Welcome to CPAB – Canada’s Public Company Audit Regulator
The Canadian Public Accountability Board oversees public accounting firms that audit Canadian reporting issuers. We promote audit quality through proactive regulation, robust audit assessments, dialogue with domestic and international stakeholders, and practicable insights that inform capital market participants and contribute to public confidence in the integrity of financial reporting.
We do important work, and we need exceptional people on our team!
Welcome to CPAB – Canada’s Public Company Audit Regulator
The Canadian Public Accountability Board, Canada’s public company audit regulator, oversees public accounting firms that audit reporting issuers. We promote audit quality through proactive regulation, robust audit assessments, dialogue with domestic and international stakeholders, and practicable insights that inform capital market participants and contribute to public confidence in the integrity of financial reporting.
Position Summary
The Director, Enforcement and Legal Counsel is a senior regulatory leader responsible for leading complex investigations and enforcement matters involving participating audit firms. The role combines legal judgment, investigative expertise, regulatory strategy, policy development, governance knowledge and stakeholder engagement to advance CPAB’s mandate and strengthen its enforcement framework.
Ideal Candidate Profile
The successful candidate is an experienced lawyer and regulatory professional who can lead significant investigations and enforcement proceedings, translate complex legal and technical issues into practical solutions, design and implement regulatory reforms, and build credibility with senior executives, boards, regulators and external stakeholders.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead investigations and enforcement proceedings involving participating audit firms, including complex and high-profile matters.
- Oversee internal and external investigators, legal counsel and multidisciplinary enforcement teams.
- Provide legal, regulatory and strategic advice on enforcement matters, including evidence, procedural fairness, administrative law and regulatory risk.
- Draft, review and oversee enforcement recommendations, orders, statements of allegations, undertakings, settlement documents and related materials.
- Design, implement and enhance enforcement processes, governance frameworks, internal guidance and procedures to support consistent, defensible and effective regulatory action.
- Lead strategic projects that strengthen CPAB’s enforcement program and regulatory framework.
- Advise executive leadership on sensitive regulatory matters, enforcement strategy and stakeholder considerations.
- Represent CPAB with audit firms, regulators, international oversight bodies and other stakeholders, as required.
- Provide oversight, coaching and direction to enforcement staff, including lawyers and audit professionals.
Qualifications and Experience
- Law degree and membership in good standing with a Canadian law society.
- At least 10 years of relevant legal, regulatory, litigation, investigations or enforcement experience.
- Experience leading complex investigations, regulatory proceedings or administrative law matters.
- Strong knowledge of administrative and regulatory law, procedural fairness, governance and enforcement processes.
- Experience in audit regulation, securities regulation, professional regulation, public interest regulation or a related field is an asset.
- Demonstrated ability to advise senior leaders and support decision-making in complex, sensitive and high-risk matters.
- Experience managing people, external counsel, consultants or multidisciplinary teams is an asset.
Skills and Competencies
- Regulatory and legal expertise: Applies sound legal judgment and regulatory insight to investigations, enforcement strategy, policy development and governance matters.
- Strategic thinking: Identifies risks, assesses options and develops practical recommendations that advance CPAB’s mandate and protect the public interest.
- Communication: Writes clearly and persuasively for executive, board, regulatory and stakeholder audiences; translates complex legal and technical issues into practical guidance.
- Leadership: Leads complex projects and teams, manages competing priorities and supports the development of staff and external contributors.
- Relationship management: Builds credibility with senior leaders, regulators, audit firms and other stakeholders while maintaining independence and sound judgment.
- Problem solving and decision-making: Exercises balanced judgment in sensitive matters, considering legal defensibility, regulatory effectiveness, procedural fairness and public-interest considerations.
What’s in it for you?
We thrive on the challenge to be our best, continuously learn and grow, and to work together to contribute to the public confidence in the integrity of financial reporting. Our work is based on our core values of teamwork and inclusivity, innovative and courageous, and collectively we strive to reach our potential and achieve success that is mutual.
Sound Right?
If your skills match our requirements and you want to contribute to CPAB, we want to hear from you.
We invest in our people. We encourage team members to develop their careers by marrying their interests with the continuous improvement of our organization and the profession.
#LI-HYBRID
Please note that CPAB does not use artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to assist with screening, matching, or communication. The use of AI tools may be used to help identify potential candidates on external platforms. All final hiring decisions are made by our human recruitment team.
The Canadian Public Accountability Board is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace. We welcome and encourage applications from BIPOC candidates and from people with disabilities; we provide accommodations to applicants with disabilities throughout our hiring process.
