Ottawa Environmental Consulting

Position: Intermediate Accountant
Organization: ESSA TECHNOLOGIES LTD.
Location: Ottawa, Ontario

Full-time, Ottawa ON

ESSA Technologies Ltd. (ESSA) is an employee-owned Canadian environmental consulting company with offices in Vancouver, British Columbia and Ottawa, Ontario.

We are passionate about what we do, and we enjoy working with professionals who share our values and mission. We envision a world where creativity, a focus on learning, and systems thinking are the foundation of innovative solutions to environmental challenges. Our corporate mission is to “bring together people, science and analytical tools to sustain healthy ecosystems and human communities”. We achieve this mission by helping clients deal with tough, emerging problems, applying a neutral, thorough evaluation of evidence, encouraging diverse participatory processes, and collaboratively guiding our clients to make informed decisions that are designed to learn over time. Learn more about us at http://www.essa.com

With offices in British Columbia and Ontario, we acknowledge that our offices are on the unceded territory of the Coast Salish People (the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations) in Vancouver, and the unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishnaabeg People in Ottawa. We acknowledge that we also work in the territories of other Indigenous Nations across Canada and the world.

The Opportunity

We are looking for a highly detail-oriented, self-driven, energetic, people-oriented and adaptable Intermediate Accountant with strong experience to join our Ottawa office. The role will support our collaborative team of professional staff by performing a variety of accounting duties for the Ottawa and Vancouver offices. Reporting to the Chief Accountant, you will also work closely with our Admin and Accounting team members.

Accounting Responsibilities (~90%)

The main accounting responsibilities are the following:

• Full cycle project accounting function from setting up projects in accounting system, preparing invoices, tracking project budget status, communicating with project managers, clients and subcontractors, to making closing accounting adjustments to projects.
• Project administration support to project managers which includes preparing subcontracts and work orders, assisting in contract review, obtaining proof of insurance, and completing registrations, such as supplier registrations, required by the clients.
• Accounts payable duties which includes verifying accuracy of charges in vendors’ invoices, credit card statements and employees’ expense reports, entering journals, obtaining approval, selecting bills to pay and processing payments.
• Reviewing AP entries and payments; maintaining the accounts payable sub-ledgers and investigating discrepancies.
• Collecting and verifying employees’ timesheets.
• Preparing month-end and year-end working papers, reconciliation of GL accounts, and financial reports
• Preparing periodic Financial Planning and Analysis reports assigned.

Ottawa Office Coordination & Team Support (~ 10%)

Alongside your accounting work, you’ll take on a small but meaningful role in supporting the daily operations and overall experience of our Ottawa office — helping it run smoothly, feel welcoming, and function as a great place to work for both staff and visitors. Your responsibilities include:

• Overseeing the onboarding process for new Ottawa-based staff, ensuring seamless integration and proper workstation setup.
• Managing basic office operations, including:
  • Handling reception calls and receiving deliveries or couriers.
  • Communicating with Ottawa office landlord for building management.
  • Maintaining the cleanliness and organization of the kitchen area, including restocking supplies.
  • Coordinating the purchase, recycling, and maintenance of office furniture and equipment.
  • Regularly checking and managing the office mailbox.

Other tasks you will perform collaboratively as part of the Ottawa team:

• Ottawa team weekly check-in
• Care and upkeep of office plants
• Ensuring the appearance and cleanliness of our Ottawa office
• Health and Safety Committee member
• Social planning of team events
• Coordinate virtual meetings Zoom and Microsoft Teams

Requirements

Completion of a degree in Accounting, or diploma in Accounting if holding a degree in another academic field, with a minimum of 4 years of progressive accounting and financial reporting experience in Canada. Full-cycle accounting experience including AP/AR and month/year-end processing is required.

You have a proven track record of applying excellent Excel skills (including Visual Basic for Applications; macros) in performing advanced level analyses such as revenue forecast, project status report, budget actual variance analysis, etc. Project-related accounting experience in technology, environmental or engineering industry is preferred. Experience with multiple currencies is a definite asset.

You are highly detail oriented and take pride in producing quality work within set timelines, ensuring accuracy and efficiency in every task. As a resourceful problem solver, you are very comfortable and quick to learn new technologies and accounting processes. Another strongly differentiating asset is familiarity with Python or SQL for data analysis and automation of repetitive financial processes.

You are a confident, energetic and positive communicator, with a strong collaboration and teamwork focus; very adaptable to changing priorities and effective at juggling multiple tasks. You are comfortable working independently and collaboratively, taking the initiative to follow through on tasks without the need for prompting, and asking for guidance when necessary to ensure successful outcomes. You are also skilled in managing office space and creating a welcoming and professional environment for staff and visitors.

Applying

We look forward to welcoming the successful candidate to our team. We offer a welcoming, inclusive workplace and commit to working with staff to help them thrive and prosper. Our total rewards program for employees provides competitive compensation including performance-based profit sharing, medical benefits, flexible working arrangements, and vacation, plus support for ongoing professional development.

Please submit a cover letter stating your salary expectations and a resume by April 20, 2025, to careers@essa.com, with “Intermediate Accountant” in the subject line.

Please mention you saw this at GoodWork.ca.

We will contact selected candidates soon after the posting closes, and conduct interviews late April, with the selected candidate starting on June 2, 2025. Thank you for your interest in ESSA.

All applicants must already be eligible to legally work in Ontario at the time of applying.

Independent industry bench-marked starting base salary range: $60,000 -to- $67,500 (95th+ percentile qualifications and experience relative to the requirements detailed in the job description above).