Layla Rands, CPA

I provide fractional and interim Controller services to organizations that need experienced, hands-on financial leadership without the overhead of a full-time hire.

I specialize in stepping into complex or transitional environments — cleaning up financials, strengthening processes, and restoring confidence in reporting. This often includes stabilizing month-end close, reconciling historical issues, improving cash flow visibility, and ensuring management has clear, reliable information to make decisions.

My background spans corporate accounting, professional services, and public practice, with deep experience across full-cycle accounting, financial reporting, budgeting and forecasting, internal controls, and system/process improvements. I’m frequently engaged during periods of growth, change, turnover, or post-cleanup, where structure and clarity are needed quickly.

I’m known for being pragmatic, detail-oriented, and easy to work with — I integrate seamlessly with existing teams, communicate clearly with stakeholders, and focus on solutions that are both technically sound and practical to maintain.

If you need steady financial leadership, improved visibility, or help getting things back on track, I’m happy to connect.

Senior Manager in public practice providing accounting, tax, and advisory services to owner-managed businesses and individuals across a range of industries.

Responsibilities include preparing and reviewing T1, T2, and T3 tax returns, including complex personal, corporate, and trust filings, as well as managing financial statement compilation engagements and related working papers.

Review bookkeeping records, post adjusting journal entries, and prepare year-end schedules to ensure accurate and compliant financial reporting. Provide ongoing tax planning and advisory support, including owner remuneration strategies and corporate structuring considerations.

In addition to client service, contribute to internal practice initiatives focused on improving processes, efficiency, and client communication, with a goal of increasing billable capacity and consistency across engagements. Also create weekly blog content and monthly newsletters to support firm marketing and thought leadership.

Provide ongoing fractional Controller support to architecture and engineering consulting firms, delivering high-level financial oversight and advisory services without the need for a full-time hire.

Support includes compliance and reporting requirements across federal, provincial, and professional regulatory authorities (AIBC, EGBC), along with ongoing review of accounting records to ensure accuracy, completeness, and consistency.

In 2023, led the successful corporate separation of architecture and engineering entities, including the design and implementation of new accounting systems, financial structures, and reporting frameworks to support independent operations.

Work closely with ownership to advise on budgeting, cash flow management, financial reporting, and key business decisions, providing clear and practical financial insight in a fractional capacity.

Reported directly to the President, with responsibility for two direct reports and oversight of project accountants and administrative staff. Implemented procedures and workflows to improve efficiency and consistency across finance operations.

Led the annual budgeting process and performed monthly variance analysis, providing management with clear insight into financial performance. Managed cash flow across multiple bank accounts and acted as the primary liaison with financial institutions on lending and banking requirements.

Prepared monthly financial statements and operational reporting in accordance with ASPE, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and timely delivery to leadership.

Oversaw corporate payroll for approximately 30 employees, including processing, reporting, and coordination of HR-related activities such as onboarding, offboarding, and benefits administration.

Engaged on a 5-month project to support financial reporting, working capital management, and system integration initiatives within a design-build construction environment.

Reported directly to the President with one direct report. Prepared monthly working capital reporting and annual financial statements in accordance with ASPE, while reviewing full-cycle accounting activities including A/P, A/R, statutory filings, bank accounts, and expense reimbursements.

Developed cash flow forecasts, departmental budgets, and variance analysis, and implemented a working capital management plan to improve liquidity visibility and financial control.

Led the research and evaluation of ERP systems, recommending Procore integrations to support project and cost tracking. Designed a new chart of accounts to enable dimensional accounting and construction-specific cost codes, improving reporting accuracy and operational insight.

Provided recommendations on company KPIs and performance metrics to support management decision-making during the transition.