647-228-5969
     *2024 Results: Approx. 99% of Mark Zinck's clients avoided a criminal record (conviction) for charges of theft, fraud, assault, mischief and threats.

Accountant Defence Lawyer for CPA Ontario Professional Misconduct Complaints, Investigations, and Discipline Hearings

Chartered Professional Accountants in Ontario are governed by CPA Ontario which acts as the province’s regulatory body for accountants who want to use the CPA designation or refer to themselves as “chartered” accountants. Those who wish to use this designation must adhere to all CPA Ontario rules and regulations. Sometimes accountants are the subject of complaints of professional misconduct which can lead to compliance investigations and disciplinary action being taken.

CPA Ontario has the power to investigate potential claims of misconduct that arise from complaints from clients, members of the public, and other accounting professionals. Sometimes disciplinary action is taken as a result of criminal charges being laid or upon the completion of a standard practice inspection that can be conducted at any time. If any mistakes, fraud, or quality standard omissions are uncovered your CPA designation can be put at risk.

Many employers such as large corporations, firms, government entities, and other institutional clients will require their accountant to be certified and designated by the CPA. As such, losing CPA credentials or having restrictions placed on your practice can have a devastating impact on your career and future employability/earning potential.

It is easy to be accused of professional misconduct because filing a complaint with CPA Ontario is an easy process available to anyone.

It is relatively easy to be subject to a CPA Ontario complaint as the regulator encourages members of the public to submit complaints online using their website, see: https://www.cpaontario.ca/protecting-the-public/complaints.

Once a complaint is filed the CPA has a mandate to investigate it. The accountant will be asked to provide supporting documentation and allow access to their books and records for analysis. The complaint may then be elevated to a hearing or tribunal to hear evidence, witness testimony, and evaluate whether sanctions are warranted.

Potential penalties resulting from a complaint, investigation, or practice inspection

Hearings before the disciplinary committee, appeal committee, and judicial reviews can have a devastating impact on an accountant’s career if not handled properly.

CPA Ontario have broad powers to discipline accountants who are found to have violated the CPA Code of Professional Conduct, such as:
  1. Reprimands
  2. Pay fines and restitution for 3rd party losses
  3. Undertake rehabilitation counseling
  4. Participate in classes and training programs
  5. Work under the supervision of other accountants
  6. Undergo practice inspections
  7. Loss of accounting designation
The process of being investigated by CPA Ontario is also open to the public meaning the accountant’s reputation is put at risk. The result of the proceedings will be published online and may show up in online searches for the accountant’s name, firm, or practice. Having a history of disciplinary action or complaints can scar the accountant’s reputation which can cause them to lose existing clients (or job opportunities) and scare off new ones.

Any investigation by CPA Ontario is an extremely serious matter that an accountant must successfully respond to.

Ignoring the complaint is not an option as accountants are required to respond, produce documents, and fully cooperate with the investigation along with any subsequent hearings, tribunals, and appeals. If you or your firm is the subject of a CPA Ontario complaint, investigation, or hearing, it is in your best interest to hire a lawyer to help you respond to and defend the claims being made against you. You may be targeted for something that is standard practice or behaviour that was reasonable in the circumstances.

A lawyer can help you formulate your best possible response to CPA Ontario’s Director of Standards Enforcement and/or the Professional Conduct Committee which is the first step in having the complaint against you (hopefully) dismissed. This is a process that often requires substantial research of the applicable statutes, regulations and generally accepted accounting practices along with prior case precedents that may demonstrate you did nothing wrong or that any mistakes, errors, or omissions made do not warrant significant sanctions being placed on you or your practice.

While it is best to obtain legal representation from the beginning of the complaint process, it is also essential that you have legal representation if your matter has already been elevated to a hearing or tribunal, or you need to appeal a decision via a judicial review or action in the court of appeal. Whether you have just been notified that you are the subject of a complaint or your matter has been ongoing for quite some time, give us a call today for assistance and a free no obligation quote.



   Call us today.

You don't have to jeopardize your future or waste thousands of dollars on excessive legal fees. We provide effective and affordable lawyer representation for those facing professional regulatory body complaints and investigations throughout Ontario, Canada.

Have a skilled lawyer represent you and protect your professional license, standing, and reputation.


    call now: 647-228-5969

    contact@accused.ca

Your case will be defended by a fully licensed Practicing Lawyer of the Law Society of Ontario. Please see our Terms & Conditions of Use here.

We provide our clients with:
  • Flat fee pricing
  • 99%+ non-conviction success rate
  • U.S. travel advice and information
  • Help with related immigration/IRCC issues
  • Employment background check advice/services
  • Fingerprints and records destruction services
  • Clear goals of getting charges dropped and bail conditions varied without a trial
  • Vulnerable Sector records suppression help
  • Experienced, focused counsel

* Please note:

If you are not a paying client, we cannot answer questions and provide assistance about avoiding jail and/or a criminal record, employment background checks, IRCC/immigration applications and status, or travel to the U.S. in the future. This includes those who have already retained other counsel and those whose cases have already been completed.

Please note: We do not accept legal aid certificate cases. All clients are handled on a private retainer only. Not all cases are handled personally by Mark Zinck, nor does Mark Zinck warrant to be an expert in or practice in all areas of law and topics discussed on this website including, but not limited to, civil, administrative, and/or regulatory law.

*2024 Results: the percentage of 99% of clients avoiding a criminal record (conviction) stated on this page is based solely on Lawyer Mark Zinck's personal representation of approximately 2000 criminal defence case clients as of the year 2024. Past results are not necessarily an indication of future results.


 

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   Criminal Information:



   We provide:
  • Flat fee pricing
  • 99%+ non-conviction success rate
  • U.S. travel advice and information
  • Help with related immigration/IRCC issues
  • Employment background check advice and services
  • Fingerprints and records destruction services
  • A clear goal of getting the charges dropped without a trial
  • Vulnerable Sector records suppression help
  • Timely resolutions
  • Lawyer/client privilege
  • Experienced, focused counsel