Regardless of their activity sector, businesses are never sheltered from financial difficulties. When clients are struggling, Elise Lachance, Assistant Manager in Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton’s Recovery & Reorganization Group, steps in to help them navigate these rough seas.
What is your path?
I completed a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting, then continued my studies and obtained a Graduate Diploma in Accounting. I am currently a candidate for the CPA profession. I have been working in business recovery and reorganization at Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton since 2020. I did my internship here and I haven’t left since!
How could we describe your specialization?
When a company is experiencing financial difficulties, it comes to us. Our primary objective is to help it become profitable again. This can be done in different ways, depending on the company’s particular situation, its level of debt and availability of liquid assets. If, after analysis or following the implementation of a certain number of measures, it appears that the company’s recovery is not possible without applying the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (BIA), we need to resort to the BIA’s provisions that allow for restructuring, such as a consumer proposal or bankruptcy.
Can you tell us about a typical assignment?
We first assess the company’s ability to meet its short-term financial obligations and perform a financial diagnosis to determine the source of the problems. Each company’s circumstances are unique and there are several possible recovery measures, including finding new sources of financing or restructuring the company’s operations or finances.
We then develop an action plan with the company and follow up on the measures implemented to ensure that they are working. We also handle communications with creditors.
In cases where this does not work, sometimes we can issue a notice of intention while filing a consumer proposal.
Of course, we accompany the organization every step of the way, regardless of the solution chosen. We work in collaboration with lawyers, bankers, accountants, appraisers and tax specialists.
What do you most like about your work?
What I really like is that we are really involved in the relationship with clients from the start. I also like the fact that we work as a complementary team. Everyone has an essential place and a role to play.
Another thing I like is that the work is not routine. Even though the basic premise is the same, every case is different. We are always learning new things about our work or about a new industry that has specific rules, for example.
By helping companies with problems, we gain knowledge and experience that allow us to identify these problems more quickly and, in some cases, to intervene upstream.
What skills do you need to carry out this profession?
My colleagues often compare us to firefighters, because our goal is to put out fires. You have to be able to keep your cool! We also need good communication skills, as we are in close contact with many stakeholders. We have to be sympathetic and at the same time be as objective as possible.
It also requires a considerable adaptability, given the diversity of the companies. Curiosity is also essential, because we must never take the accuracy and completeness of the information provided for granted. We always seek to corroborate information, to ensure that it has been transmitted to us in its entirety and that nothing has been hidden from us, intentionally or not. This is what allows us to make the best decisions for the company.
Why did you choose Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton?
It is one of the best firms to practice this profession! Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton is a network of partners throughout Quebec who share their knowledge. We are well supported and our team is tightly knit. We work on serious matters, but we enjoy doing it. This is one of the team’s values and, for me, it’s important.
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Working in tax innovation is not only about crunching numbers. It’s a job that also requires scientific and technical knowledge. We discuss the topic with Pascal Grob, SR&ED project specialist.
How can we briefly describe your specialization?
I help my clients finance some of their projects that are risky and technologically bold so that they can qualify for various federal and provincial tax credits and grants – Scientific Research and Experimental Development (SR&ED), Tax credit for the development of e-business, Industrial Research Assistance Program (IRAP), etc.
With my team, I accompany them in the scientific presentation of their projects, and the associated tax optimization, before government authorities or certain organizations.
What types of companies call on your services?
Generally, growing SMEs working in information technology or manufacturing: vision, bioinformatics, biomedical engineering, robotics, industrial processes (chemicals), etc.
To remain competitive, these companies must be on the lookout for technological and scientific advances in their field, and sometimes even technologically reinvent very conservative business fields.
In order to implement these innovation projects, they need to maximize the financial support to which they are entitled through, among others, SR&ED tax credits. It is therefore very useful to call upon a team of experts specialized in innovation financing. Presenting the facts requires precise terminology and the mastery of legal criteria, which is almost a profession in itself.
Is the demand for specialized services in this field on the rise, given the urgent need for organizations’ digital transformation and innovation?
Yes, absolutely! Just about every industry must innovate to fuel its growth and survive. The tax exemption for the salary expenses involved can be as much as 75% of expenses incurred. The programs are therefore very attractive and we receive a lot of requests for support in this regard.
What leads to this kind of work?
Our innovation finance teams have two types of experts: scientific directors and tax specialists. Innovation tax is not an academic specialization as such. Those who work in SR&ED have chosen this field out of interest, because they are passionate about innovation.
Scientific directors are professionals with a strong technical background, such as a bachelor’s degree in information technology or engineering. Ideally, you also need to have good experience working in a company and understand the business side. Research in a company is quite different from research in a university laboratory.
What other skills do you need to become a tax innovation expert?
A large part of the work consists of conducting technical interviews with company decision-makers and documenting projects, taking tax legislation into account of course. It is therefore necessary to be very curious and have strong communication and writing skills. It is also essential to have good summarizing and pedagogical abilities.
Finally, to be part of a team specialized in innovation financing, you must be creative, enjoy working as a team and be open-minded. We work on large projects, which involve significant financial stakes for our clients. The criteria defined by the laws we deal with are complex. We must therefore continually challenge each other to cover all possible angles and draw the best analysis for each case presented.
What’s a typical day like?
What I like about my job is that there is no typical day! There’s nothing routine about this field. When we start an assignment with a company, we set up meetings and interviews on site to discuss the project, talk to the scientific teams, see the facilities and plants, the labs, etc.
Then comes team brainstorming to determine how to make the project or certain company expenses eligible for the various programs. What positioning strategy will we use? This is the most important and most motivating phase. We are really getting into the shoes of a “scientific lawyer”.
The tax specialists are involved in optimizing all the potential credits and grants based on the strategy that will have been developed, but often they are also involved in defining the initial strategy.
Then there is the drafting of applications and presenting them to the relevant bodies.
What do you like most about your job?
We deal with companies that are developing the technologies of tomorrow in Québec. It’s very interesting because we have access to the projects as soon as they are conceived.
Furthermore, we have a wide variety of clients. In the same day, we can talk to a manufacturer specializing in machining parts and to researchers whose goal is to grow plants in the Sahara!!
In this profession, there is also a sense of togetherness among the teams. We are all passionate about our work. My team has been the same here for ten years, and that’s something I really appreciate.
Do you have any tips for people who would like to work in tax innovation?
I would say that you have to use your technical or scientific background, have a strong interest in business and have a desire to get to know the players of tomorrow in innovative sectors.
By doing this job at our firm, you learn to adapt your knowledge to the real world of business and you participate in the growth of these organizations. It is very stimulating.
If this sounds good to you, knock on my door or send me an email: we can definitely discuss opportunities together.
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We are recruiting in these key fields. Discover exciting professions and apply now!
TAX
Tax planning is essential to sound management. Showcase your talent and join our experienced tax teams. They are present in all regions of Québec and are supported by a global network of experts.
BECOME A TAX EXPERT
Your mission
Your main mission will be to determine and meet your clients’ needs. More specifically, according to your specialty and interest, you will be called to:
- Help companies to lighten the tax burden and advise them in their investment strategy;
- Finance innovation and development to acquire competitive advantages thanks to tax credit applications;
- Plan your clients’ business succession;
- Assist in employee mobility abroad.
Your assets and motivation
- Have good communication skills to deal with all kinds of clients, from various sectors of activity (finance, information technology, manufacturing, import-export, public, etc.);
- Demonstrate curiosity, attention to detail and good organizational skills.
What you must like
- Stimulating and diversified assignments;
- Change, since tax provisions are updated regularly;
- Client service and that feeling of making a difference in your clients’ lives.
Our little tax extra
- A reputation for tax excellence with Québec businesses;
- Access to tools and clear documents to remain abreast of the latest tax developments, thanks to our tax training centre, Centre québécois de formation en fiscalité (CQFF);
- The possibility of counting on different specializations within the firm;
- Transfer possibilities between different specialties and even abroad, with the Global Mobility program;
- And of course, life at Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton!
ACCOUNTING
Does working for the most admired accounting firm in Québec appeal to you? Make the right choice and discover several perspectives that will allow you to build a wonderful career.
BECOME A CPA AUDITOR
Your mission
Your mission will mainly be to establish a relationship of trust with your clients. You will be available for them when they have questions, or when they are living through complex situations with their organizations. You will also be called to help businesses by providing a high level of assurance that the financial documents are free from errors.
Your assets and motivation
- Have excellent communication skills to establish a relationship of trust with your clients;
- Maintain critical mind in order to be objective and be discreet to ensure the confidentiality of information;
- Be competent in carrying out audits;
- Be proactive and curious in your work.
What you must like
- Client service; guiding clients and helping them make the right decisions;
- The variety of assignments and activity sectors in which clients work;
- Team spirit, new challenges and adrenaline.
Our little accounting extra
- One of the most important accounting firm in Québec;
- Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton was named accounting firm most admired by Quebeckers.
- We are the only international-scope accounting firm with its decision-making center in Québec;
- We are part of the Grant Thornton global organization with a presence in over 140 countries.
- Our brand is known for its great expertise, acquired over its long history.
- And of course, life at Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton!
BECOME A CORPORATE ACCOUNTING SERVICES TECHNICIAN
Your mission
Your mission will be to help your clients by carrying out their bookkeeping and accounting work. Furthermore, you will provide support for their accounting software.
Your assets and motivation
- Be versatile and resourceful;
- Have in-depth knowledge of the accounting cycle, MS Office suite and other specialized accounting software;
- Have a diploma in accounting (DEP, DEC or Bachelor).
What you must like
- Proximity to the clientele;
- The diversity of files and activity sectors.
Our little accounting extra
- One of the most important accounting firm in Québec;
- Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton was named accounting firm most admired by Quebeckers;
- And of course, life at Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton!
ADVISORY SERVICES
Does contributing to clients’ prosperity and making a difference appeal to you? Advisory services are the way to go to grow professionally.
BECOME A DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION EXPERT
Your mission
Your main mission is to guide businesses of all sizes in their digital transformation: from action plan to implementation. More specifically, you will guide them by analyzing their needs, performing organizational diagnostics and optimizing processes, selecting new digital transformation systems and sometimes, by providing support during automation.
In short, you role is to see to your clients’ growth in the coming years.
Your assets and motivation
To be successful in your assignment, you must have experience and knowledge in the following fields:
- Digital technologies;
- IT project management;
- Implementation, integration and automation of ERP systems.
What you must like
- Have the success of your clients’ projects at heart;
- Keep abreast of new technologies on the market;
- Have a view in the digital field;
- Implement the processes.
Our little digital transformation extra
- A team composed of digital transformation experts we can rely on and learn from;
- We are accredited auditors of the Canada Digital Adoption Program (CDAP);
- Our reputation for excellence and a network of multidisciplinary experts;
- Our brand is known for its great expertise, acquired through its long history;
- A chance to discover and help businesses in all business sectors;
- And of course, life at Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton!
BECOME A STRATEGY AND OPERATIONAL PERFORMANCE EXPERT
Your mission
Your main mission will be to boost your clients. In fact, not only will you help launch them into the future, but you will provide them with the tools to do so.
In order to accomplish your mission, you will have to carry out market studies, prepare strategic planning and implement business plans.
Your assets and motivation
- Have professional consulting experience and a solid track record in this field;
- Understand the basics of financial analysis;
- Have good summarizing skills and know how to put things into perspective;
- Communicate efficiently, both orally and in writing.
What you must like
- Assist your clients with decision-making;
- Create questionnaires, analyze date and highlight results to follow up on market studies;
- Manage assignments and budgets.
Our little strategy and operational performance bonus
- Our reputation for excellence and a network of multidisciplinary experts;
- A team composed of strategy and organizational performance experts we can rely on and learn from;
- Our brand is known for its great expertise, acquired through its long history;
- And of course, life at Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton!
BECOME AN EXPERT IN CORPORATE M&A
Your mission
Your mission is to guide entrepreneurs in making the biggest decisions of their life.
Within your team, based on the nature of your assignment, you will:
- Prepare financial models;
- Search for and find potential strategic and financial buyers and investors;
- Carry out financing and make financial projections;
- Conduct high-level business valuations.
Your assets and motivation
- Be curious; in each of your assignments, you will work with a different company;
- Demonstrate a strong writing ability in a business context;
- Be bilingual (French and English);
- Possess strong financial and analytical skills in corporate finance and securities analysis;
- Have a professional CPA, CBV or CFA designation (an asset).
What you must like
- A human side since you will have to work with business leaders;
- Financial markets;
- Corporate mergers & acquisitions;
- Setting financial forecasts, problem solving and taking of initiatives.
Our little corporate sales, purchasing and mergers extra
- Our renowned and sought-after expertise in corporate sales, purchasing and mergers;
- Our access to a network of multidisciplinary experts;
- The variety of assignments and, with seniority, a more in-depth view of all aspects of the transaction;
- Team work and advancement possibilities;
- And of course, life at Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton!
RECOVERY & REORGANIZATION – BUSINESSES
Does helping entrepreneurs in times of great vulnerability appeal to you? Are you curious? Do you enjoy a challenge? Don’t look any further. We’re sure you’ll like Recovery and Reorganization.
BECOME AN ASSISTANT MANAGER IN CORPORATE RECOVERY
Your mission
Your main mission is to help businesses with major difficulties and point them in a more profitable direction.
According to your specialty and interest, you will be called to:
- Work primarily for financial institutions (lenders), shareholders or executives of private and public companies, and institutional investors;
- Carry out financial recovery, consumer proposal and bankruptcy assignments;
- Design diagnostic studies and prepare comprehensive operational and financial recovery plans;
- Ensure a rapid return to profitability.
Your assets and motivation
- Have relevant experience in accounting (experience in firm as auditor for example);
- Be curious;
- Be ambitious, meticulous, versatile and have a good team spirit, have strong analysis, synthesis and priority management skills to allow you to successfully complete your assignments;
- Hold a CPA designation as well as a designation from the Canadian Association of Insolvency and Restructuring Professionals (CIRP and LIT).
What you must like
- Help clients, act as a first responder and help give people you meet a second chance;
- Reassure your clients and show yourself to be trustworthy;
- Maintain a high level of client contact and professional responsibility;
- Be curious and demonstrate a desire to improve your skills by attending, for example, personal insolvency counsellor training courses and, eventually, by obtaining the CIRP designation (CIRP and LIT).
Our little recovery and reorganization – Individuals extra
- Québec’s leading accounting firm in recovery and reorganization;
- Our reputation for excellence in recovery and reorganization in Québec;
- We work with professionals with various backgrounds, i.e., psychology, law and accounting;
- Our access to good mentors within our firm;
- The firm’s values and its great culture;
- And of course, life at Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton!
RECOVERY & REORGANIZATION – INDIVIDUALS
Does helping people, from all walks of life, who are going through a difficult financial situation appeal to you? Join our recovery and reorganization teams – Individuals and make a difference in their life.
BECOME A FINANCIAL RECOVERY COUNSELLOR
Your mission
Your main mission will be to meet and advise people in financial difficulty to help them turn their finances around and offer them the means to get out of debt. The people you will help are all different and unique, whether they are entrepreneurs, self-employed workers, employees, people who have lost their jobs or seniors.
Your assets and motivation
- Invest in human relations and enjoy taking on an advisory role;
- Good listening skills, good analytical and summarizing skills, empathy and effective communication;
- Have knowledge of personal finances, an interest in law and bankruptcy law or in financial administration and planning.
What you must like
- Help clients, act as a first responder and help give people you meet a second chance;
- Reassure your clients and show yourself to be trustworthy;
- Maintain a high level of client contact and professional responsibility;
- Be curious and demonstrate a desire to improve your skills by attending, for example, personal insolvency counsellor training courses and, eventually, by obtaining the CIRP designation (CIRP and LIT).
Our little recovery and reorganization – Individuals extra
- Québec’s leading accounting firm in recovery and reorganization;
- Our reputation for excellence in recovery and reorganization in Québec;
- We work with professionals with various backgrounds, i.e., psychology, law and accounting;
- Our access to good mentors within our firm;
- The firm’s values and its great culture;
- And of course, life at Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton!
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Financial difficulties can happen to anyone, for all sorts of reasons. The role of financial recovery counsellors and licensed insolvency trustees is to help these people find the best solution for regaining financial stability. But how?
We talk about it with Émilie Boulanger, Senior Financial Recovery Counsellor at Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton.
How did you get here?
I arrived at Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton in 2016. Before that, I had worked for six years as a notary, but I really missed the human side in this profession. This is what led me to become a financial recovery counsellor for individuals.
Can you tell us more about your specialization?
Our main role is to help people get out of debt. We evaluate their options with them and help them get their financial stability back. The same service is offered to businesses, but I take care of individuals.
Who calls upon your services?
Our clients come from all walks of life. We have self-employed workers, people who have lost their job, retirees, individuals who inherited an insolvent estate, unlucky people who bought a property with hidden defects, etc. We truly have different stories each day.
Can you describe a typical assignment?
When a client calls on us, the first meeting is for them to explain the situation. We weigh all matters by analyzing their assets, debts and budget.
It takes a lot of empathy and active listening from us because when people come to us, they often feel embarrassed that they have financial problems. It’s our job to make them feel that they can trust us and to tell them that this can happen to anyone.
Some financial problems are related to personal issues, such as separation, illness or even addiction issues, which require a bit of finesse.
We collect as much information as possible to file the bankruptcy or consumer proposal based on the situation.
What are other aspects of your work?
Not all clients have insolvency issues. By analyzing their situation, we can suggest tailored solutions such as redrafting the budget, selling assets, refinancing their property, consolidating debt or opting for a voluntary deposit.
This is why we need to study the situation, in order to propose the best solution and guide them to the right professional before settling for the consumer proposal or bankruptcy.
If a consumer proposal or bankruptcy is recommended, we submit the file to the Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy. From then on, we act as an intermediate between the creditors and debtors. We negotiate with the banks or creditors to come to an agreement.
Another part of our work consists in following clients to advise them on their budget, find out why they are insolvent, provide reference material to help them, offer tips for rebuilding their credit, etc. We want to make sure the solution lasts and that they don’t fall back into old habits.
What do you like most about your job?
I like to make a difference in people’s lives. When I first meet them, they are lost, tired, ashamed. But once the job is done, they are relieved, they sleep better, they start living again. It’s very rewarding.
This job is also very stimulating intellectually because you have to keep up to date on legislation, caselaw, and new developments in our field.
We’re also in touch with various specialists to support us in our files, such as lawyers, notaries, bailiffs, mediators or social workers. It’s very comprehensive.
Why did you choose Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton?
I recognize myself in the firm’s professionalism and it’s important for me to be recognized as a specialist in my field. There are many lawyers, notaries and accountants in the profession. Often, it’s a career change, so everyone comes with professional experience.
Do you have tips for people who would like to become an individuals’ financial recovery counsellor?
The financial recovery counsellor profession is not well known. I suggest that if you are interested, you should contact a counsellor and ask questions. That’s what convinced me to make the switch!