The AC Group of Independent Accounting Firms Limited

AC Dockrill Horwich Rossiter is passionate about assisting its clients! As an independent firm of public accountants, we are constantly innovating to find new ways to bring value to our clients ranging from owner managed businesses, self-employed professionals, individuals and non-profit organizations.

Mike is a native of Halifax and graduate of Dalhousie University and obtained his professional designation as a Chartered Accountant in 1974, and later went on to complete the CICA in Depth Tax Program. Mike has a long history in public accounting in both Nova Scotia and New Brunswick including working as a partner with Collins Barrow and its successor firm PriceWaterhouse Coopers. Mike’s practice has a focus on businesses advisory and consulting services particularly in the areas of new product and technology development as well as financing start up businesses.

A native of Halifax, Jim is a graduate of Dalhousie University and in 1983, Jim received his CA designation. Throughout his career in public practice Jim has provided leadership in assurance and taxation to a broad and diversified client base. As an independent auditor and external accountant, Jim has reported on financial statements for a large number of greatly diversified owner-managed business enterprises, non-profit organizations and industries throughout Nova Scotia. As a tax advisor, Jim’s experience includes developing tax effective strategies dealing with growth, business succession, estate planning, personal and corporate tax minimization, and wealth preservation. As a business advisor, Jim has successfully guided a number of clients through mergers, acquisitions, dispositions, financing proposals, debt restructuring, business succession and estate planning issues.

Phil Rossiter is a native of PEI and obtained his Chartered Accountant designation in 1977 and in 1984 obtained his Canadian Business Valuator designation. From 1985 to 1998, Phil was employed in senior financial management positions for a diversified real estate service company having offices in the Maritimes and Western Canada, and subsequently served as the Chief Financial Officer for a publicly traded real estate investment trust (REIT) with offices in Halifax and Toronto. Through this experience Phil obtained expertise in all types of real estate investments, structures and financing methods, both public and private.

Phil’s career in public practice has allowed him to capitalize on his private industry experience by applying his unique understanding of stakeholder needs to financial reporting, governance, consulting and business advisory services to a number of not for profit and owner/managed business enterprises throughout Nova Scotia. Phil has reported on financial statements for many privately-owned companies including those engaged in professional services, real estate development, property management, commercial and residential construction, manufacturing, automobile dealerships, wholesale and retail as well as many types of non-profit enterprises. 

Phil is a member the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nova Scotia, the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants, the Canadian Institute of Chartered Business Valuators and is on the Board of The Financial Executive Institute. Phil also serves on the Board of Directors of ISG Capital Corporation a capital pool company listed on the TSX Venture Exchange.

Andrew Corkum CA
Direct Line Contact: 902.406.4125

A native of South Shore Nova Scotia, Andrew received his CA designation in 1992 and has broad experience in both public accounting and private industry. He joined the firm in 2008 as a senior member of the management team.

As a public accountant, Andrew has over 15 years of experience dealing with a broad range of clients, including owner-managed businesses, not-for-profit organizations and government agencies. He has helped clients with new business start-ups, succession and estate planning, and provided general tax and accounting advice on a variety of business matters.

Prior to joining the firm, Andrew spent several years as financial controller for a locally owned marine manufacturer and shipyard business on Nova Scotia’s south shore, where he was heavily involved in implementing the company’s computerized accounting and information system and development of policies and procedures for ISO 9001:2000 certification.

Andrew has been involved in various community organizations, most recently as treasurer of his local church and past president of the Lunenburg Board of Trade. Andrew is a member the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nova Scotia and the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants.

Sara Jo Kuehner CA
Direct Line Contact: 902.406.4191

Sara is a native of New York State and a graduate of the University of New Brunswick. She obtained her Chartered Accountant designation in 2004 and in 2006 Sara went on to obtain her US Certified Public Accountant designation while with AC Dockrill Horwich Rossiter.

Sara has performed and managed various assurance and non-assurance engagements in varying industries including professional services, real estate development, property management, forestry, fisheries, commercial and residential construction, transportation, technology, automobile dealerships, wholesale and retail as well as many types of non-profit enterprises. Sara maintains a good working knowledge of personal and corporate tax planning and compliance.

Sara is a busy wife and mother of three and an active member of Grace Baptist Church. Sara is also a member the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nova Scotia and the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants.

Charlie Robertson CA
Direct Line Contact: 902.406.4118

Charlie Robertson obtained his professional designation as a Chartered Accountant in 2004. Prior to his professional designation, Charlie completed a Bachelor of Commerce degree at Saint Mary’s University in 2001 with a double major in accounting and finance. During his career in public accounting Charlie worked as a staff accountant and senior auditor from 2002 – 2007 with a medium sized firm in the South Shore before starting with AC Dockrill Horwich Rossiter in August, 2007. Charlie has performed and managed various audits in varying industries such as municipal, manufacturing, fish processing, not for profit and real estate development. Since his career has been centered on small owner managed businesses he has extensive knowledge in both personal and corporate taxation, tax planning and succession planning.

Charlie prides himself on being an active member of various community organizations.

Corinne Larkin CA
Direct Line Contact: 902.406.4119

Originally from Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Corinne graduated from Saint Mary’s University with a major in Economics in 2003. After spending several years abroad, Corinne returned to Halifax and began an accounting career with AC Dockrill Horwich Rossiter in the fall of 2007. She successfully completed the Uniform Evaluation in 2008, and obtained her designation as Chartered Accountant in the spring of 2010.

As a member of the AC Dockrill Horwich Rossiter team, Corinne has worked on numerous audits in various fields including not-for-profits, property management, financial services, manufacturing, retail, healthcare and construction. She also works with owner managed enterprises as well as in personal and corporate tax. With a family background in private business, she has personal knowledge in the challenges involved in creating a successful business enterprise.

Paul Allen BBA IT - Director of Operation Systems Management
Direct Line Contact: 902.225.5771

Paul Allen joined our team, assisting both our office and our clients with technology requirements and operation systems audits. Paul obtained his Bachelors of Business Degree with joint majors in Information Technology and International Marketing from St. FXU & UPEI in 1998. From 1997-2001, Paul worked with Industry Canada as Project Manager for the provinces Y2K awareness campaign and e-commerce initiatives. Under his direction, Paul was the lead project manager for Nova Scotia in establishing readiness reports for various businesses, and not-for-profit organizations. One key project included the readiness reports and systems testing audits for the Medical Society of Nova Scotia.

While working for Industry Canada, part of the mandate was assisting walk in clients with research initiatives. Paul possesses extensive knowledge of government programs and competitive intelligence data collection and assessment. Over 500 clients, including many lead consultants in Nova Scotia, benefited from his knowledge of business planning and competitive analysis data collection processes. In 2003, Paul developed a system to assess and improve business performance and profitability, through strategic operation systems management assessments.

Ian Orman, CMA – Team Leader, Compliance and Assurance Services
Direct Line Contact: 902.406.4183

Jennifer Toope CA
Direct Line Contact: 902.406.4116

David Macdonald B Comm
Direct Line Contact: 902.406.4192

Support Staff

Judi Ash – Office Manager, Sr. Technician, Compliance and Assurance Services
Direct Line Contact: 902.406.4121

Anna Doucette – Sr. Technician, Compliance and Assurance Services
Direct Line Contact: 902.406.4117

Heather Crawford – Sr. Technician, Compliance and Assurance Services
Direct Line Contact: 902.406.4182

Suzanne Lewis – Technician, Compliance and Assurance Services
Direct Line Contact: 902.406.4181

Administration

Sabrina Jacques BBA ECM
Direct Line Contact: 902.406.4191
 
Sharon Emberley – Reception and Communications
Gloria Lawrence – Reception and Communications