Professional Standards Counsel

Chartered Professional

$162K *
Legal & Accounting
11 - 15 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • An LL.B / J.D., with a member in good standing of the Law Society of Ontario, licensed in Ontario.
  • At least 15 years of experience in complex prosecution or litigation matters.
  • Proven ability to lead sophisticated investigations from intake to resolution, experience in self-regulating professions is a plus.
  • Strong interpersonal, advocacy, and negotiation skills with persuasive presentation ability to diverse audiences.
  • Highly organized and strategic, capable of managing multiple priorities in high-pressure environments.
  • Proficient in Microsoft Office; familiarity with e-discovery platforms is an advantage.
  • Experience in managing or leading teams is beneficial.

Responsibilities

  • Prosecute cases before Discipline and Appeal Committees and in courts.
  • Appoint and oversee investigators for the Professional Conduct Committee.
  • Review and mentor investigators on their reports and findings.
  • Collaborate with teams on complex complaints processes.
  • Accountable for decisions related to investigations and prosecutions to senior leadership.
  • Advise the Professional Conduct Committee on legal matters.
  • Develop and implement policies for the Enforcement team affecting regulatory practices.

Benefits

  • Access to top-tier benefits and mental health resources.
  • Commitment to inclusion in all operational aspects.
  • Flexible hybrid work environment with 3 days on-site and 2 days remote.
  • Financial support for a comfortable home office setup.
  • Opportunities for professional growth through learning, projects, and career progression.
Full Job Description
Professional Standards Counsel (Regulatory Prosecutor)

Lead High-Impact Regulatory Cases and Prosecute Professional Misconduct

About This Opportunity:

As a Professional Standards Counsel you will play a critical role in upholding the integrity of the profession. In this position, you will oversee and guide investigations, provide strategic legal advice to the Professional Conduct Committee, and prosecute complex disciplinary matters before the CPA Ontario Discipline and Appeal Committees and on judicial review. You may also prosecute matters involving misuse of the CPA designation under the Provincial Offences Act.

This is a unique opportunity to apply your litigation expertise in a high-impact, purpose-driven role that directly contributes to maintaining public trust and professional ethical standards while maintaining a great work-life balance.

What You'll Be Doing:

  • Prosecute matters before the Discipline and Appeal Committees and before the courts.
  • Appoint investigators on behalf of the Professional Conduct Committee.
  • Review investigator reports and provide supervision, direction and advice to in-house and external investigators.
  • Collaborate with internal teams on complex matters throughout the complaints process.
  • Be accountable to the Professional Conduct Committee and the SVP of Enforcement for decisions taken on an investigation or prosecution file.
  • Advise the Professional Conduct Committee and Enforcement team on legal issues.
  • Formulate and apply policies and strategies within the Enforcement team, impacting the Regulatory & Standards group and the CPA profession broadly.
  • Provide legal advice or other related work product to other departments within CPA Ontario.


To Be Successful You Need:

  • An LL.B / J.D., membership in good standing with the Law Society of Ontario and be licensed to practice in Ontario.
  • A minimum of 15 years at the Bar with a strong track record in complex prosecution and / or litigation matters.
  • Demonstrated ability to independently lead sophisticated investigations and prosecutions from intake through resolution. Experience with disciplinary proceedings involving self-regulating professions and/or with criminal prosecutions is highly valued.
  • Exceptional judgement and credibility, with highly developed interpersonal, advocacy and negotiation skills. Proven ability to present persuasively to diverse audiences, including senior stakeholders, tribunals and the public.
  • Highly organized and strategic, with a track record of effectively managing competing priorities in a fast-paced, high-volume deadline-driven environments.
  • Digitally fluent with strong proficiency in Microsoft Office suite; experience with e-discovery platforms and leveraging technology to drive efficient legal practice is desirable.
  • Experience managing/leading teams is considered an asset.


Salary Range

  • The targeted starting salary for this position is $162,100 annually, which reflects the middle of the compensation range. Actual salary offered will be determined based on qualifications, experience, and internal equity.


Why Join CPA Ontario?

  • We support your well-being through industry-leading benefits, mental health resources, savings programs, and a sustainable approach to how work gets done.
  • We are committed to inclusion as a core part of how we operate, not as an afterthought.
  • We have a hybrid working environment, with three days a week on-site, complemented by 2 days of work-from-home time. We are intentional about that: the work we do benefits from being together. We want those days you work from home to be comfortable and offer a one-time bonus towards a home office when you start.
  • We invest in your growth through learning and professional development opportunities, stretch projects, secondments, and genuine paths for career progression.
  • We move quickly. The pace reflects the profession we serve; it can be demanding, but the work matters, and the team around you is invested in the same outcomes you have.


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