Head of Accounting Practice

Head of Accounting Practice, India

Confidential search on behalf of a Canadian accounting and advisory firm

About the client

Our client is an established Canadian accounting and advisory firm based in the Greater Toronto Area. The firm mainly serves owner-managed businesses, not-for-profits, and companies with more complex ownership structures. Its India team works closely with Canadian colleagues to deliver reliable accounting and practical support to clients.

The opportunity

The firm is expanding its India practice and is looking for a Head of Accounting Practice to shape the India team and own its accounting quality, people development, and growth. You will help build and lead a new team that works alongside existing teams.

You have built your career serving Canadian clients in a global delivery centre, an outsourcing firm, or a public accounting firm, and you know how to build a team whose work is accurate, well documented, and on time. You will hire, train, and lead the team. You will manage delivery of accounting, assurance, and tax work for a portfolio of Canadian clients, and you will work directly with the firm's Canadian partners on priorities, standards, and capacity.

What you will do

• Work with the Canadian partners to plan the team's structure and hiring, then recruit, select, and onboard staff.
• Train and coach the team on ASPE, ASNPO, Canadian tax, and the firm's file standards. Set clear expectations, give regular feedback, and manage performance and retention.
• Set up and document how the team works, including checklists, templates, work allocation, review procedures, and data security practices, building on the firm's existing processes.
• Oversee delivery for a portfolio of Canadian clients and stay hands-on while the team is being built: plan recurring and year-end work, allocate it, and manage deadlines, budgets, and capacity.
• Review the team's work before it goes to Canada: month-end close and management reporting; working papers and financial statements for compilation, review, and audit engagements; corporate, personal, and trust tax returns; and GST/HST filings.
• Track review points and recurring errors, fix root causes through coaching and process changes, and hold the team to the firm's quality management, independence, and confidentiality requirements.
• Act as the main point of contact for Canadian partners and managers, and for clients where appropriate. Agree on priorities, raise technical and client issues early, and report on progress, capacity, and quality.
• Improve efficiency through better use of cloud accounting software, Excel, and automation, without compromising quality.

What success looks like in year one

• A trained team delivering a defined portfolio of Canadian clients on time and to the firm's standards.
• Documented workflows, checklists, and training material that help new hires become productive quickly.
• Files reaching Canada ready for final review, with fewer review points each quarter.

What you bring

• A Chartered Accountant (ICAI), CPA (Canada or US), or ACCA qualification, typically with 7 or more years of post-qualification experience.
• At least 3 years leading teams that include reviewers, with a track record of hiring, training, and retaining staff.
• Deep experience in either Canadian assurance and accounting or Canadian tax, with solid working knowledge of the other.
• Assurance and accounting: ASPE and ASNPO, and compilation (CSRS 4200), review (CSRE 2400), and audit (CAS) engagements. IFRS experience is an asset.
• Tax: corporate (T2) returns for owner-managed companies and related groups, GST/HST, and payroll and information returns, with working knowledge of personal (T1) and trust (T3) returns.
• Experience with working paper software such as Caseware, Canadian tax software such as Taxprep or TaxCycle, QuickBooks Online and Xero, and advanced Excel.
• Excellent written and spoken English, sound judgment, and the confidence to raise issues, push back when something is not right, and explain technical matters clearly to partners and clients.
• Flexibility to extend your evening schedule around Canadian filing deadlines.
• Experience setting up a new team or delivery function from the ground up is a strong asset.

Why this role

• Build a team from the ground up, shape how it works, and grow your role as the India practice expands.
• Work directly with the partners of a growing Canadian firm across accounting, assurance, and tax engagements.
• Compensation based on your skills and experience.

How to apply

This search is being managed by Hundred100S Consulting. All conversations are confidential. Please apply through this posting or message me directly with your CV at [Confidential Information]