Director, Accounting Policy

About Wealthsimple

Wealthsimple is a major Canadian financial technology company offering a broad range of straightforward yet sophisticated products, including managed investing, self-directed trading, cryptocurrency, tax filing, spending, and saving. Founded in 2014 by finance and technology leaders and based in Toronto, the company serves more than 4 million Canadians and oversees over $125 billion in assets under administration.

The organization is growing quickly and is still expanding its capabilities. It values a culture of curiosity, thoughtful execution, and continuous improvement.

About the Role

The Director, Accounting Policy will report to the Senior Director, Financial Reporting and will be the first dedicated leader to create Wealthsimple's accounting policy capability. This position is a unique chance to establish an essential function from scratch at a fast-moving fintech firm and influence the accounting structure that supports the company's future growth.

You will own the accounting policy framework, develop and maintain a robust policy library, and make sure every part of the business — including brokerage, banking, credit card, WealthsimpleTax, mortgage, and future offerings — has the technical accounting guidance needed to launch, grow, and report accurately and confidently. You will also be a primary contact for external auditors and help define the long-term direction of accounting policy at Wealthsimple.

This opportunity is well suited to someone who is comfortable working through uncertainty, energized by building new systems, and motivated to make a lasting impact on the financial foundation of a rapidly scaling company.

Key Responsibilities

• Create and launch Wealthsimple's first dedicated accounting policy team, including its mandate, operating structure, and delivery roadmap.
• Put in place scalable processes, templates, and governance practices that can evolve with increasing organizational complexity and regulatory expectations.
• Develop, curate, and keep current a complete accounting policy library aligned with IFRS and Wealthsimple's broader strategic direction, using Claude and existing accounting memoranda to accelerate the work.
• Write and maintain technical accounting positions, memoranda, and white papers across the full range of accounting topics, with emphasis on areas such as IFRS 9, IFRS 15, equity-based compensation, and new or evolving standards.
• Ensure policy documents are practical, clearly drafted, and usable for both finance specialists and non-finance partners across the business.
• Serve as the main accounting policy advisor to all business lines, including brokerage, banking, credit card, SimpleTax, mortgage, and future products.
• Work closely with product, legal, and business teams early in the development cycle to identify accounting implications before new products, features, or commercial arrangements go live.
• Provide forward-looking advice on complex or unusual transactions and ensure IFRS treatment is identified and documented in advance.
• Act as a key liaison for external auditors on accounting policy matters, including new positions, changes in estimates, and technical interpretations.
• Prepare and deliver policy support materials to auditors and keep deliverables audit-ready and well substantiated.
• Manage policy-related audit timelines and resolve technical accounting questions efficiently.
• Own the multi-year accounting policy roadmap and anticipate the needs of a growing business by making sure policies are documented, supportable, and aligned with best practices.
• Track the IFRS standards pipeline and assess how new or amended requirements could affect Wealthsimple's operations and financial reporting.
• Partner with the Senior Director, Financial Reporting and finance leadership to ensure accounting policies reinforce strong internal controls and meet external stakeholder expectations.

Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate brings deep technical accounting experience, strong judgment, and a proven ability to build new capabilities in fast-changing environments. Comfort with ambiguity, cross-functional collaboration, and clear communication are essential.

Requirements

• At least 10 years of progressive experience in accounting policy, technical accounting, or financial reporting, with substantial time in a dedicated policy or advisory role.
• Strong, up-to-date knowledge of IFRS, including complex areas such as IFRS 9 and IFRS 15.
• CPA designation is required.
• Experience in financial services, especially across multiple products such as banking, brokerage, lending, and payments, is a strong advantage.
• Proven success in creating functions, processes, or teams from the ground up in a fast-paced setting.
• Experience in a public-company environment or in preparation for one, including SOX/ICFR, is strongly preferred.
• Background in managing external audits and handling detailed technical discussions with auditors and regulators.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to turn complex accounting issues into practical guidance for non-finance stakeholders and senior leaders.
• Genuine interest in Wealthsimple, fintech, technology, and AI.
• Ability to excel in highly ambiguous, fast-moving environments with limited direction.
• Demonstrated experience leading cross-functional initiatives and building strong partnerships across diverse teams.

Perks and Benefits

• Comprehensive health coverage and life insurance.
• Long-term group savings with employer matching through Wealthsimple for Business.
• 20 vacation days, 4 wellness days, and unlimited sick and mental health days each year.
• Option to work from outside Canada for up to 90 days per year.
• Employee resource groups such as Rainbow (2SLGBTQ), Women of WS, and Black at WS.
• A hybrid workplace with more than 1,500 employees across North America.
• A collaborative team of skilled, curious, and ambitious colleagues.

Additional Information

Wealthsimple emphasizes speed, thoughtful execution, and experimentation with better ways of working, including new tools, AI, and improved problem-solving approaches. Applicants are not expected to have every answer, but they should bring curiosity and a willingness to grow alongside the products being built.

The company strongly encourages applications from people of all backgrounds, regardless of race, religion, colour, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, or disability status.

Wealthsimple is committed to an accessible hiring process and will provide accommodations during interviews for candidates who need them.

The company may use AI tools during parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or evaluating responses. These tools support the team but do not replace human judgment, and final hiring decisions are made by people.