ABOUT SUNESIS
Sunesis is the Greek word for understanding — seeing how complex systems fit together and bringing clarity to complexity. It’s a fitting name for what we do, and an even better one for the kind of thinker we attract.
We’re a Calgary-based governance, risk, and compliance advisory firm. Our work spans SOX, internal audit, enterprise risk management, fraud risk, whistleblower investigations, and advisory, but what we actually do, day to day, is help senior finance and audit leaders at Canadian public companies make better decisions about risk and controls.
We’re deliberately built to be different from where many of our team members came from. Smaller teams. Real ownership of engagements. Direct access to the people who actually make decisions, both on the client side and inside Sunesis. The work is technical and demanding, and it’s done by a team that’s chosen this work intentionally.
WHAT WE STAND FOR
Our values aren't aspirational, they're how we operate, and they're the lens we use when we hire. We've found the people who do their best work here are the ones who genuinely connect with what we stand for.
- Trust. We do what’s right, not what’s easy. Independence and integrity aren’t negotiable, even when it costs us.
- Mastery. We take craft seriously. We expect our people to keep getting better and we invest in making sure they do.
- Passion. We care about the work. The detail matters. The follow-through matters. “Good enough” isn’t.
- Partnership. We listen deeply, challenge constructively, and stay engaged until the work takes root. Our clients aren’t accounts. Our teammates aren’t resources.
- Efficiency. We respect each other’s time and our clients’ budgets. We use technology where it sharpens our thinking, not as a substitute for it.
We hire people who want to develop genuine mastery in their craft, who care more about getting it right than looking right, and who want their recommendations to actually get implemented rather than filed. If that sounds like the kind of place you’re looking for, keep reading.
ABOUT THE ROLE
As Manager, Compliance & Advisory, you will lead a close-knit, multidisciplinary team delivering subject matter expertise to senior finance and audit leaders at Calgary’s top public companies. You will report to the Senior Director, Compliance, and work closely with the President and broader leadership team.
This is a hands-on leadership role. You will own engagements end-to-end, build trusted relationships with clients and external auditors, and develop the next generation of Sunesis talent. The work spans internal controls over financial reporting, revenue, purchase-to-payment, tax, treasury, and beyond — across SOX certifications, internal audits, advisory engagements, and process assessments.
You’ll bring strong technical fluency in controls and risk, and apply it somewhere your judgment is heard, not filtered through five layers of review.
WHAT YOU'LL DO
Lead engagements and deliver high-quality work
- Steward a portfolio of advisory and business process assessment engagements through the full lifecycle, from scoping through delivery and follow-through.
- Deliver high-quality fieldwork and keep the Senior Director, Compliance informed with clear, timely status updates.
- Document and assess internal controls over key cycles including financial reporting, revenue, purchase-to-payment, tax, and treasury.
- Perform control design evaluations by understanding key risks and how they can be managed to an acceptable level.
- Oversee and directly support the execution of key controls testing to gauge control effectiveness.
- Oversee updates to existing control documentation, process flowcharts, control descriptions, and design evaluations to accurately reflect current client practices.
Build trusted client relationships
- Develop close, collaborative working relationships with clients at all levels of the organization – from process owners to CFOs and Audit Committees.
- Conduct client meetings to effectively request and gather information, and translate findings into clear, actionable insight.
- Recommend process improvements that clients will actually implement to strengthen their business – recommendations grounded in data, refined through collaboration, and designed for execution.
- Manage and maintain effective, collaborative relationships with external audit.
Identify risks and drive remediation
- Identify control gaps, conduct preliminary gap risk assessments, and develop remediation plans – communicating clearly with clients and internal leadership throughout.
- Manage project scheduling and budgets, anticipating constraints early and providing solutions to keep engagements on track.
Develop the team
- Support, coach, and train team members to deliver excellent client service in line with Sunesis operational standards.
- Contribute to a culture of mastery – where expertise, continuous learning, and disciplined execution are how we do business.
- Contribute to the development of new ideas and approaches to improve our work processes.
Support the firm’s growth
- Support and assist the leadership team on research and business development initiatives.
- Help shape thought leadership, methodologies, and tools – including the continued evolution of our Controls Intelligence™ platform.
WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR
Required
- CPA designation with a minimum of 3 years post-designation experience.
- Strong technical knowledge of IFRS and financial reporting fundamentals.
- Experience leading work, mentoring others, and engaging directly with senior stakeholders.
- Excellent written and verbal communication – the ability to translate technical findings into clear, decision-ready insight.
- Eligibility to work in Canada.
Considered an asset
- Experience in assurance, internal audit, or risk advisory at a national firm, or equivalent in-house experience in a public company SOX/CSOX program.
- Familiarity with internal controls over financial reporting, SOX/CSOX, and process and controls documentation.
- Working knowledge of key business cycles: revenue, purchase-to-payment, tax, and treasury.
- Experience with Canadian public company reporting environments (TSX issuers).
The kind of person who thrives at Sunesis
- You take ownership. You see engagements through, and you stay engaged until change takes root.
- You communicate with clarity and move with intent.
- You’re rigorous without being rigid, you challenge constructively and listen deeply.
- You care about getting it right more than looking right.
- You want to be part of a team where continuity, trust, and mastery are real, not aspirational.
WHAT YOU'LL GET
- A seat at the table from day one – direct client relationships and real ownership.
- Exposure to Calgary’s most recognized public companies and complex, varied engagements.
- Mentorship from senior leaders who actually invest in your growth.
- Access to Sunesis’s proprietary platforms, including Controls Intelligence™.
- A 12-month contract with a genuine path to permanent for the right fit.
- A start date of August 2026, based in our downtown Calgary office (407 2 Street SW, Suite 1800).
HOW TO APPLY
Send your resume and a brief note about why this role interests you to [email protected], or apply through Indeed page. We review applications as they come in and will reach out to candidates who look like a strong fit for an initial conversation.
Sunesis is committed to building a team that reflects a diversity of backgrounds and perspectives. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates.
Pay: $100,000.00-$120,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Company events
- Dental care
- Disability insurance
- Life insurance
- On-site gym
- Paid time off
Licence/Certification:
- Chartered Professional Accountant (preferred)
Work Location: In person
