Steve Parker

– MANAGING PARTNER –

Steve has had a long and successful career in public accounting and is the founder of Parker Prins Lebano Chartered Accountants. After graduating from the University of Toronto with a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) in 1987, Steve began his public accounting career as a CA student with BDO Dunwoody Chartered Accountants in Mississauga, Ontario and received his CA designation in 1989. For family reasons, Steve decided to relocate back to the Ottawa area and joined the BDO family in Nepean. As a manager at BDO, Steve expanded his career, specializing in assurance and accounting engagements while keeping strong personal and corporate tax knowledge for small and mid-size corporate and personal clients. Steve also acted as the firm’s hiring manager and ran the “study buddy” program for students going through the CA process. With the competitive marketplace of the early to mid-1990’s, Steve strove to balance his growing career demands and young family and felt that accounting firms in general, were weak in promoting the work-life balance. With thinking ahead of his time, Steve saw a model in which a productive and successful firm could be enhanced by the promotion of flexibility, health and a work environment conducive to a fulfilling life outside the office. He felt that an employee who was happy with their personal life and given time to nurture their family would exceed expectations at work.

It was this model that caused him to start his own firm in January of 1996. Operating as a sole proprietor with one employee, Steve was finally able to realize success in his model of work-life balance. Out of a small office located in the south end of the city, Steve built a strong client base of loyal corporate, personal and not-for-profit clients who appreciated his attention to excellent client service, timely provision of services and technical savvy. Steve remained interested in the mentoring process and consulted with prospective CA students at Carleton University and the University of Ottawa in interview techniques and the hiring process. Through referral growth, hiring and two successful mergers/acquisitions, the firm has grown to its current size and is now a respected public accounting firm, continuously listed on the Ottawa Business Journal’s book of lists. The firm has had very little turnover in staff over the years due to Steve’s commitment to work-life balance, training and the overall “open door” policy – all which have worked together to create a unique and desirable firm culture. Steve strongly feels that overall health and productivity are directly related and promotes this thinking with his employees. Unheard of in accounting firms of PPL’s size, the firm has a connected fully-equipped fitness facility which offers daily workouts during work hours for all staff. While Steve provides assurance, accounting, business consulting and personal and corporate tax services to a wide range of for-profit and not-for-profit clients of all sizes, his specialty is in SR&ED-related taxation issues.

Steve is a 5th degree black belt in Karate and has been teaching children and adults in the Martial Arts since his teen years. Continuing to focus on the balance between his career and personal interests, he currently teaches out of the Chito Kai School which is adjacent to the firm. Acting as a member of the Board and was acting as a member of the Finance Committee of Help Lesotho, Steve is actively involved in many charitable pursuits including teaching under-privileged children and adults in the art of Karate as well as acting as benefactor of several charitable arts-related and socially conscious organizations. You may have also heard Steve on 580 CFRA’s tax tip radio segment.

Steve lives in Centrepointe with his wife and has two adult sons currently pursuing post-secondary education. While he spends most of his time between work and Karate (his two great passions) Steve also enjoys watching movies, travelling and prioritizing quality time with his wife and two sons.

Steve is a member of the Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario and holds a Public Accounting License.