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Our Story

Built By Practicing CPA’s for Practicing CPA’s

Frustrated by the shortage of top student talent in Metro Vancouver and after experiencing the challenges of outsourcing to India and the Philippines, our related CPA firm looked south to Mexico for a better solution.

Following extensive research, we chose Mérida, recognized as the safest city in Mexico, home to leading universities, and offering convenient travel connections to Canada. We began by hiring and training three Mexican accounting professionals to work with Canadian owner-managed private corporations. It quickly became clear: if this model worked for our CPA firm, it could work for any Canadian firm.

Partnering with Mérida’s top three universities, we designed a 600-hour training program for 4th-year accounting students. This program equips them with hands-on experience using the leading software applications of Canadian CPA firms and prepares them to complete Notice to Reader engagements through real-life case studies.

The program creates a win-win opportunity:

– Mexican accounting students gain access to meaningful remote employment with Canadian firms, developing valuable skills, advancing their careers, and earning significantly more than local opportunities.

– Canadian CPA firms expand their remote workforce, strengthen their talent pipeline, embrace the evolving remote work environment, and build lasting partnerships with highly motivated professionals while achieving substantial cost savings.

Thanks to the success of our Mérida operations and the strong acceptance from Canadian CPA firms, in 2025 we proudly expanded by opening our second facility in Guadalajara.

The Need for Top Student Talent

University accounting graduates are a critical part of growing a profitable CPA firm. They handle entry-level engagements at lower rates, providing additional bandwidth that allows senior professionals to focus on delivering high-value advisory services to top clients.

Competition for top graduates is intense, as many are recruited by sectors outside public accounting, including banking, finance, insurance, and government. This drives up compensation and makes retention more challenging.

Recruiting, hiring, and training students can be time-consuming and costly. By combining Canadian CPA students to prepare assurance engagements with trained Mexican accounting graduates for Notice to Reader engagements, firms can reduce these costs, streamline operations, and create opportunities for growth and increased profitability.

The Need for Top Student Talent

University accounting graduates are a critical part of growing a profitable CPA firm. They handle entry-level engagements at lower rates, providing additional bandwidth that allows senior professionals to focus on delivering high-value advisory services to top clients.

Competition for top graduates is intense, as many are recruited by sectors outside public accounting, including banking, finance, insurance, and government. This drives up compensation and makes retention more challenging.

Recruiting, hiring, and training students can be time-consuming and costly. By combining Canadian CPA students to prepare assurance engagements with trained Mexican accounting graduates for Notice to Reader engagements, firms can reduce these costs, streamline operations, and create opportunities for growth and increased profitability.

Our University Accounting Graduates

Our Mexican university graduates can significantly lower the costs associated with hiring, training and employing accounting students. They are:

  • Fluent in English and well spoken
  • Trained in the accounting and corporate tax applications used by most Canadian CPA firms
  • Chargeable and productive from day 1 of remote employment

Click here to request a code to access the personal file of our trainees

Our University Accounting Graduates

Our Mexican university graduates can significantly lower the costs associated with hiring, training and employing accounting students. They are:

  • Fluent in English and well spoken
  • Trained in the accounting and corporate tax applications used by most Canadian CPA firms
  • Chargeable and productive from day 1 of remote employment

Click here to request a code to access the personal file of our trainees

Our Training Program

0
HOURS

Of structured, supervised training that includes:

0
CASE STUDIES

of Notice to Reader compilation engagements for owner-managed CCPC’s

Students can prepare:

  • Client bookkeeping
  • Working paper files
  • Year-end financial statements
  • GST returns
  • Corporate income tax returns

Students can be productive with any firm providing services to owner-managed business.

Click here for a summary of topics covered by the Case Studies

We are not
Outsourcing

Outsourcing companies

  • Canada is barely on their radar, so Canadian specific training must be provided by the firm.
  • Distant time zones make it difficult to access a person during Canadian business hours.
  • Though they speak English, Indian and Philippine accents are very strong and difficult to understand.
  • The accounting firm only has a relationship with a foreign outsource manager, rarely the person doing the work.
  • Focus on profit by paying their employees the lowest wages possible which results in significant turnover.
  • The accounting firms and outsourced employees are only numbers.

CanaMex is Remote Employment

  • Provides you with your own employee who only works on your files.
  • Provides fully trained accounting graduates.
  • Allows you to further train your graduates in firm specific policies and procedures.
  • Graduates earn significantly higher salaries compared to what they would earn working for a Mexican accounting firm and they work less hours. This provides a better quality of life for the Graduates which results in higher retention for the Canadian firms.
  • Focuses on building strategic relationships between Mexico’s best Universities and their top accounting students.
  • Relationships between a Canadian CPA firm and its remote employees can be enhanced by visiting their team member in México for a working vacation and enjoy the Mexican food, culture and weather.
  • Graduates are trained in preparing Notice to Reader engagements for owner-managed private corporations.

CanaMex is Remote Employment

  • Provides you with your own employee who only works on your files.
  • Provides fully trained accounting graduates.
  • Allows you to further train your graduates in firm specific policies and procedures.
  • Graduates earn significantly higher salaries compared to what they would earn working for a Mexican accounting firm and they work less hours. This provides a better quality of life for the Graduates which results in higher retention for the Canadian firms.
  • Focuses on building strategic relationships between Mexico’s best Universities and their top accounting students.
  • Relationships between a Canadian CPA firm and its remote employees can be enhanced by visiting their team member in México for a working vacation and enjoy the Mexican food, culture and weather.
  • Graduates are trained in preparing Notice to Reader engagements for owner-managed private corporations.
  •  

Cost Savings

0%
Recruiting
0%
Training
0% +
Salaries

Frequently Asked Questions

Participating in Our Program

  1. Contact us to discuss our program and obtain our fee schedule.
  2. Provide us the names of 2 or 3 Graduates you wish to interview, and we will arrange a Zoom call for the introductions. After this interview you are free to directly communicate with them.
  3. Sign our Remote Employment contract.
  4. Select your graduate and pay our placement fee.
  5. Pay a refundable technology damage deposit for your remote employee’s computer and 3 monitors. This amount will be refundable on a pro-rated 36 month basis if your employee stops working for your CPA firm and you withdraw from our program. However, it will be payable again should you hire another Graduate. It is also payable on a Graduate by Graduate basis if multiple Graduates are hired.
  6. Provide authorization for automatic payment of our monthly Canadian fee.

English Skills

Contact us for a code to access the student videos so you can assess their English, university transcripts and work experience. You will be impressed.

Bachelor of Accounting Degrees from the Merida Universities

Depending on the University, the degree programs range from 8-10 semesters and include financial accounting, cost accounting and finance courses similar to what is taken by students enrolled in similar programs provided by Canadian Universities

Click here for a summary of the degree programs

How Remote Employees are Paid

Your remote employee will be directly contracted with your Canadian CPA firm. Using a payment processing service, you pay your employee directly. We use VEEM and it works well. We can assist with establishing this.

As they are considered self-employed for Mexican income tax purposes, they pay their own income taxes and contribute to their own retirement plans.

To avoid having the accounting graduates “jump” between Canadian CPA firms we recommend that all firms pay the same standard rate to all students. However, bonus and incentive payments are strongly recommended to demonstrate your loyalty to your Graduate and show appreciation for their efforts.

We can assist with designing an incentive program for your firm.

What if Your Remote Employee Doesn’t Work Out or Quits?

During your first year of contracting with us for a specific remote employee, we will replace the Graduate for another one at no additional charge if you feel the graduate is not compatible with your CPA firm.

If during your first year of contracting with us you replace your initial graduate with another one but you ultimately decide that you do not want to participate in our program we will refund the full placement fee and technology deposit within 30 days of receiving written or electronic notice.

For terminations occurring after one year the technology deposit will be refunded using a 36 month pro-rated basis.

IT Requirements

IT requirements will be determined by your Canadian CPA firm’s current IT structure. Similar to how many CPA firms have had employees work remotely during the Covid-19 period, remote, secured access is used by remote employees to conduct their work.

If you do not have employees working remotely our IT manager can assist you with setting up a structure that works for you and your remote employee.

Client Confidentiality and Data Security

  • All students undergo a criminal record check.
  • All remote employees are required to sign a joint confidentiality agreement with CanaMex e-accountants and your Canadian CPA firm.
  • None of the computers have hard drives that can save files or accessible USB ports to prevent any information from being copied.
  • Cellular phones and cameras are not allowed in the remote employee area of our facilities and must be “checked in and out” with our facility manager.
  • 24 hours video surveillance cameras monitor the remote employment area to help prevent potential security violations.

Have any more questions?

Get in touch

Call us from Monday – Friday from 9 am to 5 pm (Pacific), except on holidays.

Phone : 604-444-0376
Email : info@canamex-e.accountants

    Our Remote Employment Centre

    Our offices are located in the northern part of Mérida, in a business-only corporate building, and at Torre Iclar in Guadalajara.

    Each Remote Accountant is provided with a private workstation and computer equipped with three monitors, ensuring a productive and professional work environment.

    We maintain a safe and secure workplace that meets local health and safety regulations, creating a comfortable environment for all team members.

    Services Provided by CanaMex Personnel

    All of our personnel are university graduates with Bachelor of Accounting degrees, and some also hold MBAs. They have several years of experience working in public accounting firms in Mérida and have spent nearly three years with our Burnaby, BC accounting firm. They are fluent in English and highly knowledgeable in Canadian accounting and corporate income tax preparation.

    We provide full support for your remote employees, assisting with technical accounting questions and application software issues. We also monitor attendance and engagement to ensure productivity and seamless collaboration.

    Personnel from our Burnaby office, originally from Mexico, are available to support our Mérida team whenever needed.

    Quarterly training sessions are conducted to keep skills current and aligned with industry standards. We are also planning an annual convention for participating CPA firms and their remote employees at a top resort in Playa del Carmen. This convention will be eligible for CPABC professional development hours.

    Services Provided by CanaMex Personnel

    All of our personnel are university graduates with Bachelor of Accounting degrees, and some also hold MBAs. They have several years of experience working in public accounting firms in Mérida and have spent nearly three years with our Burnaby, BC accounting firm. They are fluent in English and highly knowledgeable in Canadian accounting and corporate income tax preparation.

    We provide full support for your remote employees, assisting with technical accounting questions and application software issues. We also monitor attendance and engagement to ensure productivity and seamless collaboration.

    Personnel from our Burnaby office, originally from Mexico, are available to support our Mérida team whenever needed.

    Quarterly training sessions are conducted to keep skills current and aligned with industry standards. We are also planning an annual convention for participating CPA firms and their remote employees at a top resort in Playa del Carmen. This convention will be eligible for CPABC professional development hours.

    Merida, Yucatan

    Highest Safety
    Rating in Mexico

    Merida is the capital city of the State of Yucatan. It is a beautiful, vibrant city full of culture and tradition. It has the highest safety rating of all major Mexican cities and it is a delight to visit.

    Mérida surpasses Florence and Québec as the Best City in the World” published by Forbes Mexico (translation of article).

    Original article in Spanish

    It is located 20 miles inland from the Gulf of Mexico, with Progreso being the closest “beach town.”

    Merida is easily accessible through Mexico City or Cancun. Westjet even offers seasonal direct flights from Toronto.

    It is a very affordable city with amazing food and a warm climate during our long Canadian winters.

    Merida, Yucatan

    Highest Safety
    Rating in Mexico

    Merida is the capital city of the State of Yucatan. It is a beautiful, vibrant city full of culture and tradition. It has the highest safety rating of all major Mexican cities and it is a delight to visit.

    It was recently voted “Best small city in the World” by readers of Condé Nast Traveler Magazine.

    It is located 20 miles inland from the Gulf of Mexico, with Progreso being the closest “beach town.”

    Merida is easily accessible through Mexico City or Cancun. Westjet even offers seasonal direct flights from Toronto.

    It is a very affordable city with amazing food and a warm climate during our long Canadian winters.

    Travel Concierge

    We offer a free travel service to help you plan your trips to Merida and the Yucatan Peninsula.   We will arrange all ground transportation, accommodation and tours.

    “Must see” destinations include:

    • Mayan ruins at Chichen Itza
    • pink flamingo migration at Celestun
    • beautiful beach and seafood restaurants at Progreso

    CanaMex also has preferred rates with major hotels in Merida, plus 2 luxury all-inclusive beach resorts in Cancun and Playa del Carmen.

    Sign up to our free 30-day trial period.

    Please send us your contact information so we can phone you to discuss our program and obtain an access code to access and review the personal files of our Remote Accountants.

    After selecting 2 or 3 Graduates you wish to interview, we will arrange Zoom meetings for introductions. After the meetings you are free to directly communicate with them.