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Controller services in Canada: how it runs
LedgerBPO's outsourced controller services Canada businesses turn to put a senior accountant over your close every month: reviewing reconciliations, GST, HST, PST or QST liability by province, and CRA remittance oversight, then issuing a written review memo, inside your QuickBooks Online, Xero or Sage 50 file.
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What it covers
LedgerBPO's outsourced controller services Canada businesses turn to put a senior accountant over your close every month: reviewing reconciliations, GST, HST, PST or QST liability by province, and CRA remittance oversight, then issuing a written review memo, inside your QuickBooks Online, Xero or Sage 50 file.
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What you get
A senior accountant reviews every close and signs a monthly review memo
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How it runs
Accounting policies, approval limits and controls written down and checked
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What you see
Works with your bookkeeper or ours, inside your software
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A named accountant, a backup and a team lead
Inside your own software, on a fixed close calendar, with a reply from a person within 1 business day. Call +1-657-777-0006 or start a quote.
Get a custom quote 06 / 06
What is different in Canada
A controller reviewing a Canadian business owns a wider set of tie-outs than in a single-tax market. GST, HST, PST and QST liabilities need to reconcile by province, payroll remittances need to match the business's CRA remitter type, and Employer Health Tax and WSIB or WCB premiums need their own review line. Coordination with the company's CPA matters more here too, since only a CPA or a CRA-registered EFILE transmitter can file the T2 corporate return the controller's review memo supports. Quebec's Law 25 adds a privacy-governance angle: the controller's segregation-of-duties and access review has to consider how customer and employee data is handled under that law. Our controllers work inside QuickBooks Online, Xero or Sage 50 alongside your bookkeeper or ours.
CA rules that shape the work
Multi-province tax review
GST, HST, PST and QST liabilities are reconciled by province as part of the controller's monthly review, so the balance sheet agrees with what each jurisdiction is actually owed.
CRA remitter type and CPA hand-off
Payroll remittance liabilities are checked against the business's CRA remitter type, and the review memo feeds the CPA who files the T2 return through a registered EFILE transmitter.
Law 25 in the controls review
Where the business handles Quebec customer or employee data, the controller's access and segregation-of-duties review considers Law 25's stricter consent and breach-notice requirements.
What's included
- Monthly review of every balance sheet reconciliation and journal entry
- Written review memo listing findings, corrections and open risks
- Accounting policy manual: revenue, cut-off, capitalization, accruals, expenses
- Approval matrix for spending, payments and credit notes, checked monthly
- Segregation-of-duties review across bookkeeping, payables and banking
- Chart of accounts ownership and change control
- Month-end close calendar owned and enforced through CloseTrack
- Revenue recognition and cut-off checks at each period end
- Intercompany, related-party and owner transaction review
- Financial statement walk-through with the owner each month
- Year-end coordination with your CPA, accountant or auditor
- Quarterly controls checklist with remediation dates
Deliverables and KPIs
| Deliverable | KPI we report |
|---|---|
| Controller review memo | Issued within 3 business days of the close sign-off, by province where relevant |
| Multi-province tax reconciliation | GST, HST, PST and QST liabilities reviewed and initialed monthly |
| Remitter-type and EHT review | CRA remittances, WSIB or WCB and Employer Health Tax checked each cycle |
| Year-end package review | Adjusting entries and schedules reviewed before handover to your CPA for the T2 |
CA software we work in
Pricing in CAD
Pricing depends on volume and scope. Get a custom quote within 1 business day. Quotes for Canada clients are issued in CAD.
Security and compliance
- Controller holds review access; payment release stays with you. We never move money
- MFA on every login, access reviewed quarterly as part of the controls checklist
- Review memos and policy manuals stored in the LedgerDesk portal with version history
Full control list on the security page and country rules on the compliance page. Certifications are listed only when held.
Frequently asked questions
How much do outsourced controller services cost in Canada?
Pricing depends on volume and scope, so we send a custom quote within 1 business day. As a market reference, full-charge bookkeeping in Canada runs C$60 to C$90 an hour, against C$45,000 to C$60,000 a year for an in-house alternative (Outsource Bookkeeping CA, 2026). A controller retainer is a fraction of a full-time hire.
Do you file our GST/HST return or T2?
No. The controller reviews and reconciles the GST, HST, PST, QST and payroll remittance liabilities that feed the T2 return, but only your CPA or a CRA-registered EFILE transmitter can file it. We prepare the working papers, they submit the filing.
Do you cover Canadian hours?
Yes. Your controller works 8am to 8pm ET, covering every Canadian time zone, so review findings and close questions are handled during your own business day.
Can a controller review work already done by our bookkeeper?
Yes. Many engagements keep the client's own bookkeeper and add our controller as the reviewer, checking reconciliations, tax liabilities and remittances each month. If you would rather hand the posting over too, our bookkeeping team can take it.
Does a Canadian controller give tax or legal advice?
No. Controller services are review, policy and reporting work: reconciliations, controls and a monthly memo. We give no legal, tax or investment advice and no audit opinions, and we do not sign or file returns.
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