Bookkeeping Associate

accountrain is a growing bookkeeping and accounting firm serving long-term clients across a range of industries, including not-for-profit organizations. We work with established businesses that value accuracy, reliability, and clear financial reporting.

We are currently looking for an experienced Bookkeeping Associate to join our contractor team.

This role is best suited to someone who already has strong hands-on bookkeeping experience in Canada and is comfortable managing multiple client files independently.

How this role works

All bookkeepers at accountrain work as independent contractors.

The role begins around 20 hours per week but typically expands to 35–40 hours within several months as client files are assigned.

This position is intended to become the contractor’s primary professional engagement, not occasional or supplemental work.

You must be based in the Ottawa region.

This is a client-facing, on-site role. While some work can be completed remotely, the majority of your time will be spent visiting clients in person (often several times per week). This is not a primarily work-from-home position.

Applicants must have:

A reliable home office setup
Their own computer
Stable high-speed internet

What you will be doing

You will manage bookkeeping for multiple clients and handle regular month-end processes.

Responsibilities include:

Full-cycle bookkeeping
Managing accounts payable and receivable
Payroll (manual and third-party platforms)
Government remittances (HST, payroll source deductions)
Month-end journal entries and reconciliations
Financial reporting
Year-end preparation for external accountants
Project or fund tracking for certain clients (including not-for-profits)

Required experience

This role requires practical bookkeeping experience.

Applicants should have:

3 to 5+ years of hands-on bookkeeping experience
Strong working knowledge of QuickBooks Online
Experience managing multiple client files
Solid Excel / spreadsheet skills
Familiarity with Canadian payroll and government remittances
Experience preparing files for year-end accountants

Candidates may be asked to complete a practical bookkeeping assessment in QuickBooks Online as part of the interview process.

Additional considerations

To be eligible for this role, applicants must:

Be legally able to work as an independent contractor in Canada
Have work authorization that allows contractor work
Be available during regular Canadian business hours

We are looking for someone who intends to build a long-term professional relationship with our firm.

The kind of person who does well here

Technical skills matter, but values matter just as much.

People who succeed at accountrain tend to:

Take pride in accurate, high-quality work
Be dependable and organized
Communicate clearly and professionally with clients
Work independently while collaborating with a team
Care about doing the right thing

Compensation

Compensation will be between $20-30/hr reflective of experience and ability.

Qualified applicants will be invited to:

A short introductory conversation
A practical bookkeeping test in QuickBooks Online
A final discussion with our team

We look forward to meeting you!

- The accountrain team

Jobs

Bookkeeper