senior accountant

staff accountant

bookkeeper

senior tax manager

assurance manager

Collins Barrow

My typical day at work would include:

Carry out the new starter process for successful candidates by providing them with relevant paperwork and information relating to their position, such as offer letters and contracts. Responsible for gathering all documents relating to, eligibility to work, occupational health and CRB clearances and previous employment references. My role also involves processing any leavers, compromised agreements, redundancies, TUPE and maternity staff members with varied requests, inquiries and documentation. I also identify any training needs and areas of potential and enrol employees onto relevant training and educational programmes to maximise their full potential.
Produce and process monthly payroll and sickness reports for offices based within the south of the country. I process monthly salaries for up to 1,000 staff members across the country.
Maintain current knowledge of employment legislations which impact processes and procedures to ensure I do not act unethically within my role and also to respond to any employee inquiries efficiently whilst maintaining a professional and caring driven focus which ultimately leads to employee satisfaction and retention. 
I would also develop and implement HR strategies that the company would adopt. We would try and test certain strategies in specific regions of the country, where our offices were based, and if successful, it would then be rolled out nationally.

I had the pleasure of working at Collins Barrow Accounting Firm as a T1 Tax Assembly Clerk, and my experience there was both professionally rewarding and personally fulfilling.

From the outset, I was impressed by the firm’s commitment to excellence and client satisfaction. My role primarily involved assembling and organizing tax returns, ensuring accuracy and compliance with relevant regulations. The thorough training and onboarding process provided me with a solid understanding of my responsibilities and the tools needed to perform my duties effectively.

One of the most enjoyable aspects of working at Collins Barrow was the collaborative and supportive work environment. My colleagues were always willing to share their expertise and offer assistance when needed, fostering a sense of camaraderie and teamwork. The management team was approachable and transparent, encouraging open communication and providing regular feedback to help me improve my skills and advance in my role.

I had the opportunity to work on several significant projects that allowed me to hone my attention to detail and organizational skills. The firm’s emphasis on continuous professional development was evident through various training sessions and workshops that were made available to employees. These opportunities not only enhanced my technical abilities but also expanded my knowledge of tax





A typical day at Bakertilly consisted of answering client calls and emails, preparing outgoing mail and processing incoming mail, accounts receivables, preparing bank deposits, some payroll, assembling tax return packages for both personal and business clients and filing of client information in the appropriate folders. The management at Bakertilly made sure that we were well informed of and understood any changes in policies from the Canada Revenue Agency and within the firm, and kept us motivated and focused during the tax season. Although tax season was at times very stressful, the staff leaned on each other for encouragement and support when needed. I learned to prioritize each job to help the day run smoothly and efficiently. Each staff member had their own strengths in different areas of the business. Using the individual strengths helped us to work as a team, especially towards the end of the tax season. Getting to know the clients and building business relationships with them was very enjoyable. I enjoyed speaking to them and assisting them with any problems or answering any questions to the best of my ability.  

With a job at Baker Tilly Canada you are presented with endless opportunities for growth and development. Like any company, we are constantly evolving and growing to be bigger and better - this presents staff with the chance to take on more responsibilities or define their skills in many ways. 
The culture from a professional perspective is supportive and encouraging, with many coaching opportunities to further your career. From a social perspective, you couldn't ask for a better group to work with. With committees and groups dedicated to social events and fun outings, there is never a dull moment.
The field of accounting may seem daunting, and admittedly the job does present it's challenges. There are constant changes being made to the standards and reporting requirements which means continuous education and research is a must, however; the firm's focus is to always stay on top of or ahead of changes to be able to adapt and produce the best results for our clients. 
Overall, my experience with Baker Tilly has been transformational. Taking a step back to track my growth throughout my time with the firm, I am proud of the progress that I have made and thankful for the company that gave me the opportunities to make it happen.

In the Peterborough office, no one schedules work. So the typical day is begging partners for work. If you aren't one of their favourites, then you won't get a lot of jobs, and in turn will be fired once the busy season is over. I've seen it happen to so many people, including myself. 

The partners are unprofessional and extremely rude. They will talk behind your back and make jokes about you when you aren't around. I can't believe how some of those people are partners. The office morale is terrible. People are just counting down the days to get out of there. 

Very low paying, like SERIOUSLY low paying. And the health plan is bad, there isn't even a dental plan. 

I've worked in other firms and Collins Barrows Kawarthas was BY FAR the WORST place ever, even by audit firm standards. 

I wouldn't recommend this place to anyone. They will lie and say anything to get you to relocate to Peterborough. They provide no training, even though they promise so much of it. 

Complete waste of time. 

BT GWD has been a fantastic place to work at. From the day I started at the firm the office stood out as one that was supportive, people‑focused, and did a good job of balancing work and life. The firm does a great job of exposing professional staff to a variety of different jobs and work (planning and execution of compilations, reviews, and audits of corporations in a variety of industries along with personal tax work) which helps staff to create a solid foundation of practical accounting knowledge that will benefit them as they move through their professional careers. 

As with many accounting firms the busiest time of the year is from January to April when staff need to manage a combination of corporate assurance work along with personal tax work but the firm's strong leadership  group ensure that the appropriate controls are put in place to ensure that our busy season remains manageable. 

All in all, BT GWD is a firm with a great team and culture and I would highly recommend working here.

First the pros:
as a tax preparer the job wasn't that difficult but there was little to know initial training so you basically have to teach yourself and constantly ask another tax preparer what to do if you encounter something you're not sure about. 

The pay was ok, not great, but you'll be working 60 hours a week during tax season.

One of the main people you report to was incredibly nice, understanding and patient in this learning process.

That's it, now the cons:
The job culture is extremely toxic. It was in a small office in which you could basically hear everything everyone else was saying. However, this did not prevent 3 of the main people you report to from constantly berating other employees behind their back.

Two of the main people you report to are just generally miserable and difficult people to work for.

You share a bathroom with another office and there is only 2 stalls in that bathroom.

Tax season is pretty crunchy, and accountants are in low supply these days, so it's a real race to get all the work done during that period.  But when your coworkers are all mature (and helpful) adults, and so is the management, everything else feels manageable.  I can't speak for other locations, but the Pembroke Baker Tilly is a comfortable place.

I'm only seasonal support staff, though, not an accountant.  I'm sure they'd rate the stress higher.  I typically did scanning and digital filing.  I'd love to work there year round, but they only have about 12 hours a week for me, for two months a year.

But if you're an actual accountant, they have loads of work for you!

A typical a day of work would consists of preparing year-end files, a mix of audit, review and compilation files.  Learning is highly encouraged and promoted.  You are asked your interests and allowed to participate in professional development courses to further your interests. 

Management always has an open door policy and encourages corroboration with management throughout file preparation. 

Workplace culture is one of accountability and celebration.  People are held accountable for their actions and are celebrated when jobs go well or for major life events. 

The hardest part of the job is busy season hours.  You may need to work up to 60 hours a week, but this is offset during the summer by 1/2 day Fridays and an annual Christmas closure.

Baker Tilly has been a great place to work. I've had the opportunity to develop great relationships with all members of our team and great relationships with clients, many who are business leaders within our community. Our Partners have created a great culture by being available, caring and showing us the joy of running the business. Our Christmas parties are always fun with amazing venues, dinners and entertainment. A couple times a year we close the office for fun social events. 
We work hard during the winter months through tax season and are able to bank our time. This allows us to take a lot of time off during the summer and fall. 

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