Minted Search Group is a CPA-led boutique accounting and finance search firm based in downtown Toronto, with national coverage across Ontario, the National Capital Region, and Metro Vancouver. We place candidates at mid-sized accounting firms, boutique public accounting firms, and industry employers across every Canadian sector — from Staff Accountant through CFO. Founder Jack Kalb is a CPA, CA with EY audit experience, which means we can technically screen qualified accountants moving into mid-sized and industry roles. We place qualified accountants into public accounting (mid-sized and boutique) and industry finance roles. We work on contingent search by default — no fee until a candidate is placed. Read more about Minted.
Every accounting and finance role we place
Every accounting and finance role we place, organised by sub-discipline — because the screening conversation for a Senior Tax Manager looks nothing like the conversation for an FP&A Analyst or a Controller. Below is the full taxonomy of roles we recruit, organised by sub-discipline and seniority.
A note on firm tiers below: “Big Four” labels indicate where the role typically exists across the Canadian accounting market and are intended as candidate-facing market reference. Minted places candidates at mid-sized accounting firms, boutique public accounting firms, and industry employers. We frequently place qualified accountants into mid-sized, boutique, and industry roles.
| Role | Sub-discipline | Seniority | 2026 Toronto base | Typical firm tier / industry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Staff Accountant | Audit & Assurance | Entry | $55K–$70K | Mid-sized and Big Four |
| Senior Accountant | Audit & Assurance | Mid | $70K–$90K | Mid-sized and Big Four |
| Senior Accountant, Audit & Assurance | Audit & Assurance | Senior | $85K–$105K | Mid-sized and Big Four |
| Manager, Audit & Assurance | Audit & Assurance | Manager | $105K–$135K | Mid-sized and Big Four |
| Senior Manager, Audit & Assurance | Audit & Assurance | Senior Mgr | $135K–$170K | Mid-sized and Big Four |
| Director, Assurance / Quality Control | Audit & Assurance | Director | $160K–$210K | Mid-sized and Big Four |
| Partner, Assurance | Audit & Assurance | Partner | $250K–$600K+ | Mid-sized / boutique |
| Tax Accountant | Tax | Mid | $75K–$95K | Mid-sized and Big Four |
| Senior Tax Accountant | Tax | Senior | $90K–$115K | Mid-sized and Big Four |
| Manager, Tax | Tax | Manager | $115K–$145K | Mid-sized, Big Four, industry |
| Senior Manager, Tax | Tax | Senior Mgr | $140K–$175K | Mid-sized, Big Four, industry |
| Senior Tax Manager | Tax | Senior Mgr | $135K–$180K | Mid-sized / large national |
| Director, Tax | Tax | Director | $165K–$220K | Industry / mid-sized |
| Partner, Tax | Tax | Partner | $275K–$650K+ | Mid-sized / boutique |
| Advisory Analyst | Advisory / Transactions | Entry | $70K–$90K | Mid-sized and Big Four |
| Manager, Transaction Advisory | Advisory / Transactions | Manager | $120K–$155K | Mid-sized and Big Four |
| Manager, Valuations | Advisory / Transactions | Manager | $115K–$150K | Mid-sized / boutique |
| Senior Manager, Advisory | Advisory / Transactions | Senior Mgr | $145K–$185K | Mid-sized and Big Four |
| Bookkeeper | Accounting Operations | Entry–Mid | $50K–$70K | SMB / industry |
| Accounts Payable / Receivable Specialist | Accounting Operations | Entry–Mid | $55K–$72K | Industry |
| Payroll Specialist | Accounting Operations | Mid | $60K–$82K | Industry |
| Payroll Manager | Accounting Operations | Manager | $90K–$120K | Industry |
| Cost Accountant | Accounting Operations | Mid | $70K–$92K | Manufacturing / industry |
| Staff Accountant (Industry) | Controllership | Entry | $58K–$75K | Industry |
| Senior Accountant (Industry) | Controllership | Mid | $75K–$95K | Industry |
| Accounting Manager | Controllership | Manager | $100K–$130K | Mid-market |
| Assistant Controller | Controllership | Mid–Senior | $105K–$135K | Mid-market |
| Controller | Controllership | Senior | $130K–$175K | Mid-market, PE-backed |
| Director of Finance | Controllership | Senior | $155K–$210K | Mid-market industry |
| VP Finance | Controllership | Executive | $170K–$240K | PE-backed, SaaS, mid-market |
| CFO | Controllership | Executive | $220K–$425K | Mid-market industry, PE-backed |
| FP&A Analyst | FP&A | Entry | $70K–$90K | Tech, PE-backed, industry |
| Senior FP&A Analyst | FP&A | Senior | $90K–$120K | Tech, PE-backed, industry |
| FP&A Manager | FP&A | Manager | $120K–$155K | Tech, PE-backed, industry |
| Director, FP&A | FP&A | Director | $160K–$215K | Tech, PE-backed, industry |
| Treasury Analyst | Treasury | Mid | $75K–$100K | Industry, financial services |
| Treasury Manager | Treasury | Manager | $110K–$145K | Industry, financial services |
| Director, Treasury | Treasury | Senior | $160K–$215K | Industry, financial services |
| Internal Auditor | Internal Audit & Controls | Mid | $80K–$105K | Industry, financial services |
| Senior Internal Auditor / Manager IA | Internal Audit & Controls | Mid–Senior | $100K–$140K | Industry, financial services |
| Director, Internal Audit | Internal Audit & Controls | Senior | $160K–$215K | Large industry, financial services |
| SOX Specialist | Internal Audit & Controls | Mid | $85K–$115K | Cross-listed industry |
2026 Toronto accounting & finance salary snapshot
Eight headline accounting and finance roles with current Toronto-baseline ranges. For Ottawa, Vancouver, Hamilton, or Waterloo benchmarks, see the city-specific snapshots for Toronto, Ottawa, and Vancouver, or the full 2026 salary guide. Numbers reflect Minted Search Group placements supplemented by the Hays Canada 2026 Salary Guide (GTA columns) and the Michael Page 2026 Canada Salary Guide (Ontario).
| Role | Level / firm tier | 2026 Toronto base | Typical bonus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Senior Tax Manager | Mid-sized / large national (qualified accountants) | $135K–$180K | 15–25% |
| Controller | Mid-market | $135K–$175K | 10–20% |
| VP Finance | PE-backed / SaaS | $170K–$240K | 20–30% |
| FP&A Manager | Tech / PE-backed | $120K–$155K | 15–25% |
| Director, FP&A | Tech / PE-backed | $160K–$215K | 20–30% |
| CFO | Mid-market industry | $220K–$425K | 30–60% + equity |
| Director, Internal Audit | Large industry | $160K–$215K | 15–25% |
| HR Manager (F&A in scope) | Professional services | $95K–$125K | 10–15% |
Source: Hays Canada 2026 Salary & Hiring Trends Guide (GTA Accounting & Finance) and Michael Page 2026 Canada Salary Guide (Ontario F&A). Toronto / GTA baseline. For Ottawa, expect 7–12% below GTA on accounting and operations roles. For Vancouver, tech segment is comparable to or slightly above Toronto; non-tech roles run 0–5% below. For Hamilton and Waterloo, expect 8–13% below GTA.
What to expect when you engage Minted
Plain commitments on speed and shortlist size for accounting and finance mandates, framed with “typically” and “on average” to reflect actual variance across mandate types.
- First candidate resumes (new client mandate): typically within 24 hours of intake.
- Shortlist size: 2–8 candidates per role on average, depending on the mandate and seniority level.
- Variance by mandate type: pipeline-ready specialties (financial-services Senior Accountants, mid-market Controllers) can move within 48 hours. Highly specialised mandates — niche industry experience, executive-level retained search, CFO mandates with complex deal-exposure requirements — can extend to 8–12 weeks or more.
- Discovery → engagement letter: discovery call typically within 48 hours of inbound inquiry; engagement letter typically within 5 business days of discovery. Weekly progress updates during active mandate.
Why a CPA-led boutique beats a generalist agency
Large generalist recruitment agencies cover dozens of industries with the same handful of senior recruiters per office. When you hand a Senior Tax Manager mandate to a generalist, they’re typically running the same playbook they used for a Marketing Director the week before. The result is a long shortlist of resumes that look right on paper and fall apart in technical interviews.
Minted Search Group does one thing: accounting, finance, and legal placements in Canada. Our founder Jack Kalb is a CPA, CA with EY audit experience. We can have a substantive conversation about IFRS 16, transfer pricing, or PE-style waterfall accounting — and we screen candidates against the actual technical bar of the role, not just the resume language.
On new client mandates we typically deliver first candidate resumes within 24 hours of intake. Our average shortlist runs 2–8 candidates per role, depending on the mandate and seniority. Pipeline-ready specialties can move within 48 hours; highly specialised mandates can extend longer.
Industries we recruit accounting and finance talent for
Our network spans every industry that hires accounting and finance professionals at scale across Canada. We have particular depth in:
- Financial services — banks, insurance, asset management, fintech
- Public accounting — mid-sized firms and boutique firms. Minted places candidates at mid-sized and boutique firms; we frequently place qualified accountants into mid-sized, boutique, and industry roles.
- Industry — manufacturing, distribution, retail, CPG, healthcare, real estate, hospitality
- Technology and SaaS — early-stage to public, US/CA dual-headquartered companies
- Private equity and venture capital — portfolio company finance hiring, fund finance
- Cannabis, energy, and natural resources — Canada-specific industries with specialist requirements
- Professional services — law firms, consulting firms, real estate brokers (operations-side accounting)
- Crown corporations and federally-regulated — for Ottawa and Atlantic engagements
Frequently asked questions
How do I find an accounting recruiter in Toronto that works on contingency?
Minted Search Group recruits accounting and finance professionals on contingency across Toronto, the GTA, the Golden Horseshoe, Ottawa, and Vancouver. Contingent means there is no fee unless we successfully place a candidate you hire. Our standard fee is 18–25% of the first-year base salary, payable on the candidate’s start date. You can submit a search brief through our employers contact form or reach out to founder Jack Kalb at jack@mintedsearchgroup.com.
What does it cost to use an accounting recruitment agency in Canada?
Recruitment fees in Canada vary by service type. Contingent permanent placements typically run 18–30% of the candidate’s first-year base salary, paid by the employer after the candidate starts. Retained executive search engagements (typically used for Controller, VP Finance, CFO, and Partner-level searches) use a flat or tiered fee structure paid in instalments tied to milestones — engagement, shortlist, and successful hire. Contract and temporary staffing is billed on an hourly markup. Minted’s contingent fees are at the lower end of the market because we work without a large overhead structure.
How long does a typical accounting placement take in Toronto?
On new client mandates we typically deliver first candidate resumes within 24 hours of intake. Our average shortlist runs 2–8 candidates per role, depending on mandate complexity and seniority. Permanent placements at the Staff to Manager level typically close in 30–45 days from search kick-off. Controller and VP Finance searches run 6–10 weeks. CFO and other retained executive searches typically take 8–12 weeks. Pipeline-ready specialties can move within 48 hours; highly specialised mandates can extend longer. Timelines compress when the role is well-scoped and the hiring process is structured at the client end.
Does Minted recruit for both public accounting firms and industry roles?
Yes. We place candidates at mid-sized accounting firms and boutique firms on Audit, Tax, and Advisory roles from Staff through Partner. We also place candidates with industry employers across every Canadian sector on the full finance org chart from Staff Accountant through CFO, plus FP&A, treasury, internal audit, and SOX/controls roles. Many of our placements involve qualified accountants moving from public practice into mid-sized or industry roles — our founder Jack Kalb spent his career at EY before moving into search, which means we can technically screen qualified accountants accurately.
Do you place CPA candidates from pre-approved programs?
Yes. We work with CPA Ontario PPR-eligible employers and with CPA candidates throughout the program — including pre-approved firm pathways, experience-verification routes, and reciprocity-track international candidates. If you’re a candidate looking for a PPR-eligible employer, we can match you to firms in our network actively hiring at your stage.
What’s the difference between a generalist recruitment agency and a specialised accounting recruiter?
A generalist agency covers dozens of industries with a small senior bench per office, which means accounting roles get the same screening playbook as marketing, ops, or sales roles. Resumes look right on paper but the technical bar isn’t tested before shortlist. A specialised accounting recruiter — particularly one led by a CPA — screens against the technical requirements of the role (IFRS expertise, sector experience, ERP exposure, audit specialty) before presenting the candidate. The result is shorter shortlists, higher technical fit, and stronger 12-month retention.