Professional accountants are represented by provincial associations as well as by national associations. You should therefore contact both the national and appropriate provincial accounting organizations for more information. There are three major national accounting organizations: the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants, the Certified General Accountants' Association of Canada, and the Society of Management Accountants of Canada:

Information on assessment of qualifications
Although the provincial/territorial associations of accountants will provide information regarding requirements to practise your profession, most are not set up to assess foreign credentials prior to your arrival in Canada. Some associations of accountants have made arrangements with evaluation services (see paragraph below) to perform the assessment of foreign credentials. You need to contact the appropriate association of accountants directly to find out about assessment procedures.

Main Duties *
Examine and analyze journal and ledger entries, bank statements, inventories, expenditures, tax returns and other accounting and financial records, documents and systems of an individual, department, company or other establishment to ensure financial recording accuracy and compliance with established accounting standards, procedures and internal controls
Prepare detailed reports on audit findings and make recommendations to improve individual or establishment's accounting and management practices
Conduct field audits of businesses to ensure compliance with provisions of the Income Tax Act, Canadian Business Corporations Act or other statutory requirements
May supervise other auditors.
Plan, set up and administer accounting systems and prepare financial information for an individual, department, company or other establishment
Examine accounting records and prepare financial statements and reports
Develop and maintain cost finding, reporting and internal control procedures
Examine financial accounts and records and prepare income tax returns from accounting records
Analyze financial statements and reports and provide financial, business and tax advice
May act as a trustee in bankruptcy proceedings
May supervise articling students or other accountant.

Employment Requirements
Chartered accountants require a university degree and
Completion of a training program approved by the Institute of Chartered Accountants and several years of on-the-job training and
Accreditation by the Institute of Chartered Accountants.
Certified general accountants and certified management accountants require completion of secondary school and usually require some post-secondary education related to accounting and
Completion of a training program approved by the Society of Certified General Accountants or Society of Management Accountants and several years of on-the-job training and
Accreditation by the Certified General Accountants Association or the Society of Management Accountants.
Auditors require education, training and accreditation as indicated for chartered accountants, certified general accountants or certified management accountants and
Some experience as an accountant.
Auditors may require accreditation by the Institute of Internal Auditors.
To act as a trustee in bankruptcy proceedings, auditors and accountants must hold a license as a trustee in bankruptcy.
Licensure by the provincial or territorial governing body is usually required for accountants and auditors practicing public accounting.
In Quebec, membership in the professional corporation for accountants is mandatory. *