Ottawa's accounting scene ranges from decades-old local partnerships to cloud-only bookkeeping shops to the Ottawa offices of the national firms. This list was put together by searching public business listings, firm websites, and review platforms like BBB, ConnectOttawa, Birdeye, and Google, then checking that each firm is currently operating and actually serves the Ottawa area. It leans toward variety, some entries suit a solo freelancer, others suit a mid-size company that needs an audit.
1. Charles Ghadban Accounting
Area: Carling Avenue, west end · Rating: 4.4 (84 reviews on BBB) · Since: 1992
Charles Ghadban Accounting has operated out of the same Carling Avenue office for over three decades, handling everything from personal tax returns to estate planning and business start-up work. Reviewers consistently mention the firm's depth of tax knowledge and the trust built over long client relationships, though a handful of reviews flag slower communication during busy season. It suits clients who want a long-term relationship with one accountant rather than a rotating team.
2. McCay Duff LLP
Area: Lansdowne Park, Bank Street · Specialty: accounting, assurance, and tax for owner-managed businesses and non-profits · Since: 1946
McCay Duff is one of Ottawa's oldest chartered professional accounting firms, and its client base reflects that history: unions, non-profits, credit unions, condominium corporations, and owner-managed businesses. The firm runs a dedicated tax department focused on planning strategies rather than just annual filing. It's a solid fit for organizations that need assurance or review engagements, not just bookkeeping.
3. Welch LLP
Area: Slater Street, near ByWard Market · Rating: 4.2 (18 reviews on ConnectOttawa) · Since: 1918
Welch LLP has been based in the Ottawa Valley since 1918 and has since grown into a firm with a dozen offices across Ontario and Quebec, while keeping a full-service Ottawa location downtown. Client reviews describe the firm as large enough to handle complex work but still personal, with partners staying accessible outside of tax season. It suits businesses that expect to grow and want a firm that can scale with them.
4. Hometown Accounting and Tax
Area: Westboro, Carling Avenue · Specialty: personal and small business tax, bookkeeping, payroll · Rating: 5.0 (37 reviews on ConnectOttawa) · Since: 2017
Hometown Accounting and Tax is a smaller, family-run operation in Westboro that has built a strong local review record since opening in 2017. It covers the essentials most individuals and small businesses need: tax prep, bookkeeping, payroll, and basic advisory work. Reviewers point to responsiveness and straightforward service as the main draw, making it a good match for sole proprietors and small local businesses that don't need a large firm's overhead.
5. Zenbooks
Area: fully remote, based in Ottawa · Specialty: cloud bookkeeping, tax planning, and payroll for small and mid-sized businesses · Rating: 5.0 (34 reviews cited via DesignRush) · Since: 2015
Zenbooks runs entirely online, serving businesses with revenues roughly between $1 million and $10 million in sectors like e-commerce, SaaS, and creative agencies. It's built around cloud accounting software rather than in-person meetings, and multiple review platforms, including an A+ BBB rating, back up a consistent reputation for responsiveness. It's the right fit for a business owner who's comfortable managing the relationship entirely through email and a shared dashboard rather than sitting across a desk from an accountant.
6. Nunniyer Business
Area: Nepean, Colonnade Road · Specialty: bookkeeping, tax preparation, payroll, and incorporation · Rating: 3.9 (12 reviews via Chamber of Commerce Canada directory)
Nunniyer Business, run out of Nepean, focuses on the ongoing bookkeeping and compliance work small businesses need year-round rather than just tax season. Customer feedback describes a team that flags money-saving opportunities proactively and maintains long client relationships rather than one-off filings. It suits a small business owner who wants a single point of contact for both bookkeeping and annual filings.
7. BDO Canada, Ottawa
Area: St Laurent Boulevard and downtown Ottawa · Specialty: assurance, tax, and advisory for mid-market and larger organizations
BDO has had a presence in Ottawa for close to twenty years, part of a national network of over 100 offices across Canada. The Ottawa office covers the full range of assurance, tax, and management consulting work, which makes it a natural landing spot for organizations that have outgrown a boutique local firm. It suits companies that need audited financial statements or cross-border tax expertise, less so a sole proprietor filing a simple return.
8. MNP LLP, Ottawa (Carling)
Area: Carling Avenue · Specialty: accounting, business consulting, and tax services · Rating: 4.0 (13 reviews on Birdeye)
MNP's Carling Avenue office is part of one of Canada's largest national accounting and consulting networks, giving it reach into specialized advisory services that smaller Ottawa firms don't offer in-house. Client reviews on Birdeye describe professional service and solid communication, while internal employee reviews note the firm runs busy, high-volume tax seasons like most firms its size. It's a fit for businesses that want national-firm resources with a local office to walk into.
9. Vaillancourt Lavigne & Associé LLP
Area: Alta Vista · Specialty: public accounting for Eastern Ontario and Western Quebec · Since: 1991
Vaillancourt Lavigne has served the Ottawa and outaouais region since 1991, positioning itself as a bilingual option for clients who need service in both English and French. The firm's focus is on long-term business partnerships rather than one-time filings, with resources like financial calculators and planning articles available directly on its site. It's a natural choice for francophone business owners or anyone in the Ottawa-Gatineau corridor who wants service on both sides of the river.
10. KPMG Canada, Ottawa
Area: Elgin Street, downtown · Specialty: audit, tax, and advisory services
KPMG's Ottawa office has operated for more than a century, reflecting the mix of government contractors, tech firms, and larger enterprises that make up the National Capital region's business base. As with the other Big Four-style firms on this list, it's built for organizations with complex audit or advisory needs rather than personal tax returns. Employee reviews describe a demanding but structured environment, consistent with what's typical at large national firms during tax season.
How We Built This List
This list was compiled from public web sources, business listings, and customer reviews on platforms including BBB, ConnectOttawa, Birdeye, DesignRush, and Chamber of Commerce Canada, plus each firm's own website. It is not a paid placement, and ottown has not tested or visited any of these firms directly. Details were included only where they could be verified in a source read during research; ratings, review counts, and founding years were left out where no verifiable figure was found. Last reviewed August 2026.
Source: Yelp Ottawa accountant listings and individual firm websites and review pages cited above.
