CPA professional development funds.
• Strong Community Presence: A firm with decades of deep-rooted reputation, high client retention, and an approachable, collaborative workplace culture.

Responsibilities:

• Client Leadership & Relationship Management: Serve as a trusted business advisor to owner-managers, executive teams, and board members across diverse industries in the KW region.
• Engagement Execution & Oversight: Lead review, audit, and notice to reader (compilation) engagements, ensuring top-tier technical quality, risk management, and compliance with Canadian accounting standards (ASPE, ASNPO).
• Tax Advisory & Planning: Direct corporate and personal tax planning strategies, reorganization support, and estate planning initiatives for high-net-worth clients and private business owners.
• Team Development & Mentorship: Manage, train, and coach staff accountants and senior team members, fostering a collaborative and growth-oriented team environment.
• Practice Growth & Strategy: Collaborate directly with current Partners on business development, process improvement, internal operational strategies, and client onboarding.

Qualifications:

• Designation: Active CPA designation in good standing is required.
• Experience: Minimum 6+ years of progressive public accounting experience, with at least 3 years at the Manager level or Senior Manager level.
• Partner Mindset: Excellent business acumen, commercial awareness, and a proactive approach to solving client problems.
• Leadership & Communication: Outstanding interpersonal skills with a proven track record of developing staff and building long‑term relationships with clients and community leaders.
• Software Proficiency: Hands‑on experience with standard public practice tools (CaseWare, Taxprep, MS Office 365, modern cloud accounting platforms).

This posting is for an open vacancy currently available within our client's organization. To be eligible for this role, you must be legally eligible to work in Canada.