Job Overview
Esquire Law, a family and criminal law firm based in Calgary, is seeking a highly skilled Certified Bookkeeper to lead a comprehensive financial cleanup of their 2024 accounts. This role is critical in rectifying significant errors left by a previous accountant and ensuring the firm meets the strict compliance standards required for legal practice. You will be responsible for reconciling both operating and trust accounts and maintaining a seamless sync between QuickBooks Online and the firm’s matter accounting system, Leap.
Schedule & Perks
- Schedule: Monday - Friday, 20 hours per week (Part-Time).
- Hours: Flexible between 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM MT (Overlapping hours for collaboration are preferred).
- Location: 100% Remote / Permanent Work from Home.
- Contract: Independent Contractor.
Key Responsibilities
- Forensic Reconciliation: Audit and reconcile all 2024 operating and trust accounts to identify and correct discrepancies from previous years.
- Trust Ledger Management: Manage complex trust transactions, ensuring client retainers and disbursements are handled in strict accordance with legal industry regulations.
- Software Integration: Maintain and troubleshoot the integration between QuickBooks Online and Leap (Legal software) to ensure data matches one-to-one.
- Tax Compliance: Prepare accurate records for GST filings (specifically for Alberta’s 5% rate) and ensure audit-readiness.
- Full-Cycle Bookkeeping: Perform daily accounts payable (via platforms like RBC Express or Pluto), accounts receivable, and payroll processing (ADP or QBO Payroll).
- Reporting: Prepare monthly financial reports, including Profit & Loss and Balance Sheets, for review by the Operations Manager.
Requirements (Non-Negotiable)
- Legal Trust Accounting Experience: Proven experience reconciling trust accounts for a law firm. You must understand the fiduciary responsibility of handling client funds.
- Canadian Accounting Expertise: Strong familiarity with Canadian tax laws, CRA compliance, and specifically Alberta GST requirements.
- QuickBooks Online Mastery: Advanced proficiency and certification in QBO are required.
- Matter-Based Accounting Knowledge: Experience with legal practice management software—specifically Leap—is a significant advantage.
- Independent Problem Solver: Ability to work with minimal supervision ("trial by fire" environment) and take initiative to find the root cause of discrepancies.
Qualifications
- Certified Bookkeeper or equivalent professional accounting designation.
- Prior experience working with international clients in a remote capacity.
- Highly detail-oriented with a "clean-up" mindset to fix disorganized records.
Note to Applicants
The firm currently utilizes RBC Express and Amex for banking and expenses; familiarity with these platforms is preferred. Because the Operations Manager and Principal Lawyer work early hours (starting as early as 5:00 AM MT), availability for occasional urgent morning requests is essential
Reminder
Please follow the provided link to BruntWork’s Career Site to finish your initial application requirements, including the assessment questions, technical check, and voice recording. Submissions with all requirements fulfilled will receive priority review.