Job Description
Specialist, Corporate Accounting and Financial Reporting
Montreal, QC
About the Firm
Our client is a well-established institutional investment management organization based in Montreal, responsible for managing one of the largest single-employer defined benefit pension funds in Canada. With a proven track record spanning over five decades and approximately $18 billion in assets under management, the organization takes a predominantly in-house approach to portfolio management across a broad range of asset classes.
The culture is agile, forward-thinking, collaborative, and risk-conscious. Employees operate in a flexible, inclusive environment with meaningful opportunities for professional growth, continuous learning, and career development.
Role Overview
The organization is seeking a Specialist to join its Corporate Accounting and Financial Reporting team. This is a senior-level individual contributor role with oversight responsibilities. You will ensure the accurate accounting and financial reporting of both investment and non-investment activities for the pension plans and their subsidiaries.
You will serve as a subject matter expert in ensuring the integrity, quality, and timeliness of financial information tied to complex investment activities—including public and private investments, derivatives, and hedge funds. You will collaborate closely with stakeholders across the organization and take ownership of regulatory, audit, and compliance requirements.
This is an ideal opportunity for an experienced accounting professional who thrives in a sophisticated investment environment, brings a strong analytical mindset, and is driven to continuously strengthen processes and controls.
Core Responsibilities
- Oversee the accurate, complete, and timely accounting and reporting of publicly traded and private investments, derivative instruments, and hedge fund holdings
- Supervise and review daily, monthly, quarterly, and year-end financial reporting, including investment-related note disclosures and subsidiary financial statements
- Guarantee that all investment activities are properly captured and reflected in the official book of records
- Review reconciliations performed by the team, ensuring discrepancies are thoroughly investigated and resolved
- Maintain deep expertise in private investment structures and their reporting requirements, keeping all supporting documentation current and accurate
- Review and quality-check documentation prepared for interim and year-end external audits
- Oversee regulatory, tax, and compliance reporting obligations, ensuring accuracy and adherence to deadlines
- Develop, document, and maintain accounting procedures that support operational consistency and best practices
- Drive continuous improvement by identifying opportunities to strengthen processes, internal controls, and reporting quality
- Lead workstreams within departmental initiatives and special projects
- Provide coverage and support to other team members as required
Specialized Knowledge & Skills
- Comprehensive and current knowledge of accounting and auditing frameworks (ASPP, ASPE, IFRS, and COSO)
- Deep understanding of derivative products and private asset structures is essential
- Proven ability to investigate complex accounting and financial issues and resolve discrepancies with minimal supervision
- Track record of identifying and implementing improvements to accounting processes and internal controls
- Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities with the ability to identify inconsistencies and recommend effective solutions
- Proficient in Microsoft 365 applications (Word, Outlook, Teams)
- Advanced Excel skills are required
- Working knowledge of Bloomberg is required
- Experience with SAGE 300 is considered an asset
- Familiarity with tools such as Sigma, Python, SQL, or Tableau is considered an asset
Experience
- Minimum of seven years of investment accounting or investment finance experience within the financial services industry
- Strong working knowledge of SimCorp Dimension and/or a comparable investment accounting platform
- Demonstrated experience overseeing financial reporting cycles and reviewing the work of other team members
Education & Credentials
- Bachelor’s degree in Accounting
- CPA designation is required
- Canadian Securities Course (CSC®) is considered an asset
- Derivatives Securities Course is considered an asset
- A minor in Finance and/or Business Technology is considered an asset
Language Requirements
Bilingual proficiency in French and English (spoken and written) is required.
Desirable Skills & Attributes
- Strong analytical mindset with meticulous attention to detail and accuracy
- Ability to manage multiple competing priorities with a high degree of autonomy and accountability
- Strong work ethic, personal integrity, and collaborative interpersonal skills
- Motivated by continuous improvement and comfortable taking ownership in a dynamic, evolving environment