CAREERS · OTTAWA · PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT
Build Your Career: Join a Team That Publishes Its Mistakes
We're six people managing $340 million. That means you'll have real responsibility on day one. It also means there's no place to hide — which, honestly, is why most of us like it here. We've been operating this way since 2006, and the people who thrive here tend to share one trait: they'd rather be accountable than comfortable.
All positions are based in Ottawa, Ontario. Meet the current team.
What It Actually Feels Like to Work at a Six-Person Firm
We're a small team, so here's how we handle that: everyone does work that would be three levels above their title at a large firm. There are no layers of middle management, no approval chains stretching across departments, and no ambiguity about whether your work matters. It ships. Clients read it. Regulators review it.
Our research analyst presents directly to clients. Our compliance manager has a seat at the investment committee table. Our client relations manager builds financial plans rather than prospecting for new business. Decisions happen in a room, not in an email chain. If you've worked at a large institution and felt frustrated by how slowly things move, you'll find the pace here radically different — sometimes exhilaratingly so, sometimes uncomfortably so.
We don't have a foosball table or unlimited snacks. We do have flexible hours, a genuine no-meeting-Fridays policy, a professional development budget of $5,000 per person annually, and the understanding that your kids' recitals and hockey games aren't things you should have to apologize for attending. Our office is in a renovated heritage building in Ottawa — close to the canal, walkable to good lunch spots, and quiet enough that you can actually think.
Wondering what the catch is? Here it is: you will be visible. Your work will be read by clients, reviewed by regulators, and published in our quarterly reports. Every piece of research carries the analyst's name. Every financial plan goes out with the planner's signature. Our Open Book philosophy means we publish what went right and what went wrong — and your name is attached to both. If that sounds terrifying, this probably isn't the right fit. If it sounds exhilarating, keep reading.
Explore Open Positions by Department
Click a department tab to see current openings. We post everything here first — if it's not listed, we're not hiring for it. (Though we make exceptions — see the Technology tab.) Each role includes the reporting manager, real compensation ranges, and a candid note from the person you'd be working with. No vague "competitive salary" language here — that's not how we operate, and it's not how we treat transparency in any other part of the business either.
Research Analyst
Reports to: Priya Chandrasekaran, Director of Research & Analytics
About the Role
This is a front-line research position with direct client exposure. You won't be feeding analysis upward through layers of senior analysts — your research notes go to the investment committee and, after review, directly to clients. Our coverage universe spans approximately 180 Canadian and U.S. equities across multiple sectors. You'll own sectors outright, build and defend your own theses, and contribute to our published quarterly reports — including the "What Went Wrong" section that Burnabilly is known for. Read more about how we structure our investment strategies to understand the research context.
Responsibilities
- Fundamental analysis on Canadian and U.S. equities within our ~180-security coverage universe, with primary ownership of two to three sector assignments
- Maintain and update valuation models — DCF, comparables, and sector-specific frameworks — with full documentation of assumptions and revision history
- Prepare sector research notes for the investment committee and client distribution (yes, clients read these unedited — your name is on every note)
- Contribute to quarterly reporting, including the "What Went Wrong" section where we publicly disclose and analyze our investment mistakes
- Present research findings directly to the investment committee and, on occasion, to clients during quarterly review meetings
- Monitor portfolio positions within your sector coverage for material changes — earnings surprises, management transitions, regulatory developments — and flag actionable insights promptly
Requirements
- CFA Level II candidate or higher (CFA charterholder preferred but not required)
- 2+ years equity research or investment analysis experience — buy-side, sell-side, or independent research
- Advanced Excel and financial modeling skills — we'll ask you to build a model during the interview, from a blank spreadsheet, in approximately 45 minutes
- Strong written communication. We mean it. Priya will read your writing samples before your résumé. If you can't explain a complex thesis in clear, jargon-free prose, this role won't work.
- Familiarity with Canadian and U.S. public equity markets, including an understanding of cross-border tax implications for Canadian investors holding U.S. securities
- Intellectual honesty — willingness to change your mind when the evidence changes, and to document publicly when a thesis didn't play out
Compensation
$75,000–$95,000 base + annual discretionary bonus tied to firm performance and individual contribution. $5,000 annual professional development budget — spend it on conferences, courses, books, or whatever makes you better at this job. CFA exam fees and study materials covered in full.
A note from Priya: "I'm looking for someone who can write a 40-page sector report and a two-paragraph client summary with equal skill. If you've ever published a post-mortem on a bad call, include it. That tells me more than a perfect track record. Our market research is public — read it before you apply. If you disagree with something, tell me why. That's a better cover letter than most."
Apply via EmailAssociate Financial Planner
Reports to: Jean-Luc Garnier, Client Relations Manager
About the Role
Financial planning at Burnabilly is genuinely different from what you'll find at most firms. There is no sales quota, no AUM target, and no expectation that you'll spend your evenings cold-calling prospects. Instead, you'll spend your time doing actual planning work — building retirement income projections, stress-testing drawdown strategies, and helping clients understand the tax implications of their decisions. Our clients range from recently retired professionals with $500,000 portfolios to business owners with $5 million+ in corporate surplus. You'll learn about our full range of investment services during onboarding.
Responsibilities
- Support financial planning engagements — retirement income projections, tax-efficient drawdown strategies, estate considerations, and insurance needs analysis
- Prepare Monte Carlo simulation scenarios and retirement stress tests for client review, including sensitivity analysis on key variables like inflation, longevity, and sequence-of-returns risk
- Draft client-facing segments of quarterly Open Book reports, ensuring technical accuracy and plain-language clarity
- Coordinate new client onboarding documentation, including KYC, Investment Policy Statement development, risk profiling, and account transfer logistics with our custodian (CIBC Mellon)
- Participate in prospective client consultations alongside Jean-Luc, including our complimentary fee audit process
- Maintain and update client financial plans on an annual basis, incorporating life changes, market developments, and regulatory updates
Requirements
- CFP® designation or currently enrolled in the CFP program with a clear timeline to completion
- Familiarity with Canadian tax planning — RRSP/RRIF strategies, TFSA optimization, corporate structures (CDA, RDTOH), pension income splitting, and OAS clawback management
- 1–3 years financial planning experience, preferably in a fee-based (not commission-based) environment
- Bilingualism (English/French) is a meaningful asset — roughly 30% of our client base is francophone, and we produce bilingual client materials
- Comfort explaining technical concepts in plain language. Our clients are intelligent people who don't necessarily have financial backgrounds — they deserve explanations, not jargon.
- Empathy and patience. Financial planning conversations often intersect with major life transitions — retirement, divorce, the death of a spouse. You need to be comfortable in those moments.
Compensation
$60,000–$78,000 base + annual discretionary bonus. $5,000 annual professional development budget. CFP exam fees, study materials, and annual renewal fees covered in full.
A note from Jean-Luc: "I came from a sales-driven firm where I learned a lot about selling and not enough about helping. If that sounds familiar, this is a very different environment. You'll spend your time actually planning — not prospecting. I want someone who gets satisfaction from showing a client that their retirement is more secure than they feared, not from hitting a revenue target. Browse our about page to understand the culture you'd be joining."
Apply via EmailCompliance Analyst
Reports to: Saoirse Doherty, Operations & Compliance Manager
About the Role
Compliance at Burnabilly is not a back-office function — it's central to how we operate. We're registered as a Portfolio Manager and Investment Fund Manager with the Ontario Securities Commission under NI 31-103, and our commitment to transparency means that compliance work here has a public dimension most firms don't offer. Annual audit summaries are published. Compliance processes are documented in client-facing materials. When we say "every trade explained," someone has to verify that's actually happening. That someone is this role. Client assets are custodied at CIBC Mellon, and you'll work closely with their operations team on a daily basis.
Responsibilities
- Trade compliance monitoring — pre-trade and post-trade review against Investment Policy Statement constraints, concentration limits, and regulatory requirements under NI 31-103
- Regulatory filing preparation, including annual registration renewals, material change notifications, and compliance reporting to the OSC
- Service level agreement monitoring across custodian (CIBC Mellon) and technology vendors, including escalation procedures when SLAs are missed
- Client account documentation review and KYC update tracking — ensuring all client files meet regulatory standards and are refreshed on the required cycle
- Support the annual internal audit process — we publish summaries of findings, so this work has a public audience and must be thorough and clearly documented
- Business continuity planning documentation, testing, and annual review — coordinating disaster recovery drills and maintaining the BCP manual
- Maintain the firm's compliance calendar, tracking filing deadlines, registration renewals, insurance renewals, and mandatory training schedules
Requirements
- CSI compliance courses completed (Chief Compliance Officers Qualifying Exam or Partners, Directors and Senior Officers Course) or willingness to complete within 12 months of hire
- Familiarity with NI 31-103 requirements for portfolio managers — registration obligations, client relationship model (CRM2/CRM3), and know-your-client rules
- Exceptional attention to detail — this is the role where a decimal point matters and a missed filing deadline has real consequences
- 1+ years financial services operations or compliance experience, ideally at a registrant firm (portfolio manager, investment dealer, or fund manager)
- Comfort working in a small team where compliance isn't a separate silo — you'll sit at the same table as the portfolio managers, attend investment committee meetings, and have direct input on operational decisions
- Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple concurrent deadlines without things falling through the cracks
Compensation
$55,000–$68,000 base + annual discretionary bonus. $5,000 annual professional development budget. CSI course fees covered in full, including exam retakes if needed.
A note from Saoirse: "At a bigger firm, compliance is the department everyone avoids. Here, I have a seat at the investment committee table. The team genuinely wants to get it right, which makes this job significantly more interesting than my last one. If you've worked in compliance and felt like you were always playing defense, this is a place where your voice actually shapes how we operate. Read about our transparency commitments — you'll be the person making sure we actually live up to them."
Apply via EmailNo Current Openings — But We're Always Listening
We're not hiring for technology right now, but we're always interested in hearing from developers with financial services experience. The right person, at the right time, would be a meaningful addition to our team.
Have you built portfolio reporting tools? Compliance monitoring systems? Client portals? If so, send us a note. We're a six-person firm running custom infrastructure — our client portal delivers real-time portfolio data, performance attribution, and document access to every client. When we do hire, it will be for someone who can own the entire stack — from database design to front-end interface to deployment and monitoring.
Specifically, we'd love to hear from people who have experience with:
- Real-time portfolio analytics and performance attribution engines — we report returns at the individual holding level, not just the portfolio level
- Waterfall milestone tracking for complex multi-account implementations — some of our clients have five or more accounts in different structures that need to be managed holistically
- Regulatory reporting automation (NI 31-103 filings, trade confirmations, account statements, CRM2/CRM3 cost and performance reporting)
- Secure client portal development with role-based access, document management, and audit logging — PIPEDA compliance is non-negotiable
- Data integration with custodian systems (CIBC Mellon) and market data providers
If this sounds like your background, we'd genuinely like to hear from you — even if we're not ready to hire today. Conversations that start informally often turn into the best hires.
Send a NoteWhat We Offer — and What We Honestly Can't
We're not going to pretend we compete with Bay Street compensation. We can't — we're a six-person firm in Ottawa, not a global asset manager with a downtown Toronto tower. Here's what we can offer, and what we can't. We think you deserve to know both before you invest your time applying.
What You Get
- $5,000 annual professional development budget — conferences, courses, designations, subscriptions, books — your call, no approval committee
- All designation fees covered (CFA, CFP, CPA, CSI) including exam fees, study materials, and annual renewal dues
- Flexible hours with a genuine no-meeting-Fridays policy — enforced, not aspirational
- Three weeks vacation to start, four weeks after three years — plus the office closes between Christmas and New Year's Day
- Group benefits including health, dental, vision, paramedical practitioners, and a $1,500 annual health spending account
- Direct access to senior leadership — because there are no junior layers between you and decision-makers. You'll speak with clients, attend investment committee meetings, and contribute to firm strategy from day one.
- Your work published and visible — quarterly reports, research notes, client-facing documents carry your name. This is a real portfolio builder for your career.
- Heritage office in Ottawa — a quiet, well-lit workspace with large windows, walking distance to the Rideau Canal, with paid parking available
What We Don't Have
- A corner office path — we have six desks in an open-plan office. Titles matter less here than contribution.
- A large team to absorb mistakes — your work ships, and clients see it. There's no editor between you and the published report (though Priya and Jean-Luc do review everything before it goes out).
- A prestige brand name that opens doors by itself — you'll need to explain what Burnabilly is at dinner parties. For now. We think the work speaks for itself to the people who matter.
- A guaranteed bonus — it's discretionary, based on firm performance and individual contribution. In good years, it's meaningful. In difficult years, it may be modest or zero.
- Remote-first culture — we work together in the same room most days, because that's how a six-person investment committee functions. We're flexible about hours, not about presence.
- A massive client list — we serve approximately 200 client households. That means you'll know most of them by name, and they'll know yours.
We think honesty about the tradeoffs is more respectful than a glossy careers page that oversells the experience. If you've read this far and you're still interested, that's a good sign. It means you value substance over polish — which is exactly the kind of person we want to work with.
Our Five-Step Hiring Process — No Surprises, No Games
Curious what to expect? Here's the full process from application to decision. We believe candidates deserve the same transparency we give our investment clients — so here's every step, with honest time estimates and what we're actually evaluating at each stage.
Email Your Application
Send your résumé and a brief note explaining why this role interests you to contact@burnabillyinvestments.com. For research and analyst roles, include a writing sample — a research note, an investment thesis, even a well-argued blog post. We care more about your thinking than your formatting. For planning roles, a sample financial plan summary (anonymized) is ideal. For compliance roles, a brief description of a compliance challenge you navigated is helpful. We review every application within five business days and respond to everyone — no automated screening, no applicant tracking system, no black hole.
Initial Conversation (30 Minutes)
A phone or video call with the hiring manager — the person you'd actually report to. We'll ask about your experience, what attracted you to the role, and what you're looking for in your next position. You'll ask about us. No trick questions, no behavioral interview scripts, no "tell me about a time when" formulas. We'll tell you the salary range upfront — we think it's disrespectful to make candidates guess, and we don't want to waste your time if the numbers don't work.
Working Session (90 Minutes)
In-person at our Ottawa office or via video. For research roles: build a simple valuation model with us using real public data — we'll give you the company and the financials. For planning roles: walk through a sample client scenario with retirement income projections and tax considerations. For compliance roles: review a set of sample trade records and identify the issues. This isn't a pass/fail test — it's how we actually work, and we want to see what it feels like to work alongside you. We'll work together, ask questions, and talk through your reasoning. Bring your laptop if you prefer your own setup.
Team Meeting
Meet the full team. Six people in a room. Informal. We'll buy lunch — there's a good Italian place around the corner that has become our unofficial interview restaurant. This is as much for you as it is for us — you should know what you're walking into. You'll hear how people actually talk to each other, what they're working on, and what they think about the firm's direction. Ask anything. We want you to make an informed decision, not discover the culture after you've signed. You can learn more about each team member on our team page.
Decision Within One Week
We don't ghost candidates. You'll hear from us within five business days of the team meeting, with a clear yes or no and honest feedback either way. If we extend an offer, it will include full written details — base salary, bonus structure, benefits, start date, and anything else we discussed. If we don't, we'll tell you specifically why and what impressed us. We've had candidates we didn't hire reach out months later for other roles — because we treated them with respect the first time. That matters to us.
Have Questions Before You Apply?
We're happy to answer anything — compensation details, day-to-day responsibilities, what it's actually like working for a firm this small. No recruiters, no HR department. Just us. Call (807) 876-1862, email contact@burnabillyinvestments.com, or use our contact page. If you're not sure whether a role is the right fit, ask — an honest five-minute conversation can save everyone time.
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