Ian L. FitzPatrick, CPA, CA, CBVThat perspective is central to Freelandt Caldwell Reilly, LLP (FCR). Its partners are entrepreneurs themselves, bringing their own experience of running businesses into the way they advise clients. The firm combines that entrepreneurial perspective with deep corporate-commercial tax expertise and a broad range of accounting and advisory capabilities.
“We want to be there for our clients when they make major business decisions, helping them navigate growth and change,” says Ian L. FitzPatrick, CPA, CA, CBV.
FCR organizes its comprehensive offering around finances and people, the two primary drivers for entrepreneurs. Rather than addressing these needs in isolation, it offers integrated services, allowing clients to address issues through one firm. Its accounting, tax, financing and advisory capabilities address the financial side, while HR consulting and related support address the people side.
FCR acts as an extension of clients’ finance departments. Rather than limiting its role to day-to-day accounting and compliance, the firm works with clients on projections, ideas, growth plans, M&A opportunities and even human resource obstacles.
That approach is extended across the firm through a culture of curiosity. FCR encourages employees to understand the client’s business, products and industry to look beyond compliance and understand what makes the business tick. It also treats every client as a firm-wide relationship rather than one tied to an individual. From the outset, clients are connected with both a partner and a manager. This creates multiple points of contact to provide support when needed, ensuring continuity even when a partner is unavailable.
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We want to be there for our clients when they make major business decisions, helping them navigate growth and change.
The model is reflected in an engagement where a client turned to FCR after their previous accountant had not adequately supported the planned sale of the family business. It completed the yearend, took the business to market, identified a buyer and helped broker the transaction. The business ultimately sold for twice what the client had expected to receive.
Building the Capacity for Advisory
FCR’s depth of expertise is particularly evident in tax practice. About 20 percent of its workforce is dedicated exclusively to tax, including a specialist focused solely on excise tax. The team helps clients meet their tax obligations while minimizing their tax burden within the rules. It also helps resolve accounting backlogs and historical filing issues, bringing records up to date and establishing timely filing cycles.
Technology further strengthens its operations. Four IT professionals manage infrastructure, while four data engineers develop scripts and bots to alleviate administrative pressure and increase efficiency. It also evaluates emerging technologies and tests new software to improve its processes.
FCR has also built a long-standing network of trusted advisors across the U.S., U.K. and other international markets. These relationships give it access to specialized expertise beyond its geographic footprint when clients need it.
Developing People and Growing with Purpose
FCR places a strong emphasis on developing its people through quarterly mentoring and career-advisor meetings, creating space for employees to discuss their interests and direction. Employees can then contribute in ways that align with those interests, whether through community involvement with the Community Development Committee or professional development that keeps them current with accounting, auditing and tax standards.
Building on its people, technology and relationships, FCR may add offices to enhance its service offering across Northern Ontario and potentially further into Ontario. For the firm, that growth is not just about becoming larger, but about extending its ability to provide the close, informed support that defines its advisory model. This combination of entrepreneurial perspective and broad expertise has earned it recognition as the Top Chartered Accountants Firm in Canada 2026.
